He holds a Masters degree in jazz performance from The Aaron Copland School of Music, and is an alumnus of The Berklee College of Music as well as Wayne State University. Also a music educator, Jimmy has held numerous artists in residence positions in the NYC public schools. He is the director of the “Summer Rocks” and “Jazz Experience” programs at the Detroit School of Rock and Pop music, and is a certified music teacher in Michigan.

In addition to being a member of Will Sessions and The Motor City Horns, he is also a member of The Paul Keller Orchestra, Bobby Streng’s House Big Band, and The Motor City Jazz Orchestra. Active in the musical landscape, he has performed with a number of regional and national artists/acts, including The Detroit Symphony Orchestra, Aretha Franklin, The Temptations, The Four Tops, The Verve Pipe, Alexander Zonjic, Mitch Ryder, Stewart Francke, Jill Jack, Karen Newman, Alberta Adams, Melvin Davis, Pat Lewis, Johnnie Bassett.

Jimmy has performed with jazz legend Jimmy Heath, trumpeters Jim Rotondi, Michael Phillip Mossman, and saxophonist Antonio Hart, as well as The Scott Gwinnell Jazz Orchestra, Marcus Belgrave, Wendell Harrison and Chico O’Farrill’s Afro-Cuban Jazz Orchestra. During his tenure in NYC Jimmy also lead his own group - The Jimmy Smith Sextet.

Jimmy has recorded for film soundtracks as well as national and international television commercials. He has recorded with The Men of Grace, (Kenny Flav’s) Wayne Kounty, The Motor City Horns, Stewart Francke, Bob Mervak, Jeff Scott and Bret Puchir’s Chicken Bucket All-stars.

In the spring of 2013 Jimmy released his debut recording with co-leader Saxophonist James Hughes. The album, From Here On Out is a completion of 9 original jazz compositions rooted in the Detroit hard bop tradition.