James Copus is an award winning jazz trumpet player who is rapidly establishing himself as one of the most exciting trumpet players on the London scene. Having grown up in a musical household, James took to music at an early age and started playing trumpet aged 8. He attended the junior Jazz course at the prestigious Royal Academy of Music before going on to study there full time and graduate with first class honours. During his time at the Academy, he became a proud recipient of the distinguished Derek Watkins award.
James has studied with Till Bronner, Gerard Presencer, Alex Sipiagin and Steve Fishwick and sites all four as major influences on his playing. James has had the privilege of recording and playing with some of the worlds most established musicians including Dave Holland, Joe Locke, Tim Garland, Stan Sulzmann, Gareth Lockrane, Laurence Cottle, Jim Hart, Clark Tracey, Curtis Stigers and many more.
As a session musician and commercial trumpet player, James has played and recorded with the likes of Olly Murs, Pixie Lott, Louisa Johnson, Gregory Porter, James Bay, Basement Jaxx, The Riverdance Company, The London Concert Orchestra (LCO), English Session Orchestra (ESO), Manchester Cameratta, The BBC Big Band, The Guy Barker Big Band and the John Wilson Orchestra. With these various different outfits, he has played at venues such as Wembley Stadium, The Royal Albert Hall, The Barbican and Abbey Road studios. He can also be frequently found playing in the west end.
You can hear James at venues up and down the country playing with bands such as the Alex Hitchcock Quintet, Ralph Wyld’s Mosaic, Jay Davis’ Local Yokels and his own group, The James Copus Quartet, for which he composes and arranges original music.
“Copus is a more exciting trumpet player than Miles” Bebop Spoken Here
“One of the best flugel sounds I’ve ever heard” Kenny Wheeler
“Think of all the qualities that make a great trumpeter: a full brassy tone, dazzling runs and immaculate articulation, a range that sends the high notes soaring into the stratosphere, imagination and sensitivity … James has all these and more” The Jazzmann
“Magnificent soloing, one to watch” Music Republic Magazine
Line-up:
James Copus – Trumpet
Steven Brown – Drums
Ferg Ireland – Bass
Bruno Heinen – Piano
Tom Barford – Sax