Eastside Detroiter James O’Donnell was the protégé of the great trumpeter Russell Green (Jimmie Lunceford Band). The trumpet has taken him around the globe, starting in New York City then Mexico City, eventually becoming a bandleader on cruise ships which took him to the Caribbean, the Alaskan Panhandle, both the French & the Italian Riviera’s, Spain, Portugal, Morocco, Greece, Turkey, through Scandinavia to Russia as well as several trips crossing the Atlantic. He often backed guest artists including Freddy Cole.
He came home to start a family and has built a name for himself around town as an original trumpet stylist as well as an engaging singer. As a family man, the holidays are always a big deal for him so putting this collection of holiday jazz together was an obvious choice. It will be available this evening at Cliff Bell’s.