James Winters

James Winters teaches applied jazz at the University of Maine. He has enjoyed playing tenor trombone all around Maine since 1989. While most of his work pertains to jazz groups, his experience also covers pop music, studio work, and occasional orchestration. He served in an adjunct role for 20 years with the Bangor Symphony. He currently serves with Colby college’s jazz and classical groups. In addition to playing here in Maine, James served as a trombonist for two cruise lines, a television show, and various stage bands. As a young player, James worked playing salsa music, in the Detroit Youth Symphony, as well as in Las Vegas. His mentor, growing up on Long Island, New York, was the tv studio trombonist Charlie Small of New York City.

James has earned degrees in intermedial art, humanities, and laboratory science. His degrees are from the University of Maine at Orono and include Native American Studies. He has also earned a Master’s degree in art with an emphasis in experimental composition. Currently, James is part of UMaine’s intermedial PhD program to research mystical dimensions of jazz. Working closely with jazz historian Dr. Jay Bregman, James is researching the historical space-jazz of Sun Ra.

James has raised a family in Orono for the last 25 years. His wife studies northern Alaskan culture. They love cats, still photography, and live in a geodesic dome.