Bio of Jim Buchman from The Titan Hot Seven

Jim Buchman, Clarinet

Given the nickname, “Gentleman Jim” while playing with the high-energy, Toronto based Climax Jazz Band, during the late 70’s and “The Good Dog” by the Black Dogs a decade later, Jim’s monikers are well-deserved and consistent.

Possessing as wide a range of classic jazz experience as any Reedman around, Jim has appeared with many internationally known jazz artists; among them, Peter Appleyard, Bob Wilber, Max Kaminsky, Turk Murphy, Kenny Davern, Dick Cary, Bill Allred, Peter Schilperoot, Bob Havens, Henry Cuesta, Humphrey Lyttleton, Colin Bowden, Ralph Sutton, Lu Watters, and Dick Hyman.

You may remember Jim as the reed player with Don Kinch’s Conductors, Borgy’s Banjo Reunion, the Rent Party Revellers, the original Black Dogs, Rosie O’Grady’s Good Time Jazz Band, Big Mama Sue’s Follies, the 10th Avenue Jazz Band, and the Rhythm Rascals, and his own group, Toronto Jazz. Because of his extensive musical background and his ability to play so many different styles of jazz, Jim became a favorite on the Dixieland circuit as the “Sweet Substitute” where he has been the substitute reed player with bands such as: Buck Creek, Grand Dominion, Nightblooming Jazzmen, Blue Street, Pepper and Fine Thyme, Uptown Lowdown, and the Bob Crosby’s Bobcats, led by Ed Metz, Sr.

Currently credited with more than 40 recordings, Jim is particularly proud of “All The Girls Go Crazy”, recorded with the Toronto-based Climax Jazz Band. Subsequently, this CD won the best album award for 2003 in the classic jazz performance category, presented by the Canadian Collectors’ Congress.

During his last four years at Walt Disney World’s Epcot Center, Jim became a sideman with the showband at the Germany Pavilion at Epcot Center. The Bandleader developed an additional show group to perform with various orchestras throughout the U.S. as a pops concert attraction. The Sonnenschein Express has enjoyed a remarkable success, having performed with the Oktoberfest Zinzinnati Pops conducted by Erich Kunzel, and the Minneapolis Pops Orchestra conducted by Doc Severinsen for their “Doctoberfest” celebrations. Other orchestras have included Naples, Tulsa, Wichita, Long Beach, Milwaukee, and Edmonton.

As a jazz camp instructor, Jim has taught trad jazz principles and techniques at the Mammoth Lakes(6 years) and Sacramento Jazz Camps (8 years). He is in his 3rd year as the reeds instructor for the annual San Diego Adult Traditional Jazz Camp.