James Griffith is a multi-award winning Toronto-based multi-instrumentalist, bandleader, composer, and educator.Born and raised in Lloydminster, Alberta, the jazz and classical saxophonist was fortunate to have participated in a number of national honour-ensembles, festivals and workshops over the years. This includes his participation in the flagship Humber X Ensemble, the Conn Selmer Centerstage Band at Musicfest Nationals (2019 - Ottawa), the Youth Jazz Canada workshop (2018), the National Youth Band of Canada (2018, 2019) and the FCMF National Music Festival (2018 - Sackville, New Brunswick). Specifically at MusicFest Nationals, James was the first Albertan to be awarded the premier award of the festival - the 2019 Yamaha “Music Makes Waves” Award.Through these various opportunities and other contexts, Griffith has had the pleasure of working with national and international jazz luminaries such as Dayna Stephens, Terri-Lyne Carrington, David Virelles, Rich Perry, Dennis Mackrel, Kirk MacDonald, Kelly Jefferson, Alex Dean, Mike Downes, Neil Swainson, Lorne Lofsky, among various others. A graduate of the prestigious Bachelor of Music program at Humber College, Griffith has been fortunate enough to privately study with Kirk MacDonald, Mike Downes, Mark Promane, Nick Morgan, Andy Ballantyne and work with many other esteemed instructors and musicians. Griffith is also a highly in-demand bandleader and side-person, and can be found regularly performing at historic Toronto venues such as The Jazz Bistro, The Rex, The Pilot, The Emmet Ray, Poetry Jazz Cafe and more.