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The Christopher James Band plays an energetic and funky mix of originals, blues and roots music from around the world. Christopher James began playing guitar and singing at an early age after attending an inspiring performance by B.B. King. While still in his teens Christopher headed south to live and travel in the land where blues began performing with various blues groups in clubs from Clarksdale, Mississippi to Dallas, Texas. After returning to Maryland Mr. James founded his own group and went on to win the Baltimore Blues Society's Blues Challenge contest and be a finalist in the International Blues Challenge in Memphis, Tennessee. In Memphis "They played a blistering 30 minute set, demonstrating tight dynamics, outstanding showmanship and originality." (BluesRag v.16, issue 2 Bob Sekinger). He has released three CDs which have been played on stations such as WRNR (103.1) and WPFW (89.3) and the band recently recorded their fourth CD. The Christopher James Band also features the talents of bassist Jeff Reed and percussionist Jon Seligman. Respected for his versatility and creativity Mr. Reed has performed as a sideman and leader with various groups up and down the east coast and in over twenty countries worldwide including Italy, Spain, Egypt, Turkey and Bahrain. He currently teaches jazz and electric bass at Towson University. For over fifteen years Mr. Seligman has taught classes in percussion and world music at McDaniel College. His many recordings and performances as both a leader and as a sideman with groups such as Michael Formanek's Minor Infractions Ensemble, Jon Metzger, the Global Percussion Trio, the Lancaster, Reading and York Symphony Orchestras, as well as studies with percussion masters from around the world such as Glen Velez (frame drumming), Michel Merhej (Arab tambourine) and Roya Bahrami (Kurdish daf) make him equally at home playing jazz and rhythm & blues on the drum set and the music of the Middle East and Africa on frame and hand drums. Already recognized for their fine renditions of electric blues and R&B, in the tradition of Muddy Waters, Howlin' Wolf, B.B. King and Jimi Hendrix, the band's new CD, Out of Wooden Boxes, explores new and much older territory. Recorded "live" with no overdubbing in four days in August the new CD features Christopher James on acoustic guitar, mandolin, harmonica and vocals, Jeff Reed on upright bass and Jon Seligman on cajon, riqq, frame drums and shakers. Robert Johnson's When You Got a Good Friend and Woody Guthrie's Ain't Got No Home in This World Anymore as well as tunes from the late 1800's and five brand new compositions by Christopher James carry you through work, war, love and the blues.