James Griffith Quartet, Modern Swinging Jazz

James Griffith is an international-award winning Toronto-based jazz saxophonist, bandleader and composer. Born and raised in Lloydminster, Alberta, Griffith aims to push the envelope of contemporary jazz while staying grounded within the swinging tradition of bebop and beyond.

Winner of the 2024 International Saxophone Symposium Jazz Saxophone Competition, Griffith has had the pleasure of working and performing with international jazz icons such as Joe Farnsworth, Larnell Lewis, Terri Lyne Carrington, Dayna Stephens, David Virelles, The U.S. Navy Commodores Big Band, Lucas Pino, Jacob Chung, Mike Downes and more. As a highly in-demand sideman, Griffith has been a member of many notable groups including The Shuffle Demons, the Marmalade/Listening Room Collective, The Live Video Game Jazz Orchestra and most recently the Joe Farnsworth Quartet. Griffith is elated to be back at The Emmet Ray as a leader presenting a program of new original music with an all-star group composed of many of Canada’s most notable musicians.

James Griffith – Alto Saxophone

Jesse White – Guitar

Julian Anderson-Bowes – Bass

Norbert Botos – Drums