James Lockwood is an upright bassist and bandleader working in Melbourne and Victoria. A lover and exponent of the Bebop tradition, Lockwood performs the music of better- and lesser-known composers active during the 1940’s and early 50’s. A proponent of the Jazz-Arco style pioneered by bassists Slam Stewart, Jimmy Blanton, and Paul Chambers, Lockwood employs the cello-esque timbre of the bowed upright bass to create fleet and dexterous Jazz melodies inspired by the improvisations of Charlie Parker.

The James Lockwood Trio is the primary vehicle for Lockwood’s exploration and performance of the Bebop idiom. The Trio specialises in the music of Charlie Parker, Bud Powell, Thelonious Monk, and numerous other composers of the Bebop idiom, and performs in the classic format of guitar, upright bass, and drumkit. Emphasising a sleek and melodic style, The James Lockwood Trio reflects the influence of the great Jazz bands of the 1940’s, combining dynamics extemporisations with the melodic sophistication of the Bebop masters.