Timothy James

Timothy Allen (AKA Timothy James) plays guitar and bass with a few other projects, the most well-known being the Afrobeat group Antibalas. In 2018 he released a solo instrumental LP called Wind. Timothy James has been carting recording gear all over the world for the last 18 months. The NYC-based guitarist has been on tour with the afrobeat stalwarts Antibalas, and with the road life comes some down time in hotel rooms. "These days I can bring a fairly small recording setup and almost anywhere with a power outlet can be turned into a makeshift studio." James explains, "I'm often a little more inspired when I'm out of my comfort zone in a new place." During the last 2 years of touring with Antibalas and various other musical outfits, James found himself writing and recording in Brazil, Japan, Nigeria, Mexico and France.The songs on the fully instrumental debut album by James were crafted from the backbone of his layered guitar compositions. "Wind" moves from delicate sweet textures evoking sanguine calm (Layercake) to murderous cacophony (The Night Hunts), from cinematic ambience to thematic melodies that burrow their way into listeners psyche. The album was mastered by Japanese Sound Artist Chihei Hatakeyama and is available digitally and in limited release on translucent blue vinyl on Tigershrimp Records.Timothy James has toured extensively through over 25 countries, serving as a guitarist with bands Antibalas, The Sway Machinery, Miwi La Lupa, as the bassist for Ethiopian keyboard legend Hailu Mergia and the hit Broadway musical Fela! While working with these fine musicians, he has had the pleasure to back up artists such as Sharon Jones, Allen Toussaint, Billy Gibbons, Esperanza Spaulding, John Doe, Angelique Kidjo, Bob Mould, Tunde Adibimpe, Kyp Malone, Conor Oberst, Sam Moore,Santigold, Steve Earle, Taj and Deva Mahal, Living Color, Todd Rundgren, G Love, Robyn Hitchcock, Nels Cline, Saul Williams, John Medeski, Tony Allen, and Femi Kuti.