I am the Suite Lead for Music, having responsibility for the Commercial Music, Creative Music Production & Technology and BA Music courses. Previously, I was the Programme Director for the Commercial Music course, a role which I held for fifteen years. I am a guitarist primarily specialising in pop, blues, rock, soul, funk and jazz but also compose in jazz and fusion styles . Some of my playing and composition work can be viewed on Instagram, and heard on Bandcamp and Spotify.
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jamesdeanguitar/reels/
Bandcamp (original album Here and Now): https://jamesdean3.bandcamp.com/album/here-and-now
As a guitarist I have performed with artists of national and international standing and I regularly perform with a range of Kent based bands and artists. Some performance highlights include performing at the Indigo2 at the O2 arena supporting the band Chic and recently playing on a mini-tour with American soul singer and house artist, Marc Evans – a series of gigs which focussed on the work of vocalist Jon Lucien, which also featured Andrew McGuinness on drums (James Taylor Quartet) and Snowboy on percussion (Lisa Stansfield, Amy Winehouse amongst others). Some other musicians I have performed with include Paul Booth (Steve Winwood, Santana, Steely Dan, Eric Clapton), Noel McCalla (Manfred Mann), Simon Foster (Flying Pickets, Arcadia, Thunderthumbs), Steve Hamilton (Bill Bruford's Earthworks, Billy Cobham) and Gary Barnacle (Paul McCartney, David Bowie, Phil Collins).
Before working full time for the University I was active as a guitar arranger/transcriber most notably for Music Sales. A selection of the works I transcribed are listed below:
Jeff Buckley - Grace and other songs
U2 – All that you can't leave behind
Nick Drake - Way to blue: an Introduction to Nick Drake
Oasis - Standing on the shoulders of giants
The Stereophonics – Performance and cocktails
Iron Maiden – Brave New World