Jimmy Macbride.com dljamacbride.com


Jimmy Macbride is a drummer, composer and pianist from West Hartford, CT. He has performed with such noted artists as Wycliffe Gordon, Ray Vega, Bob Dorough and Christian McBride at such renowned venues as the Iridium, Sweet Rhythm, and Dizzy’s Club Coca-Cola in New York City. Among Jimmy's recent accomplishments include being a resident at the 2009 Betty Carter Jazz Ahead Program, performing at the Kennedy Center Millennium Stage and performing with The Jazz Band of America at the Music for All Festival in Indianapolis. In 2008 and 2009, Jimmy was named one of two drummers to perform in the Next Generation Jazz Orchestra, which performed at the North Sea Jazz Festival in Rotterdam, as well as at the Monterey Jazz Festival, and a 2009 tour throughout the Midwest. In addition, he was in residence at the Steans Institute at the Ravinia Festival in June 0f 2009. He is a 2010 finalist for the NFAA and attended ArtsWeek in Miami in January. He also performed recently at the NFAA Gala Celebration of the Gold and Silver Award Winners at the Baryshnikov Center in NYC.

Jimmy has been awarded five Student Music Awards from Down Beat Magazine, both for his solo performances and original compositions, and has been featured in Modern Drummer Magazine’s On The Move column. He has attended the Berklee College of Music’s Summer Performance Institute, with full scholarships and was also invited to attend the Skidmore Jazz Institute, having been awarded a scholarship to do so. In addition, the Percussive Arts Society awarded him the 2003 Larrie Londin Memorial Scholarship for assistance with his music studies, and the William Ludwig Scholarship to attend the 2003 PAS International Convention in Louisville. In 2007 and 2009, Jimmy was a finalist for the Gibson/Baldwin Grammy Band and He also attended the Brubeck Summer Jazz Colony and the Vail Jazz Workshop, with full scholarships. Other honors include receiving several ASCAP Foundation Young Jazz Composers Awards for his original compositions, as well as a 2009 ASCAP Plus Award.

Some of Jimmy’s recent performances include opening for Jeremy Pelt at the Hartford Jazz Society Wadsworth Atheneum Series, opening for the Aaron Goldberg Trio at the Killingworth Center for the Arts, as well as performing at the JVC Jazz Festival in New York with the GHAC combo. Upcoming performances include performing with the Adam Larson Combo at Miles' Cafe in NYC.

Jimmy has just completed his first year at The Juilliard School, where he studies with Carl Allen.

In addition to his performing credits, Jimmy is very involved in giving back to the community. Since third grade, Jimmy has been performing with a group called Jimmy and the Hasbeens. This group performs throughout the greater Hartford area at senior citizen homes, and the like. All proceeds earned from these performances have been donated to Jimmy’s former elementary school’s instrumental music fund. To date, the group has earned over $5,000 for the Whiting Lane School, which was able to purchase a drum set, along with other needed instruments and equipment. The group, now know as The Court of St. James, continues to perform and raise money for both the Whiting Lane School and Bristow Middle School in West Hartford. In addition, Jimmy serves as a volunteer on the student task force of West Hartford’s Gifts of Music, a foundation that raises money for the town’s youth who are unable to afford musical instruments or private lessons.