Born Milwaukee, Wisconsin, James' musical journey started early at age 13. He began playing clarinet in school, sliding into Milwaukee's own "Latoska LaFont & The Dynamic Exploits" two years later at 15.
One year at Carroll College in Wisconsin defaulted to2 years in Boston with Frank Wilkins/Berklee, Armstead Christian, Delmar Brown and others…. spent time studying jazz composition, sax and piano. JD also studied art at the University of Wisconsin/Milw.(B.A. Graphic Design) with Scott Zukowski and Sylvester Sims. Visuals seemed an early vehicle of expression taught early by elder family members. MUSIC........." I grew up on the power drive tenors, Stanley T., King Curtis, Jr.Walker and others." James Dallas is a Milwaukee-based composer/artist, saxophonist and writer /performer/ ... creates visual/images for web application, video installation, cd recordings . …. work musically combines elements of jazz ,Funk, and Latin. Instruments: Baritone, Tenor & Soprano sax...Flute /Bass Clarinet...EWI(Akai) Keyboards . ASCAP member since 1983 compositions used by National Geographic of Spain. Instructor/saxophonist Joseph Aaron, Composer/Instructor Clifford Gribble (jazz study), Berklee School of Music (Frank Wilkins),
James' artistic journey started even earlier at age 9. He began drawing in grade school, painting/sculpture(wood) in high school ART ......... paintings, digital images for web application, 2D work artistically includes wood , posterboard….artistic basic training from Lourine & Calvin Dallas… refined drawing/ painting skills from Sylvester Sims (Milwaukee), and graphic artists Patrick Turner, and Calvin Greer.
