bio

photo © Margaux Rodrigues

Franco-British pianist Jim Funnell started playing music at the age of five. At thirteen, he was already leading his own trio and began his performing career at fifteen in Parisian jazz clubs. After earning a diploma in Classical Performance from the Conservatoire in Evry (France), he received a full tuition scholarship to attend Berklee College of Music (Boston, USA), where he graduated in 2007, majoring in Performance and Jazz Composition. He studied with professors such as Joanne Brackeen, Hal Crook, Joe Lovano, George Garzone, Danilo Perez, Mitch Haupers... During his time in America, he notably performed and recorded with David Fiuczynski’s KiF (inlcuding a trip to Russia to play at the JazzQ Festival and an appearance as a guest artist on Fuze’s album “KiF Express”) as well as a quartet lead by trumpeter Tiger Okoshi. He also shared the stage with Yellowjackets members Russell Ferrante and Marcus Baylor, Meshell Ndegeocello, Marcus Miller and Dave Douglas. Now based in Paris and London, Jim leads his own jazz trio, Word Out, and co-leads an exciting West African influenced improvisational world grooves project, AfuriKo, with percussionist Akiko Horii. He has recently won the 1st prize in Composition at the “Trophées du Sunside” in Paris and has toured Mexico, Japan, and the UK several times sharing his own music with local musicians and audiences. Jim is also active as a freelance educator.