Jim White is an Assistant Professor of Jazz Studies at the University of Northern Colorado. He directs UNC’s Lab II Big Band, supervises the jazz small group/combo program, teaches jazz history and applied drum set students. He holds a Bachelor of Music degree from the University of North Texas where he performed with the school’s famed “One O’clock Lab Band” for three years. Jim is featured on the band’s recordings, “LAB 90,” “LAB 91,” and “LAB 92.” After receiving his Bachelor of Music degree in Jazz Studies, Jim was recruited by Maynard Ferguson for his “Big Bop Nouveau” band with which he toured Japan, Sweden, Germany, Austria, and the United States. He is featured on Maynard’s 1992 live recording, “Footpath Cafe.”

In 1995, after a year in New York City performing with the show “The Big Apple Circus,” Jim moved to Nashville, Tennessee where he has remained active as a jazz performer and studio musician. White’s versatility and unique sound have been featured on many jazz, pop, and country recordings, commercial jingles, television spots and sound library recordings. In addition to his studio work, he has performed in the Nashville area with many top jazz artists including Randy Brecker, Roseanna Vitro, Bob Sheppard, Kenny Werner, Joey Defrancesco, Tim Hagans, Benny Golson, Jim Mcneeley and Eric Alexander. From 1995-2002, he toured and recorded regularly with Grammy-award winning singer Crystal Gayle, including performances with many of America’s most prominent symphony orchestras. In 1999, Jim was honored to perform with the North German Radio (N.D.R.) Big Band in Hamburg, Germany. While there, the band performed concerts of “Porgy and Bess” to celebrate George Gershwin’s one-hundredth birthday.

As an educator, White has been affiliated with Middle Tennessee State University where he taught drum set while completing his Master of Arts degree in Jazz Studies/Composition. While at MTSU, he studied composition and arranging with Jamey Simmons. Jim has also performed clinics at the University of North Texas, Texas A&M Commerce, Brigham Young University, Western Washington University and the University of Northern Colorado.  Most recently, Jim’s composition, “Chain Reaction,” was published in a collection of accompanied snare drum solos called, “Aptitude: a conversation in snare soloing,” published by Drop6 media, Inc.

Jim White has performed and/or is featured on recordings with such diverse artists as Maynard Ferguson, Rufus Reid, Clay Jenkins, Don Aliquo, Viktor Krauss, Joey DeFrancesco, Gene Ludwig, Rosemary Clooney, Jim Ferguson, Chris Potter, Pat Coil, Mike Pope, Bob Dorough, Bob Sheppard, Rich Perry, Marc Johnson, Stefan Karlsson, Kirk Whalum, Annie Sellick, Pam Tillis, John Hiatt, J.D. Souther, Lorrie Morgan, Crystal Gayle, Jerry Douglas, Bela Fleck, Willie Nelson, Allison Krauss, Jack Pearson, Jeff Coffin and others.

Jim is an artist clinician for Bosphorus Cymbals and Innovative Percussion.