JAMES WALKER has received degrees in percussion performance from Ithaca College (BM) and Northern Illinois University (MM, Performer's Certificate), and his primary teachers have included Gordon Stout and Bill Molenhof. He recently taught in the percussion department at Northern Illinois University near Chicago, and has also taught at Ithaca College. He has presented clinics at numerous colleges and universities around the United States. James specializes in jazz composition and performance (on vibraphone, marimba, and mallet synthesizer), and is a founding member of the Vokes-Walker Duo, a classical ensemble performing works for marimba and soprano. James has recently teamed with percussionist Mark Mahoney, forming an ensemble dedicated to exploring electronic mallet percussion. James has written for Percussive Notes, and he also authored the "Expressive Jazz Techniques" column for Jazz Player Magazine. His debut CD, "Rhyme or Reason," was released in November 2000, and has received radio airplay on jazz stations around the world. James endorses Mike Balter mallets, and the Xylosynth by Wernick Instruments. He currently resides in Connecticut (US), roughly an hour from New York City.