Also known as SebioJazz, James discusses his roots and affection for the saxophone in this profile.
Q: When did you learn how to play the saxophone?
A: I started to learn the sax when i was 15 years old. The first year was in a private school for music in my neighborhood. The second year, because it was important to me to become a good musician, I asked my parents to enroll me in the conservatory of Nice.
Q: What triggered your interest in jazz and also becoming a musician?
A: It happened the day I listened to David Sanborn's album Straight to the Heart. But at this time, I didn't listen the jazz music. It was a gift from my friends because I started to learn the sax. In six months I wanted to play like him so I started to reproduce his phrases from the LP.
Q: What kind of musical education or formal training did you have?
A: Classical and jazz in Conservatory of Music. I have obtained a gold medal in jazz music and also classical music studies for saxophone in the same year, 1994. Also, I have learned the flute because it was better to have two instruments when you decide to be a professional.