The Wednesday Night Pizza Band by The James Bazen Big Band

After this revelation Bazen spent some time in New Orleans. "I was

one of those guys in the street with my case open," Bazen says,

"playing my clarinet and sax for the tourists." Here he was exposed

to the great traditions of blues, dixieland, and Cajun music.

He later endured one year of master's studies at DePaul University in

Chicago. There he majored in "jazz and commercial music."

Again, quickly realizing that one can only learn so much in an

academic setting, he left DePaul and began attending performances

of the great Chicago jazz musicians as well as frequenting jam

sessions and starting his own bands in "the real world."

When Bazen moved to Washington, DC with his wife Sarah he tried

various day gigs to make ends meet including managing a record

store. "It was awful," Bazen says. "Working with various bands until

2 or 3 in the morning and then working at the store from 8 to 6...I

was a zombie. In addition to being too tired to be creative, I hated

working for corporate America. I just prefer to be my own boss."

Which brings us to the present...

In an effort to "be his own boss" Bazen started his own talent

agency, musicunlimited.com, and started booking his variety band

and other acts. The business has done well enough that it has

allowed him to finance his "jazz habit." (How do you make a million

dollars in jazz? Start with two million!)

Now James Bazen produces his own records. This gives him the

freedom to explore his talents both as a musician and arranger no

matter where they lead.

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