Simon James attended Leeds College of Music for two
years, and Trinity College of Music for four years, where he studied
guitar and composition with Hector Quine and David Newbold respectively.
In 1981 he attended the first Master Class in Flamenco to be given
by Paco Peña in Cordoba, and this traditional performing art from
Spain has become a very strong influence in his career.
As a performer he made his debut at the Wigmore Hall in 1978, under the auspices of Trinity College of Music, his first appearance at the Purcell Room took place in 1983 and his solo debut at the Wigmore Hall in 1985. He founded the band Acoustic Alchemy along with Nick Webb in 1979 and left in 1985. In 1998 he created the contemporary latin/jazz band Kymaera along with Shane Hill. He has appeared with both bands at Ronnie Scotts making 6 albums and a DVD between them. A new album from Kymaera is due for release in Spring 2006.
In 1984/85 he and Nick Webb began a long and successful collaboration with the actress Sylvia Syms on a series of shows combining poetry and music. He also appears occasionally with Sir John Mortimer’s show ‘Mortimer’s Miscellany’ and when a busy schedule permits with Louise Jamieson and David Warwick in ‘Sex Wars’.
