Jim Verdeur began playing the saxophone at age ten and was quickly influenced by the sounds of King Curtis, Junior Walker, the Memphis Horns and the Beach Boys. Soon after attaining All State Musician honors in high school, Jim auditioned and was accepted in to the West Chester University School of Music in West Chester, Pennsylvania. While at West Chester, he occupied the lead tenor chair of its premiere jazz ensemble, the Criterions, under the direction of Lee Southall.
Jim currently is a Philadelphia based multi-instrumentalist, composer, arranger and educator. He has performed with national acts such as The Beach Boys, Simon Kirke, The Soul Survivors, Bill Bruford, Liberty DeVitto, Dick Dale, Southern Culture on the Skids, Third World, David Uosikkinen's "In the Pocket" as well as many local Philadelphia artists. Jim has also recorded and scored television commercials that have aired on network television and has composed music that has been published internationally by Carl Fisher Publications. While maintaining a busy performance schedule, Jim has served as instructor of saxophone and jazz improvisation at Chestnut Hill College and currently teaches instrumental music in the suburban Philadelphia area.
