Pianist, cellist, composer, arranger, and educator, Jim Holton has performed extensively in the Philadelphia, Delaware, New Jersey, and New York areas with many groups that include critically- acclaimed Rhythm & Brass, Orrin Evans' Captain Black Big Band, and Joe Suddler's Swing Machine who backed artists such as Jon Fadis, Clark Terry, Slide Hampton, and Al Grey.

Jim has also worked with artists Tim Warfield, Greg Osby, Clifford Adams, Larry McKenna, Tyrone Brown, Justin Faulkner, Charles Fambrough, Mike Boone, Tony “TNT” Jones, John Swana, Byron Landham, Mickey Roker, and Cornel Rochester.

Among recordings Jim is on are: “Four Imprints” (feat. Richard Hill, Elliot Bild, and Gusten Rudolph), Mike Boone's “Better Late Than Never,” Tyrone Brown's “The Magic Within” and “Bass Works,” Barry Sames' “Celebration,” Khadijah Renee's “Sentimental Me, a tribute to Sarah Vaughn,” Lee J Harold’s “Memory Lane,” Rhenda Fearrington’s “This Moment’s Sweetness,” and played on a grammy-nominated soundtrack, composed by Dr. Maurice Wright, for the documentary film, “ Strokes of Genius.”

Jim and his music have been featured numerous times on Philadelphia's WRTI, 90.1FM, where he has been a guest of radio hosts, Bob Perkins, Maureen Malloy, and Jeff Duperon. 

In October of '08, Jim released the CD, “No Green Bananas, a retrospective,” which was favorably reviewed in The Philadelphia Inquirer, All about Jazz, and The Philadelphia Jazz Music Examiner.

Jim performed as a member of Richard Hill’s artist in residency at the Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts in Philadelphia, PA.

He has a BA in Music from Temple University and is currently serves as Minister of Music at several area churches.

He teaches piano, cello, music theory and improvisation to students of all ages and levels in the Philadelphia area. In addition to private lessons, Jim Holton is on the faculty of Mercer County Community College in West Winsdor, New Jersey as instructor of piano and cello.

Short Bio

Pianist, cellist, composer, arranger, and educator, Jim Holton has performed and recorded extensively in the Philadelphia, Delaware, New Jersey, and New York areas with many ensembles. Recent recordings include “Four Imprints,” Khadijah Renee's “Sentimental Me, and Lee J Harold’s “Memory Lane.” In October of '08, Jim released the CD, “No Green Bananas, a retrospective,” which was favorably reviewed in The Philadelphia Inquirer, All about Jazz, and The Philadelphia Jazz Music Examiner. He has a BA in Music from Temple University and is currently serves as Minister of Music at several area churches. He teaches piano, cello, music theory and improvisation to students of all ages and levels in the Philadelphia area. In addition to private lessons, Jim Holton is on the faculty of Mercer County Community College in West Winsdor, New Jersey as instructor of piano and cello.