James K Markway

Career File
( 1952 - Present)

1952     Born in Woodriver, Illinois, on January 26

1966     Moves to New Orleans, picks up electric bass

1967-1974     Begins working with rock and blues bands

1974     Graduates from the University of New Orleans, B. A. in Music Theory and Composition

1975     Begins teaching electric bass at local music stores

1976     Begins first job as a leader at the 544 Club on Bourbon St.

1977     Meets and plays with Emily Remler

1978     Begins first extended stint at the Absinthe Bar, Bourbon St., working with Larry Seiberth, Ricky Sebastian, Coco York, Laverne Butler, Angelle Trosclair, and others; begins teaching at World of Strings Studios

1979     Works with Mason Ruffner at the Ivanhoe Club, Bourbon St., begins working with Jimmy Robinson and Patrice Fisher in the Fisher-Robinson Quartet

1980     Begins working at Tyler's Beer Garden, working at the Absinthe Bar as a leader

1981     Contemporary Arts Center live broadcast, Jim Markway and Friends featuring Scott Goudeau, Larry Seiberth and Ricky Sebastian; plays New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival for the first time, with Jasmine, featuring Patrice Fisher, James Black, Kent Jordan and Cassandra Wilson; records “Tropical Breeze” for Inner City Records with Jasmine; Cassandra Wilson's first recording; WYES live telecast “jazz Excursions” with Scott Goudeau; begins working with Linda Aubert, Tony Klatka, and Joanne Clayton, (Lady BJ); plays the Faubourg for the first time, later named Snug Harbor

1982     Plays Jazz Fest with Bob Breaux, Jasmine, Scott Goudeau Trio, and the Blues Rockers

1983     Begins working with John Mooney, and the Herb Tassin Orchestra; also with Leslie Smith and the Dukes of Dixieland

1984     Works the New Orleans World's Fair with the Herb Tassin Orchestra

1985     Takes up the upright bass

1986     Begins working with Luther Kent; begins working the Maison Bourbon Club, Bourbon St.

1987     WWOZ live broadcast with Scott Goudeau; tours Germany with the Mama's and the Papa's; begins working the Blue Room supper club; begins working with Wallace Davenport, Jimmy Ballero, Ed Dowling, Robert Gable and Roy Liberto

1988     Works the Republican National Convention with the Herb Tassin Orchestra

1989     Begins working with Ronnie Cole, Philip Manuel; begins a second extended stint at the Absinthe Bar, with Marc Adams

1990     Begins working with Tim Laughlin, Al Belletto, Charmaine Neville, Wanda Rouzan, Nellie Gaute, the Chuck Easterling Big Band, Warren Bell, Sr, Earl Turbinton, Janet Lynn; plays the Ascona Jazz Festival, Ascona Switzerland, with Jimmy Ballero

1991     Receives a composition grant from the Arts Council of New Orleans and records “Love Never Fails”, Broken Records; begins working with the Dixie Cups, Eugene Ross, Spencer Bohren, records with Patrick Verbeke, Paris, France; begins teaching at Tulane University

1992     Begins working with Eric Traub, Lenny McDaniel, Juanita Brooks, and Brian “Breeze” Cayolle

1993     Begins working with Maria Muldaur, Clarence Ford, and the Bruce Daigrepont Cajun Band

1994     Begins working with Billy Solley

1995     Begins working with the Pfister Sisters; tours Denmark with Bruce Daigrepont; records with Peter Abrahamsen in Copenhagen, Denmark

1996     Begins working with Andy J. Forest

1997     Launches six piece band Idiomatic, with all original material; begins working with Brint Anderson

1998     Working at Dos Jefes Cigar Bar; founding member of the Adams-Griffin Project;

1999     Begins working with Tommy Ridgley, Jimmy Moliere, Gina Forsythe, and Mitch Woods

2000     Begins working with the Joe Krown Organ Combo, and with Charlie Fardella's Sensation Jazz Band

2001     Begins working at Sweet Kathleen's Dixieland club; launches the Jim Markway Quartet, playing at the Funky Butt, Snug Harbor and Tipitina's

2003     Records “Forward Motion” with the Jim Markway Quartet

www.jimmarkway.com