James Brough (Piano/Keyboard/Singer/Musical Director/Educator)
Schooled in both classical and jazz traditions, James’s roots are firmly in jazz, rock, r&b, and a range of pop styles. His vocal/instrumental repertoire lists over 400 songs, covering an eclectic range of genres. James’s recording credits as an instrumentalist and producer mark a number of CD’s including his solo piano CD White Light, a collaboration with 2012 Grammy Award winning composer Robert Aldridge.
In addition to numerous appearances in clubs, music venues, and spiritual centers in New York City, Boston, and Europe, James has arranged and musically directed several cabaret shows in NYC, 4 Musicals for kids (Jungle Book, Shrek Jr., Wizard of Oz, Addams Family), and worked consistently as a “first call” keyboardist/singer & bandleader for many entertainment agencies in the NYC tri-state area. For four years he performed 5 nights/week as the exclusive pianist/vocalist at the Marriott Marquis in Times Square. Presently James teaches singing and piano at Lagond Music School while continuing to write songs, record, and perform regularly in and around NYC.
James also studied classical singing for 2 semesters as an undergraduate at University of Michigan School of Music. While attending New England Conservatory James studied singing for 3 years with Eddie Watson, well known in the Boston area for his unique method of teaching singing technique specifically designed for pop, jazz, r&b, and musical theatre repertoire. “Peter Wolf (lead singer/J. Geils Band) always had his lesson right before mine.” James also studied How to Teach Singing with Eddie Watson for 1 year.
James has a B.M. in Classical Piano Performance (Syracuse University), and a M.M. in Jazz Piano Performance (New England Conservatory).
