Alumni to perform with Jamiroquai at Hard Rock Calling concert

Two Leeds College of Music jazz alumni will this Saturday perform with Jamiroquai. Saxophonists James Russell and Jim Corry, alongside trumpet player Malcolm Strachan, will perform as Jay Kay's horn section at the Hard Rock Calling Festival, Hyde Park, London, headlined by Stevie Wonder and also featuring Corinne Bailey Rae and James Morrison. This will be followed by a number of high profile dates in Europe for James, Jim and Malc with Jamiroquai.

A published songwriter, composer, performer and producer, James Russell regularly performs with The Rat Pack, The Al Wood Big Band, Roy Wood’s Rock & Roll Band, James Hamilton’s Jazz Orchestra and The Cat Pack. James has composed jazz suites for theatrical productions of Under Milk Wood, Romeo & Juliet and Scaramouche Jones; he is a founder of the J2 Productions song writing collective and has worked alongside a diverse range of pop singers/songwriters and producers. Most recently, James has contributed horn parts to the forthcoming Jamiroquai album.

Jim Corry has toured and played with Corinne Bailey Rae, Haggis Horns, Mark Ronson and Daniel Merriweather. His TV and festival appearances include Live Earth, the Brit Awards, MOBO Awards, Later… with Jools Holland, Glastonbury, Late Night with David Letterman, Oprah, Good Morning America and Live From Abbey Road. Jim also performs with The Al Wood Big Band, Roy Wood’s Rock & Roll Band and James Hamilton’s Jazz Orchestra. Jim currently teaches on the College’s BA (Hons) Jazz programme. James and Jim set up A Tribute to Atlantic Jazz in 2007, an ensemble that pays tribute to the record label that in the 1960s and early 70s embraced the period of 'soul jazz' and produced a new generation of jazz musicians which included Cannonball and Nat Adderley, Horace Silver and Bobby Timmons.