Drummer Jim White is an active performer and educator. His first musical experiences took place in his hometown of Atlanta, Georgia, where he studied percussion with Paul Yancinch, Mike Cebulski, Sonny Emory, and Jeff Sipe.



Jim White holds a Master of Arts degree in Jazz Studies/Composition from Middle Tennessee State University, and a Bachelor of Music degree from the University of North Texas. While a student at the University of North Texas, White performed with the renowned One O’clock Lab Band for three years. In 1992, Maynard Ferguson recruited Jim White for his Big Bop Nouveau band with which he toured internationally. Jim White is featured on Ferguson’s recording, Footpath Cafe.



In 1995, Jim White moved to Nashville, Tennessee where he remains active as a performer and studio musician. His versatility and unique sound have been featured on many jazz, pop, and country recordings. White’s performance and recording credits feature a diverse array of artists including J.D. Souther, Alison Krauss and Union Station, Crystal Gayle, Jerry Douglas, Curtis Stigers, Charlie Peacock, Jack Pearson, Pam Tillis, Lorrie Morgan, and Willie Nelson.



In addition, he has performed with many top jazz artists including Dick Oatts, Terell Stafford, Joey Defrancesco, Pat Bianchi, Greg Gisbert, Jim Ferguson, Chris Potter, Annie Sellick, the North German Radio (NDR) Big Band, and many others.



As an educator, Jim White has performed clinics at universities and jazz festivals throughout the country. In 2005, he joined the faculty at the University of Northern Colorado, where he currently serves as Associate Professor of Jazz Studies. He directs UNC’s Lab II Big Band, supervises the jazz combo program, teaches jazz history, as well as applied drum set students.



In 2010, one of his students was selected as the winner of the Percussive Arts Society International Jazz Drum Set Competition. White also directs The Vanguard Combo, which was selected as Best College Small Jazz Group by Downbeat magazine in 2010 and 2011.



Jim White can be heard regularly with the UNC Faculty Quartet, which features Dana Landry, Steve Kovalcheck, and Erik Applegate. He currently co-leads the Colorado Jazz Orchestra, a big band featuring many of the finest jazz musicians in the Northern Colorado area.



Jim White is proud to be an artist/clinician for Yamaha Drums, Bosphorus Cymbals, and Innovative Percussion sticks and mallets.