James Hughes

Joshua Redman has long been a favorite Saxophonist of mine. His album “Wish” was an early influence on my playing and inspired years of dedicated practice. Besides his warm, singing tone and his elegantly whimsical and effortless altissimo, it was…

I am honored to be on a panel discussing careers in music. Despite being humbled, I do feel I have acquired some knoweldge, insight and wisdom that may be helpful to folks wanting to make a career in the music…

The Hughes-Smith Quintet will be playing a week at THE DIRTY DOG JAZZ CAFE! Come on out and celebrate life with us!!!

July 14, 15, 16, & 17...seating starts at 6pm

Reservations highly recommended

View details and make reservations here…

I have moved on to phase TWO of my transcription project: SONNY STITT

I have started off with a relatively easy blues (in Db) to get a baseline of some of Sonny's language. "Blues for Pres, Sweets, Ben, and All…

I have my last installment of my Cannonball transcription project and this one is a burner! It comes from a bonus track of a reissue of his second recording "Them Dirty Blues." It's a live cut and possibly one of…

I am in the middle of a transcription project inspired by NYC pianist/educator David Hazeltine. His method of solo transcription and analysis has intrigued me for a while, but I have never had the time to dive into it until…

Our monthly Cliff Bells Jam will honor the music of trombone legend CURTIS FULLER.

We play at Cliff Bells on Wednesday Dec 4, 8-11:30pm.

Jimmy Smith and I are very excited to be welcoming Detroit's own Vincent Chandler to our…

This month at Cliff Bells we will be offering up a set of music featuring 1960s compositions by vanguard pianist HERBIE HANCOCK.

As many of you know, Jimmy Smith and I host a monthly jam on the first Wednesday at…

The "James & Jimmy" Jam is back! After a summer long hiatus, we have regrouped and are ready to come out swinging!

It was sad to see our Wednesday home at The Black Lotus fold up, but it provided us…

"The Gates" is out!

My new sextet record is finally out. I collaborated with Jimmy Smith (trumpet, DET) and John Yao (trombone, NYC).

Backing us up is a swinging rhythm section: Corey Kendrick (piano), Jeff Pedraz (bass), and Nick Collins…

Time seems to run downhill after September and 2018 is coming to a close. We have one more month to complete....er, close the gap....ok, maybe start some of those New Year's resolutions from eleven months ago.  Let me tell how…

The HSQ is super excited to be playing a set at the Detroit Jazz Festival! Everyone in the quintet has had a very busy year and involved in many diverse endeavors that we don't get to play together as much…

Tonight we will be performing music from Blue Mitchell's classic Blue Note album THE THING TO DO at The Black Lotus Brewery in Clawson. So I thought I would share my transcription of tenor Saxophonist Junior Cook's solo on "Step…

The HSQ's latest recording MOTION has been out for a few months and reviews are trickling in. The most recent is from the acclaimed website All About Jazz.

Check them out!

The James Hughes - Jimmy Smith Quintet : MOTION   

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The Hughes/Smith Quintet is very happy to announce that our third SELF-RELEASED album is finally here! We called it "MOTION" because that's where we are at, in a state of constant motion. We built it from the ground up, got…

Each and every Wednesday, Jimmy Smith and I put together a set of music featuring a different composer and have a different guest rhythm section in to play with us.We open things up for a jam session after the first…

Each and every Wednesday, Jimmy Smith and I put together a set of music featuring a different composer and have a different guest rhythm section in to play with us.We open things up for a jam session after the first…

Each and every Wednesday, Jimmy Smith and I put together a set of music featuring a different composer and have a different guest rhythm section in to play with us.We open things up for a jam session after the first…

Trumpeter Jimmy Smith and I host an evening each and every Wednesday where we feature a different rhythm section and jazz composer for the first set.  After that, we open things up for a jazz jam session and encourage all…