Photo: Jana Edwards

Classical guitarist James Edwards has been a performer, teacher, and recording artist for over 25 years. He not only plays the rich and varied traditional repertoire, but his own compositions and contemporary styles as well. James also plays historical instruments of the Renaissance and Baroque periods such as the five-course guitar and ten course lute.

Mr. Edwards' many compact disc recordings feature his arrangements of American, Spanish, and European classics. Many of these have been published by Mel Bay Pub. in several books currently available.

James' performance credits include: the 1999 La Guitarra California Festival, soloist with the Santa Barbara Chamber Orchestra, the Santa Barbara Arts Festival, Richard Schneiders' Lost Mountain Guitar Festival and many collaborations with theatre and dance companies. James also concertizes with flutist Suzanne Duffy as 'Duo Solare.'

James Edwards discovered the guitar at age fourteen, exploring folk, jazz, and pop styles before finding his true musical love, the classical guitar. Inspired by Christopher Parkening, with whom he later studied, James also worked with Ray Reussner, one of Andres Segovia's most devoted pupils. Other teachers have included Manuel Barruecco, and Michael Lorimer. James also plays renaissance lute and baroque guitar; and studied with Toyohiko Satoh, Jurgen Hubscher, and Donna Curry.

In addition to the traditional classical guitar repertoire, James performs his own vibrant arrangements of Handel, Mozart, Puccini, Debussy, Brahms, and many other works by the great composers. He also has created a unique American repertoire with treatments of well known works by Gershwin, Rodgers, Joplin, etc., along with his original compositions; blending his classical background with the earlier influences of folk and jazz.