James Snyder, a Yamaha Performing Artist since 1979, is a clarinetist, entertainer, writer and clinician. Though a classically trained pianist starting at age 4, Jim discovered his father's old clarinet, bought a fingering chart and taught himself to play by ear. At 8 years old, a chance meeting with Louis Armstrong set him on a path to a career in music.
Jim's highly recognizable sound has taken him from sideman to soloist; from theme parks to cruise ships; from recording studios to jazz festivals; and from Bourbon Street nightclubs to symphony halls. He spent many years on the road performing one-nighters throughout the U.S., Canada, Western Europe and Japan. Jim was a staff musician for the Walt Disney Company for over two and a half decades and had held performing artist residencies at both the 1982 (Knoxville, TN) and 1990 (Osaka, Japan) World's Fairs. He was a member of New Orleans' Dukes of Dixieland and the clarinetist with jazz trumpeter Al Hirt.
Jim makes his home in Central Florida. His music project, Raisin Cake Orchestra, has gained an international audience and critical acclaim. He has been a regular columnist for Halftime Magazine since 2007 and conducts clinics throughout the country. His 2007 solo CD Coliseum Square is available on the Apple Jazz label.
