Brett James (Linzing) is a Jazz and Rock drummer from Oak Park, IL. Brett plays in many of the top youth jazz orchestras and ensembles in the Chicagoland area including the Jazz Institute of Chicago’s Jazz Links student council. He is also in the senior jazz and classical ensembles at Oak Park River Forest High School. He is currently the #1 ILMEA Jazz Combo drummer in the state of Illinois. He recently performed at the 2024 Chicago Jazz Festival. Brett is also a worldwide, two-time, School of Rock All-Star. Brett wants to pursue a career as a professional musician and Brett currently gigs around the Chicagoland area with The Juliet Trio.

Education

  • Private jazz drum set instruction

  • Zoom lessons, once-a-year in-person lessons in Vienna, Austria (Brett has family in Austria).

    Brett was featured on Jam Lab University’s Instagram page as a distance learning student.

    Jam Lab University Promo - featuring Brett James

  • Oak Park River Forest High School Music Director for Jazz Programs, Classical Concert Bands, and Marching Band. Brett participated in all throughout high school.

  • Jazz Lab Band - Big band orchestra

    • Top jazz orchestra band & combo

    • 2-week summer camp with daily performances

  • School of Rock Oak Park instructor and in demand drummer in Chicago. Member of popular rock band, Tributosaurus.

  • School of Rock Oak Park drum instructor. Composer, drummer, and leader of the band Nine Worlds Ensemble. Columbia College Chicago music professor (gaming composition).

Achievements

  • ILMEA (Illinois Music Education Assoc.) selection for the Honors Jazz Combo at the Illinois All-State competition on January 24-27, 2024 in Peoria, IL. Brett is the #1 Jazz drummer in IL for the 2023-2024 school year.

  • On drum set

  • Best in District 1, Chicagoland area in drum set for 2023-24 school year

  • Two awards

    • Glen Ellyn, IL city festival

    • The Juliet Trio qualified, won, and played for 1000+ audience, playing ahead of the jazz headliners

    • 150 musicians out of 50,000 students worldwide are chosen each year

    • South Team out of Dallas, TX

    • 10-day performance bus tour to 6 cities in Oklahoma & Texas

    • House of Blues Houston

  • Rock drum set

    • 150 musicians out of 50,000 students worldwide are chosen each year

    • South Team out of Dallas, TX

    • Performances in Dallas, TX area and professional recording studio - Come on Eileen

    • Highland Park, IL

    • The Dennies Band (punk band)

    • Two original songs entered into the competition

  • Pandemic, no concert

Ensembles

    • Directed by Pharez Whitted

    • Drum set

    • Directed by Drew Hansen

    • Drum set

    • Directed by Ernest Dawkins

    • Chicago's Englewood neighborhood

    • Directed by John Foster

    • Directed by Anthony Svejda

    • Drum set

    • Meets 7AM daily for entire school year

    • Student-led band that gigs around the Chicagoland area and plays for parties, private and corporate events, fundraisers, restaurants, art festivals, community festivals, holidays

    • Performed RSNA 2023 & 2024 Annual Meeting (Radiology Conference) at McCormick Place

    • Percussion

    • Fall, Winter, Spring performances

    • Plays tenor in the drumline

    • Performed at Disney Orlando, FL in 2023

  • OPRFHS Spring Musical

    • Fall and Spring Show Choir band

    • Drum set

  • OPRFHS Spring musical

    • Drum set

    • Freshman classical concert band

    • Percussion

    • Senior performance group at School of Rock Oak Park.

    • Gigs around Chicagoland area and music festivals

    • Weekly lessons Drum set & Keys (piano)

    • Percussion

    • Played at the Milwaukee Summer Fest in 2022

    • Drum set

    • Percussion

    • Drum set, percussion, key (piano)

    • Weekly performance group rehearsals

    • Weekly private lesson

    • Performance shows - Fall, Winter, Summer

  • Award-winning Hatch Elementary School Steel Drum band

  • Percussion