James Yoshizawa is a versatile drummer, percussionist and educator living in Los Angeles, CA who is most known for blending unique percussion instruments from all around the world with the drumset to create unique and compelling rhythms and textures. He began his musical training at age 11 playing in a Japanese folk music ensemble as well as his middle school marching band and orchestra. He went on to earn a percussion performance degree at a university where he was awarded a number of accolades and scholarships.
As a performer, he specializes primarily in jazz and Irish percussion but has extensive experience in Cuban, Brazilian, West African, Caribbean, and classical percussion. As a performer, he can be found on stages all over the world such as the Taipei National Concert Hall. Locally, he can be found at The Blue Whale, The Hollywood Bowl, Vibrato Jazz Grill, Vitellos, Sam First, The Segerstrom Center, The Greek Theater and many other venues.
Some career highlights include being invited to the Fairbanks Summer Arts Festival as a guest artist since 2013, winning 1st place at the All-Ireland International Bones Championships in 2022, performing for President Barack Obama, serving at the bodhran soloist and percussion for the Broadway musical “Come From Away” in 2016, and performing with KYGO at the Hollywood Bowl in 2024.
As an educator, he has taught at nationally recognized high schools all over Southern California such as Arcadia High School and Woodbridge High School. He also teaches numerous workshops around the world, including a presentation of the Irish bones at the Percussive Arts Society International Convention in 2022.
Ensembles he currently performs with include The Nick Mancini Collective, Eric Rigler’s Celtic Hollywood, ELEW, Chris Norton, Dylan Meek, Adryon De Leon, and Stepwise.