Jim has been deeply involved with Latin and jazz music since the early 70’s. After studying marimba with Gordon Stout and classical percussion with the late Nora Davenport, he went to NYC to study congas with Joe ‘Papo’ Daddiego.

Jim has worked with many great musicians including Tito Puente, Giovanni Hidalgo, Andy Gonzalez, Los Munequitos de Matanzas,Nestor Torres,Jon Faddis, Doc Cheatum, Cat Anderson, Roberto Borrell, and Miles Davis’s sidemen Gary Bartz and Gary Thomas.