Biography

Jim Self is a Los Angeles freelance musician, a veteran of over 1400 motion picture scores, hundreds of television shows and records, and is tuba soloist on many prominent movies. His tuba was the "Voice of the Mothership" in John Williams score to Close Encounters of the Third Kind. Recent films include War of the Worlds, Lemony Snicket, Legend of Zorro, King Kong, Ice Age/Meltdown, Eight Below, X Men 3, All the King’s Men and Evan Almighty.

He is Principal Tuba/Cimbasso with the Pasadena and Pacific Symphonies, the Hollywood Bowl Orchestra and the Los Angeles Opera and Opera Pacific orchestras. Self holds degrees from Indiana University of Pennsylvania, Catholic University and a DMA from the University of Southern California--where he teaches tuba and chamber music.

His major tuba teachers were William Becker, Harvey Phillips and Tommy Johnson. Jim is a past president of The International Tuba/Euphonium Association, a former member of The U.S. Army Band, Washington, D.C and was on the faculty at the University of Tennessee. His compositions and arrangements include works for solo tuba, brass quintet, band, orchestra and other brass, woodwind and string chamber music. Jim has produced nine solo jazz and classical recordings.

Recently released is a CD entitled InnerPlay with strings and features over 40 of LA’s top jazz and studio musicians. It was one of Jazz Times’ Top 50 CDs of the year and Self was chosen for this year’s Downbeat Critics Poll. All of his recordings and compositions are available from: www.bassethoundmusic.com. Jim Self is a Yamaha Performing Artist.