{"history":[],"article":{"id":"c9fc580d-8b21-4440-a80c-bb474691a532","title":"James Chirillo","slug":"james-chirillo","content":":::summary\n![Chirillo with the Kenny Davern All Stars at the 2004 Breçon Jazz Festival (photo: Barry Quick)](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/e/e4/James///Chirillo.jpg)\n**Name:** James Chirillo \n**Image Size:** 250 \n**Landscape:** yes \n**Birth Name:** James Louis Chirillo \n**Birth Date:** May 2, 1953 \n**Birth Place:** [Waltham](https://bliptext.com/articles/waltham-massachusetts), Massachusetts, U.S. \n**Genre:** [Jazz](https://bliptext.com/articles/jazz), [big band](https://bliptext.com/articles/big-band), [swing](https://bliptext.com/articles/swing-music), [classical](https://bliptext.com/articles/classical-music) \n**Occupation:** Musician \n**Instrument:** Guitar \n**Years Active:** 1974 – present \n**Website:** james.chirillo.com \n:::\n\n# \n**James Louis Chirillo** (born May 2, 1953) is an American jazz guitarist, banjoist, composer, arranger, and band leader.\n\n# Career\nFrom 1977 to 1979, Chirillo performed regularly with singers [Marilyn Maye](https://bliptext.com/articles/marilyn-maye), [Vic Damone](https://bliptext.com/articles/vic-damone), [Joey Heatherton](https://bliptext.com/articles/joey-heatherton), [Lorna Luft](https://bliptext.com/articles/lorna-luft), and pianist [Roger Williams](https://bliptext.com/articles/roger-williams-pianist).\nFrom 1979 to 1982, he was a member of [The Jazz Knights](https://bliptext.com/articles/the-jazz-knights) at [West Point](https://bliptext.com/articles/west-point), the jazz ensemble of the [United States Military Academy Band](https://bliptext.com/articles/united-states-military-academy-band), a premier band of the United States armed forces.\nIn 1982, he moved to [New York City](https://bliptext.com/articles/new-york-city).\nHe studied and performed with [Tiny Grimes](https://bliptext.com/articles/tiny-grimes).\nFrom 1985 to 1986, he was a member of [Benny Goodman](https://bliptext.com/articles/benny-goodman)'s last band.\nFrom 1987 to 1991, he was a member of the [Buck Clayton](https://bliptext.com/articles/buck-clayton) Orchestra and toured Europe in July 1991.\nHe performed with [Claude Williams](https://bliptext.com/articles/claude-williams-musician) in President [Bill Clinton](https://bliptext.com/articles/bill-clinton)'s inaugural festivities, with [Bob Wilber](https://bliptext.com/articles/bob-wilber) and the [Carnegie Hall Jazz Band](https://bliptext.com/articles/carnegie-hall-jazz-band), [Benny Carter](https://bliptext.com/articles/benny-carter), and the [Lincoln Center Jazz Orchestra](https://bliptext.com/articles/lincoln-center-jazz-orchestra) directed by [Wynton Marsalis](https://bliptext.com/articles/wynton-marsalis).\nFrom 1992 to 1999 he was a charter member of the [Smithsonian Jazz Masterworks Orchestra](https://bliptext.com/articles/smithsonian-jazz-masterworks-orchestra), directed by [Gunther Schuller](https://bliptext.com/articles/gunther-schuller) and [David Baker](https://bliptext.com/articles/david-baker-composer).\n\n# Education\nIn 1976, with the [One O'Clock Lab Band](https://bliptext.com/articles/one-o-clock-lab-band), Chirillo toured the Soviet Union (Moscow, Volgograd, and Yerevan), Portugal, and England — 5 cities, 25 concerts, 77 encores, 82,800 attendees.\nThe tour was sponsored by the US Department of State as part of a US Bicentennial goodwill arts outreach.\nNBC broadcast the July 4 concert live from Moscow as part of its US Bicentennial commemorative.\nWhile on tour, members of the band held jam sessions with musicians from Moscow, Volgograd, and Yerevan.\nAfter college, Chirillo studied composition and arranging with [John Carisi](https://bliptext.com/articles/john-carisi) and [Bill Finegan](https://bliptext.com/articles/bill-finegan).\nHe also studied guitar with [Remo Palmier](https://bliptext.com/articles/remo-palmier).\n\n# Discography\n\n## As leader\n\n## As sideman\n**With [Kenny Davern](https://bliptext.com/articles/kenny-davern)**\n**With [One O'Clock Lab Band](https://bliptext.com/articles/one-o-clock-lab-band)**\n**With [Houston Person](https://bliptext.com/articles/houston-person)**\n**With others**\n\n# Performances and broadcasts\n

[John Rosamond Johnson](https://bliptext.com/articles/john-rosamond-johnson), [James Weldon Johnson](https://bliptext.com/articles/james-weldon-johnson), [Bob Cole](https://bliptext.com/articles/bob-cole-composer), \"Oh, Didn't He Ramble\" (1902)

\n**As member of the [Smithsonian Jazz Masterworks Orchestra](https://bliptext.com/articles/smithsonian-jazz-masterworks-orchestra)**\n

[Lionel Hampton](https://bliptext.com/articles/lionel-hampton): \"[Flying Home](https://bliptext.com/articles/flying-home),\" May 20 & 21, 1995

[Artie Shaw](https://bliptext.com/articles/artie-shaw): \"['S Wonderful](https://bliptext.com/articles/s-wonderful),\" June 20 & 21, 1992

[Benny Carter](https://bliptext.com/articles/benny-carter): \"'[Ill Wind](https://bliptext.com/articles/ill-wind-arlen-koehler-song),\" July 19 & 20, 1997

[Tommy Dorsey](https://bliptext.com/articles/tommy-dorsey): \"[Chloe](https://bliptext.com/articles/chlo-e-song-of-the-swamp),\" August 12 & 13, 1995

[Artie Shaw](https://bliptext.com/articles/artie-shaw): \"[Begin the Beguine](https://bliptext.com/articles/begin-the-beguine),\" July 18 & 19, 1998

[Duke Ellington](https://bliptext.com/articles/duke-ellington): \"Sepia Panorama,\" July 31, 1993\n

[Benny Goodman](https://bliptext.com/articles/benny-goodman): \"Back Bay Boogie,\" July 19 & 20, 1997

[Glenn Miller](https://bliptext.com/articles/glenn-miller): \"[The Song of the Volga Boatmen](https://bliptext.com/articles/the-song-of-the-volga-boatmen),\" July 25 & 26, 1992

[Artie Shaw](https://bliptext.com/articles/artie-shaw): \"[Summertime](https://bliptext.com/articles/summertime-george-gershwin-song),\" July 18 & 19, 1998

[Duke Ellington](https://bliptext.com/articles/duke-ellington): \"[Take the \"A\" Train](https://bliptext.com/articles/take-the-a-train),\" June 20 & 21, 1992\n

[Benny Carter](https://bliptext.com/articles/benny-carter): \"Back Bay Boogie,\" July 19 & 20, 1997

[Duke Ellington](https://bliptext.com/articles/duke-ellington): \"[Cotton Tail](https://bliptext.com/articles/cotton-tail),\" April 29 & 30, 1995\n

[Tommy Dorsey](https://bliptext.com/articles/tommy-dorsey): \"[Swanee River](https://bliptext.com/articles/old-folks-at-home),\" August 12 & 13, 1995

[Duke Ellington](https://bliptext.com/articles/duke-ellington): \"Rain Check,\" May 9, 1993\n

[Artie Shaw](https://bliptext.com/articles/artie-shaw): \"Back Bay Shuffle,\" July 18 & 19, 1998

[Duke Ellington](https://bliptext.com/articles/duke-ellington): \"[Just A-Sittin' and A-Rockin'](https://bliptext.com/articles/just-a-sittin-and-a-rockin)\" July 18 & 19, 1998\n

[Tommy Dorsey](https://bliptext.com/articles/tommy-dorsey): \"Hallelujah,\" August 12 & 13, 1995

Jimmie Lunceford: \"Blue Blazes,\" August 12 & 13, 1995

\n**[Broadway](https://bliptext.com/articles/broadway-theatre)**\n\n# Published music and papers\n**Compositions and arrangements**\n

\"Swing\"

\"Elegy\"

\"Driving\"

\"Sussex Mummers' Christmas Carol\"

\"Hill-Song No. 2\"

\n**Papers**\n**Interviews**\n\n# Notes and references","current_revision":null,"created_by":"kACnuQmH5k9Nr5VNVEpVeg7XpvUmMctD","created_at":"2025-01-26T11:16:43.957Z","updated_at":"2025-01-26T11:16:43.957Z","search_vector":"'chirillo':2 'jame':1","search_content":" \n \n**Name:** James Chirillo \n**Image Size:** 250 \n**Landscape:** yes \n**Birth Name:** James Louis Chirillo \n**Birth Date:** May 2, 1953 \n**Birth Place:** [Waltham](https://bliptext.com/articles/waltham-massachusetts), Massachusetts, U.S. \n**Genre:** [Jazz](https://bliptext.com/articles/jazz), [big band](https://bliptext.com/articles/big-band), [swing](https://bliptext.com/articles/swing-music), [classical](https://bliptext.com/articles/classical-music) \n**Occupation:** Musician \n**Instrument:** Guitar \n**Years Active:** 1974 – present \n**Website:** james.chirillo.com \n \n\n# \n**James Louis Chirillo** (born May 2, 1953) is an American jazz guitarist, banjoist, composer, arranger, and band leader.\n\n# Career\nFrom 1977 to 1979, Chirillo performed regularly with singers [Marilyn Maye](https://bliptext.com/articles/marilyn-maye), [Vic Damone](https://bliptext.com/articles/vic-damone), [Joey Heatherton](https://bliptext.com/articles/joey-heatherton), [Lorna Luft](https://bliptext.com/articles/lorna-luft), and pianist [Roger Williams](https://bliptext.com/articles/roger-williams-pianist).\nFrom 1979 to 1982, he was a member of [The Jazz Knights](https://bliptext.com/articles/the-jazz-knights) at [West Point](https://bliptext.com/articles/west-point), the jazz ensemble of the [United States Military Academy Band](https://bliptext.com/articles/united-states-military-academy-band), a premier band of the United States armed forces.\nIn 1982, he moved to [New York City](https://bliptext.com/articles/new-york-city).\nHe studied and performed with [Tiny Grimes](https://bliptext.com/articles/tiny-grimes).\nFrom 1985 to 1986, he was a member of [Benny Goodman](https://bliptext.com/articles/benny-goodman)'s last band.\nFrom 1987 to 1991, he was a member of the [Buck Clayton](https://bliptext.com/articles/buck-clayton) Orchestra and toured Europe in July 1991.\nHe performed with [Claude Williams](https://bliptext.com/articles/claude-williams-musician) in President [Bill Clinton](https://bliptext.com/articles/bill-clinton)'s inaugural festivities, with [Bob Wilber](https://bliptext.com/articles/bob-wilber) and the [Carnegie Hall Jazz Band](https://bliptext.com/articles/carnegie-hall-jazz-band), [Benny Carter](https://bliptext.com/articles/benny-carter), and the [Lincoln Center Jazz Orchestra](https://bliptext.com/articles/lincoln-center-jazz-orchestra) directed by [Wynton Marsalis](https://bliptext.com/articles/wynton-marsalis).\nFrom 1992 to 1999 he was a charter member of the [Smithsonian Jazz Masterworks Orchestra](https://bliptext.com/articles/smithsonian-jazz-masterworks-orchestra), directed by [Gunther Schuller](https://bliptext.com/articles/gunther-schuller) and [David Baker](https://bliptext.com/articles/david-baker-composer).\n\n# Education\nIn 1976, with the [One O'Clock Lab Band](https://bliptext.com/articles/one-o-clock-lab-band), Chirillo toured the Soviet Union (Moscow, Volgograd, and Yerevan), Portugal, and England — 5 cities, 25 concerts, 77 encores, 82,800 attendees.\nThe tour was sponsored by the US Department of State as part of a US Bicentennial goodwill arts outreach.\nNBC broadcast the July 4 concert live from Moscow as part of its US Bicentennial commemorative.\nWhile on tour, members of the band held jam sessions with musicians from Moscow, Volgograd, and Yerevan.\nAfter college, Chirillo studied composition and arranging with [John Carisi](https://bliptext.com/articles/john-carisi) and [Bill Finegan](https://bliptext.com/articles/bill-finegan).\nHe also studied guitar with [Remo Palmier](https://bliptext.com/articles/remo-palmier).\n\n# Discography\n\n## As leader\n\n## As sideman\n**With [Kenny Davern](https://bliptext.com/articles/kenny-davern)**\n**With [One O'Clock Lab Band](https://bliptext.com/articles/one-o-clock-lab-band)**\n**With [Houston Person](https://bliptext.com/articles/houston-person)**\n**With others**\n\n# Performances and broadcasts\n [John Rosamond Johnson](https://bliptext.com/articles/john-rosamond-johnson), [James Weldon Johnson](https://bliptext.com/articles/james-weldon-johnson), [Bob Cole](https://bliptext.com/articles/bob-cole-composer), \"Oh, Didn't He Ramble\" (1902) \n**As member of the [Smithsonian Jazz Masterworks Orchestra](https://bliptext.com/articles/smithsonian-jazz-masterworks-orchestra)**\n [Lionel Hampton](https://bliptext.com/articles/lionel-hampton): \"[Flying Home](https://bliptext.com/articles/flying-home),\" May 20 & 21, 1995 \n [Artie Shaw](https://bliptext.com/articles/artie-shaw): \"['S Wonderful](https://bliptext.com/articles/s-wonderful),\" June 20 & 21, 1992 \n [Benny Carter](https://bliptext.com/articles/benny-carter): \"'[Ill Wind](https://bliptext.com/articles/ill-wind-arlen-koehler-song),\" July 19 & 20, 1997 \n [Tommy Dorsey](https://bliptext.com/articles/tommy-dorsey): \"[Chloe](https://bliptext.com/articles/chlo-e-song-of-the-swamp),\" August 12 & 13, 1995 \n [Artie Shaw](https://bliptext.com/articles/artie-shaw): \"[Begin the Beguine](https://bliptext.com/articles/begin-the-beguine),\" July 18 & 19, 1998 \n [Duke Ellington](https://bliptext.com/articles/duke-ellington): \"Sepia Panorama,\" July 31, 1993\n [Benny Goodman](https://bliptext.com/articles/benny-goodman): \"Back Bay Boogie,\" July 19 & 20, 1997 \n [Glenn Miller](https://bliptext.com/articles/glenn-miller): \"[The Song of the Volga Boatmen](https://bliptext.com/articles/the-song-of-the-volga-boatmen),\" July 25 & 26, 1992 \n [Artie Shaw](https://bliptext.com/articles/artie-shaw): \"[Summertime](https://bliptext.com/articles/summertime-george-gershwin-song),\" July 18 & 19, 1998 \n [Duke Ellington](https://bliptext.com/articles/duke-ellington): \"[Take the \"A\" Train](https://bliptext.com/articles/take-the-a-train),\" June 20 & 21, 1992\n [Benny Carter](https://bliptext.com/articles/benny-carter): \"Back Bay Boogie,\" July 19 & 20, 1997 \n [Duke Ellington](https://bliptext.com/articles/duke-ellington): \"[Cotton Tail](https://bliptext.com/articles/cotton-tail),\" April 29 & 30, 1995\n [Tommy Dorsey](https://bliptext.com/articles/tommy-dorsey): \"[Swanee River](https://bliptext.com/articles/old-folks-at-home),\" August 12 & 13, 1995 \n [Duke Ellington](https://bliptext.com/articles/duke-ellington): \"Rain Check,\" May 9, 1993\n [Artie Shaw](https://bliptext.com/articles/artie-shaw): \"Back Bay Shuffle,\" July 18 & 19, 1998 \n [Duke Ellington](https://bliptext.com/articles/duke-ellington): \"[Just A-Sittin' and A-Rockin'](https://bliptext.com/articles/just-a-sittin-and-a-rockin)\" July 18 & 19, 1998\n [Tommy Dorsey](https://bliptext.com/articles/tommy-dorsey): \"Hallelujah,\" August 12 & 13, 1995 \n Jimmie Lunceford: \"Blue Blazes,\" August 12 & 13, 1995 \n**[Broadway](https://bliptext.com/articles/broadway-theatre)**\n\n# Published music and papers\n**Compositions and arrangements**\n \"Swing\" \n \"Elegy\" \n \"Driving\" \n \"Sussex Mummers' Christmas Carol\" \n \"Hill-Song No. 2\" \n**Papers**\n**Interviews**\n\n# Notes and references","revisionCount":0},"hasMore":false,"nextCursor":null}

History