James Kerr

His mom is from New Orleans and his dad is from New York and James is a regional anomaly...a NYC dobro player. James received formal training at the University of Michigan and Columbia University where he studied jazz and music education with such great musicians/educators as Reggie Workman, Donald Walden, and Rodney Whitaker. James was drawn to the sound of the dobro by the work of Jerry Douglas and Mike Auldridge. He has become a dobro and steel fixture on the local New York scene performing and recording as a band member with The Five Deadly Venoms and Citigrass. In addition, James has performed with artists ranging from Mike Gordon (Phish) to the Mobile Symphony Orchestra. He has performed at such New York area venues as Irving Plaza, The Knitting Factory, The Juilliard School, Gracie Mansion, Trinity Church, The Wetlands, and Toad’s Place. James has also enjoyed the opportunity to open for several of his musical heroes includung Ricky Skaggs, Tony Rice, Mark O'Connor, Junior Brown, Double Trouble, and Darol Anger. Combining his performance with music education, James has taught in NYC and Vermont. He recently was a top prize winner at the 2006 Roxbury Flatpicking Guitar Contest. James' debut solo recording, Atmosphere, has received airplay on folk radio programs nationwide.