"The only way to sum up the style of Chicago clarinetist and composer James Falzone is to say that it can’t be done. Falzone is an inveterate genre-crosser, and though he squawks and swoops with some of the city’s best free improvisers, it’s his fluency in classical and ethnic European cultures that set him apart. . . . an already important Chicago voice." ~Matthew Lurie, Time Out

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World Premiere of James' who, if not I? for treble choir and orchestra will take place on February 13, 2010 with the DuPage Symphony Orchestra and the Woman's Choral of North Central College. This large scale work was created on commission as a reflection on climate change.

James' group KLANG released their debut studio recording Tea Music on August 25, 2009 to much critical acclaim.

Ben Ratliff of the New York Times has written: "the band plays music that's controlled on the surface and wriggling inside: tight, cruising arrangements of thoughtful and stylish music, with vibraphone shimmers and Mr. Falzone's handsome tone over bass and drums that rumble freely, without fixed rhythm, but never make a big deal out of it.The band is having everything at once, of course: structure and freedom, tunes and the open imagination"

Tea Music continues to receive many positive reviews from critics who've hailed the disc as"an extraordinary recording from an outstanding quartet" at All About Jazz and reached #1 on the Earshot Jazz Radio Chart.

Read additional reviews in Media and check out samples of Tea Music in Recordings and a great Video at YouTube. Also, James sat down with WNUR radio host Mike Corsa for an extended interview about Tea Music and the influences behind it. Listen

Purchase Tea Music at the following places: CD Baby, Dusty Groove, Downtown Music Gallery, Amazon, or Itunes

KLANG played the 2009 Chicago Jazz Festival on Sunday, September 6 in a special homage to Benny Goodman. This concert was featured in an article in the Jazz Institute of Chicago's JazzGram magazine which you can read here. KLANG was featured on Chicago Public Radio's Eight-Forty-Eight, previewing music from the Goodman Project and discussing the project with host Allison Cuddy. Check out the interview and some great photos here

Check out the wonderful new book and cd by children's singer/songwriter Jim Gill, A Soup Opera, which features James' arrangement and orchestration of this histarical story for kids.

Visit James on MySpace with some live and unreleased recordings and find him on Facebook