Jimmy Carpenter

James Carpenter is an American electric blues saxophonist, singer, songwriter, arranger and record producer, who won a Blues Music Award in both 2021 and 2022 in the 'Instrumentalist - Horn' category. He has been involved in the music industry over a span of six decades and, since 2008, has released five solo albums. His most recent was The Louisiana Record, issued in 2022 by Gulf Coast Records. His recording credits include work for Billy Iuso, Jimmy Thackery, Tab Benoit, Walter "Wolfman" Washington, Eric Lindell, Maria Muldaur, Honey Island Swamp Band, and Mike Zito, among others.

Life and career He was born in Greensboro, North Carolina, United States. His father's record collection included big band music, and also Dave Brubeck records which had Paul Desmond playing the alto saxophone. It was his first musical inspiration and Carpenter decided at an early age, that he wanted to play the saxophone. The education system in Greensboro at that time, allowed budding musicians get access to quality music programs, with Carpenter playing in the school band from fifth grade. He was helped by having what he described as "a great saxophone teacher, Charles Murth, who was a wonderful band director". After the recording was completed, Carpenter went to work with Mike Zito, whom he had met at Buddy Guy's Legends when Zito had been the opening act for Thackery. Eventually Zito put together a full-time backing band called the Wheel, which included Carpenter playing saxophone, plus Scot Sutherland (bass), Lewis Stephens (keyboards), and Rob Lee (percussion). The band issued a number of albums and toured extensively over the next few years. In 2013, Mike Zito and the Wheel were booked on the Sin City Soul & Blues Revival, in Las Vegas. Carpenter, as before, got involved in the back stage organisation and he was approached by AJ Gross, a festival organiser, who asked if Carpenter would be interested in helping with another festival planned for the next year. Gross became the founder of the Big Blues Bender, a three day music festival. At the 2014 festival, Carpenter found the lady, Carrie Stowers, whom he has spent the rest of his life with, in the merchandise booth. On September 20, 2019, Gulf Coast Records released Carpenter's next album, Soul Doctor. The album included guest appearances by Red Young (keyboards), plus the guitarist Nick Schnebelen on the track "Soul Doctor", with Zito playing slide guitar work on the track "Wild Streak". The album had a total of 10 tracks, of which Carpenter wrote, or co-wrote, seven. The lack of opportunity to promote the album, because of the limitations imposed by the COVID-19 pandemic in the United States, was partly offset by Carpenter being awarded his first Blues Music Award in 2021, after five previous unsuccessful nominations.

In 2021, Carpenter was given a Blues Music Award for the second consecutive year in the 'Instrumentalist - Horn' category. His next album, The Louisiana Record, was released on September 16, 2022, via Gulf Coast Records. The album contained Carpenter's reworkings of his favorite songs from New Orleans and Louisiana, and was recorded at the Dockside Studios in Maurice, Louisiana. Carpenter noted at first he was uncertain about the idea stating "With such a huge premium placed on original material, I wasn't sure a cover album would work. But when he (Vito) said we would go to Dockside... and record with my old friends from New Orleans, I was sold".

In November and December 2022, Carpenter played dates in both the UK and US.

In June 2026 he toured the UK and Europe including imitate venues such as the Bromley Blues Club (Bromley Little Theatre) in South London, La Belle Angele in Edinburgh and the Old Brewery Store in Faversham, Kent.

Discography Albums Year Title Record label 2008 Toiling in Obscurity Self-released 2014 Walk Away Onsax / Vizztone Records 2017 Plays the Blues Vizztone Records 2019 Soul Doctor Gulf Coast Records / Select-O-Hits 2022 The Louisiana Record Gulf Coast Records 2024 Just Got Started Gulf Coast Records