South African trumpeter and composer James McClure is a breath of fresh air in Amsterdam improvisation, leading his contemporary jazz quartet, an explosive afro balkan groove trio ‘MUNGO BUNGO’ and newly formed octet inspired by his musical upbringing in South Africa ‘SOFAYA’.  McClure is planning to release 2 debut Albums in the coming year (2024). He is also an active organiser of fascinating underground evenings full of new experimental talent, as well as being selected as one of the commissioned artists for 2023 by the infamous Amsterdam experimental music series and production house, Space Is The Place.

 

Since moving to the Netherlands in 2015 he has become a part of Amsterdam's vibrant music scene, performing mostly on the fringes of jazz, 21st century composed music, free improvisation, afrobeat, reggae, punk and dub.

He has performed in numerous multidisciplinary settings and played festivals and venues throughout South Africa, Europe, Switzerland, Argentina and the UK.  In the last 3 years McClure has turned his focus onto his own projects and compositions and has started sharing his musical voice and thoughts into the world.