Biography of James Hesford

James Hesford is a composer and improvising cellist. He was born in South Yorkshire and from the age of 12 taught himself to play the guitar. Before his 17th Birthday he was touring with soul and blues bands and in 1980 won the GLAA Arts Council Award - "Young Jazz Musician of the Year".

Soon after James moved to New York where he performed all styles of jazz from bebop to free atonal improvisation as well as playing in punk bands. It was here that he developed his own voice as a performer and composer. After touring and recording (for EMI) with his group "Outbar" he took a break from performing to explore the possiblities of the cello as an improvising instrument while writing scores for TV., film, contemporary dance and receiving commisions to write chamber music.

Over the last two year period he has had several major premieres of works performed at the South Bank (London) and St John's Smith Square (London) and at various concert halls throughout Europe and the UK. Since then he has gone on to play, compose, arrange and record for various groups including Martin and Aine Furey's "Bohinta", Garbi Armii and Garry Low's "Headhunters". Their critically acclaimed debut album, 'Millennium Time Bomb' featured, among others, Nigel Kennedy, Kadir Durvesh and Martin and Aine Furey.