James Snyder - "The Clarinet Guy" - has been one of the busiest jazz clarinetists of the last 35 years. His experience runs from sideman to soloist; from jazz festivals to recording studios; from Bourbon Street nightclubs to symphony halls; from theme parks to cruise ships. As a result of his extensive travel with trumpeter Al Hirt, and with New Orleans' Dukes of Dixieland, Jim has performed with many of the country's symphony orchestras. He has spent many years on the road with various jazz bands playing "one-nighters", including a lengthy performance/educational tour of Alaska, funded in part by the NEA. Jim has had performing residencies at both the 1982, and 1990 Worlds' Fairs - in Knoxville, TN, and Osaka, Japan, respectively - and has been regularly featured at jazz festivals all over the U.S. and France. He's an active soloist and clinician, and has been a Yamaha performing artist since 1982.