James Simonson

2019 Detroit Music Award winner for best world album "Realities"

Besides having traveled and performed around the world as Music Director for Verve/Universal artist Bettye Lavette, being 2019’s headliner for the Chicago Blues Fest, James is also the jazz upright and electric bassist for the Detroit Symphony and The Detroit Opera House. Has performed with Aretha Franklin, Andrea Bocelli, Patti Smith, Robert Gordon and spent a year traveling with the worlds best-selling stage show, The Lion King. He has also backed Jeff Lorber, David Sanborn, Bob James, Earl Klugh, Larry Carlton and Kenny G via Alexander Zonjic. Was recently used as principal bassist for The Who’s 2019 Orchestra Tour, The Eagles 2022 tour and backed Stanley Clarke at the Detroit Jazz Fest for Boyz N The Hood. A performer on the final week of the David Letterman show with Bettye LaVette. Latest recordings include Motown guitarist Dennis Coffey's latest dbl. LP, last 2 albums from Jeremy Spencer (Fleetwood Mac) a dbl. LP release as well. The last 3 albums with Detroit Blues Legend, Johnnie Bassett. The "Honest Woman" album for Thornetta Davis, and various jingles for Ford Trucks. James is a member of Sean Blackman's world fusion "In Transit" band and is a founding member of multi award winning band, The Brothers Groove. Other various projects with Detroit world music trio AUDIO : BIRDS and a recent major label release with British guitarist, Joanne Shaw Taylor. While during the pandemic, James has participated on line with the Detroit Jazz Fest, The Don Was Concert of Colors, and Twilight:Gods - an opera performed in a Detroit multi level parking garage with stories featured in the New York Times and Wall Street Journal.