Biography
Born in Columbus, Ohio, in 1970, James Bennington lived in Detroit, Michigan until 1978 when he relocated to Houston, Texas. He began music studies on clarinet while attending Elementary School before switching to drums at age thirteen. Bennington's experience has come from private study, marching and concert bands both middle and high school, work as a sideman, and as a band leader with his group, Colour and Sound.
Early musical experiences include participation in several jazz and blues sessions in Texas throughout the late 1980s and early 1990s. Bennington studied with Elvin Jones for ten years beginning in 1993 and served as band manager / drum tech from 2000–2002 on tours in the U.S. and Europe.
Active in Texas 1990-1998, the West Coast from 1998-2006, moved to Chicago 2006–present. Bennington has performed throughout the U.S., Canada, Europe, and South America. He has played and recorded in the jazz and improvised music communities for over 35 years. He has been an active contributor to the music scene playing and recording with Perry Robinson (Clarinetist), Joe Lovano (Saxophonist), Daniel Carter (Saxophonist, Ed Schuller (Bassist), Brian Smith (Bassist), Fredrick Jackson Jr. (AACM Saxophonist), Samuel Hasting (guitarist), Jim Baker (piano), Mike W Harmon (bassist), Steve Cohn (Pianist), Dustin Laurenzi (Saxophonist), and Artie Black (Saxophonist) among many others.
Notably, Bennington has been a featured performer at the 30th Annual Chicago Jazz Festival, Fred Anderson's Velvet Lounge, and the Tampon-Galerie in Paris, France in 2008, Joe's Pub in NYC 2025, WKCR NYC 2025. Bennington is endorsed by Dream Cymbals and Gongs, Inc. and is featured in the books ['Herbie Nichols; A Jazzists Life'] by Mark Miller and ['Dreaming Drums'] by Christian Ducasse
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