Mr James Muller
Lecturer, Jazz
Elder Conservatorium of Music
Faculty of Arts, Business, Law and Economics
James Muller is a jazz guitarist, composer, and educator born in Adelaide, South Australia. From 1996 to 2012 he was based in Sydney, where he established himself as one of Australia’s leading jazz guitarists through collaborations with James Morrison, Vince Jones, Mike Nock, Bernie McGann, and international artists including Chad Wackerman, John Scofield, and Herbie Hancock.
He has released six critically acclaimed solo albums — No You Don't (1995), All Out (1999), Thrum (2002), Kaboom (2006), Neurotica (2014), and Live at Wizard Tone (2017) — and is the co-author, with acclaimed New York guitarist Wayne Krantz, of Tabs on Krantz (2023). His trio received the ARIA Award for Best Jazz Album in 2000 (All Out), followed by an APRA Award for most Performed Jazz Work in 2004, a Freedman Fellowship in 2004 and a prestigious $90,000 Fellowship from the Australia Council for the Arts in 2012.
James was a staff member at the Sydney Conservatorium of Music between 2014 and 2016 before joining the Elder Conservatorium of Music as permanent staff in 2016, where he currently serves as Lecturer and Course Coordinator for Jazz Performance. His research and teaching focus on contemporary jazz performance, theory, improvisation, and innovative approaches to guitar ensemble orchestration.
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Appointments
Date Position Institution name 2016 - ongoing Lecturer in Jazz Guitar University of Adelaide 2014 - 2016 Staff Member University of Sydney 1992 - ongoing Freelance Jazz Guitarist Self-employed -
Awards and Achievements
Date Type Title Institution Name Country Amount 2012 Fellowship Fellowship The Australia Council for the Arts Australia $90000 2007 Nomination ARIA Award Nomination Australian Recording Industry Association Australia - 2004 Fellowship Freedman Fellowship Freedman Foundation Australia $10000 2004 Award APRA Award APRA Australia - 2002 Nomination ARIA Award Nomination Australian Recording Industry Association Australia - 2000 Award ARIA Award Australian Recording Industry Association Australia -
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Books
Year Citation 2023 Muller, J. (2023). Tabs on Krantz Volume 1 (Vol. 1, Tabs on Krantz ed.). W. Krantz, & J. Muller (Eds.), New York, New York: www.waynekrantz.com. 2023 Muller, J. (2023). Tabs on Krantz Volume 1 (Vol. 1, Tabs on Krantz ed.). W. Krantz, & J. Muller (Eds.), New York, New York: www.waynekrantz.com. 2023 Muller, J. (2023). Tabs on Krantz Volume 1 (Vol. 1, Tabs on Krantz ed.). W. Krantz, & J. Muller (Eds.), New York, New York: www.waynekrantz.com. -
Live Performance of Creative Works
Year Citation 2022 Muller, J. (2022). Out of Sinc (No. Of Pieces: 75 mins) [Performance]. Adelaide Festival Centre. 2022 Muller, J. (2022). Out of Sinc (No. Of Pieces: 75 mins) [Performance]. Adelaide Festival Centre. 2022 Muller, J. (2022). Rai Thistlethwayte in Concert (No. Of Pieces: 90 mins) [Performance]. Adelaide Festival Centre: Adelaide Cabaret Festival. 2022 Muller, J. (2022). Rai Thistlethwayte in Concert (No. Of Pieces: 90 mins) [Performance]. Adelaide Festival Centre: Adelaide Cabaret Festival. 2020 Muller, J. (2020). Vinson/Muller/Gray/Mason Nexus series 2020 (No. Of Pieces: 3 x 2.5 hour performances) [Performance]. Nexus Theatre Adelaide. 2019 Morrison, J. (2019). International Jazz Day 2019 (No. Of Pieces: 2 hour Performance) [Performance]. Melbourne Australia. 2018 Muller, J. (2018). James Muller Live at Wizard Tone (No. Of Pieces: 50 mins) [Performance]. Australia. 2016 Muller, J. (2016). James Muller Quartet Chihuahua Band residency 2015-2016 (No. Of Pieces: Weekly 2.5 hour performances over 1 year period) [Performance]. Chihuahua Bar. 2016 Muller, J. (2016). James Muller Quartet tour 2016 (No. Of Pieces: 4 x 2.5 hour performances) [Performance]. Melbourne, Sydney, wollongong. 2015 Muller, J. (2015). James Muller and SCJO big band tour of USA 2015 (No. Of Pieces: 4 x 50 min sets) [Performance]. USA. 2015 Muller, J. (2015). James Muller and SCJO big band tour of USA 2015 (No. Of Pieces: 4 x 50 min sets) [Performance]. USA. 2015 Muller, J. (2015). James Muller vs Jazzgroove Mothership Orchestra. Australian Tour 2015. (No. Of Pieces: 5 x shows of 2 x 50 min sets) [Musical performance]. Australia. 2015 Muller, J. (2015). James Muller vs Jazzgroove Mothership Orchestra. Australian Tour 2015. (No. Of Pieces: 5 x shows of 2 x 50 min sets) [Musical performance]. Australia. 2014 Muller, J. (2014). Will Vinson Quartet (NYC) Sydney and Adelaide shows (No. Of Pieces: 3 x shows of 2 x 50 min sets) [Performance]. Sydney and Adelaide. 2014 Muller, J. (2014). Will Vinson Quartet (NYC) Sydney and Adelaide shows (No. Of Pieces: 3 x shows of 2 x 50 min sets) [Performance]. Sydney and Adelaide. 2014 Muller, J. (2014). James Muller Trio Melbourne Shows (No. Of Pieces: 2 shows of 2 x 50 min sets) [Performance]. Melb VIC. 2014 Muller, J. (2014). James Muller Trio Australian Tour 2014 (No. Of Pieces: 10 shows of 2 x 50 min sets) [Performance]. Adelaide, Newcastle, Wollongong, Canberra, Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Perth. 2014 Muller, J. (2014). Wangaratta International Jazz Festival (No. Of Pieces: 2 DAYS) [Performance]. Wangaratta VIC. 2014 Muller, J. (2014). Wangaratta International Jazz Festival (No. Of Pieces: 2 DAYS) [Performance]. Wangaratta VIC. 2013 Muller, J. (2013). Perth International Jazz Festival 2013 with Vince Jones (No. Of Pieces: 3 x shows of 1 hour duration) [Performance]. Perth WA. 2013 Muller, J. (2013). Perth International Jazz Festival 2013 with Vince Jones (No. Of Pieces: 3 x shows of 1 hour duration) [Performance]. Perth WA. 2012 Muller, J. (2012). Darren Siegesmund (CAN) Tour of Australia/Japan (No. Of Pieces: 13 shows of 2 x 1 hr sets) [Performance]. Melbourne, Sydney, Wollongong, Wodonga, Perth, Adelaide, Canberra, Brisbane, Osaka, Kobe. 2012 Muller, J. (2012). James Muller Trio with Will Vinson (NYC) (No. Of Pieces: 2 x 1 hr sets) [Performance]. Venue 505. 2012 Muller, J. (2012). James Muller Trio Performances and Workshop Jazzgroove Festival 2012 (No. Of Pieces: 2 x 1hr performances and a 2hr workshop) [Performance]. Redfern NSW. 2011 Muller, J. (2011). James Morrison Country SA Tour (No. Of Pieces: 5 x shows consisting of 1 x 40min set and 1 x 60 min set) [Performance]. Whyalla, Pt Lincoln, Pt Pirie, Renmark, Mt Gambier SA. 2011 Muller, J. (2011). James Muller Trio with Special Guests. 6 month gig series. (No. Of Pieces: 6 x 120 min shows) [Performance]. Sydney NSW. 2011 Muller, J. (2011). James Muller Trio with Joel Frahm (NYC) (No. Of Pieces: 2 x 50 min sets) [Performance]. Picton NSW. 2011 Isaacs, M. (2011). Mark Isaacs Resurgence Band National Tour 2011 (No. Of Pieces: 16 shows comprising of 2 x 1 hour sets) [Performance]. Australia. 2011 Muller, J. (2011). Wangaratta International Jazz Festival 2011 (No. Of Pieces: 4 x 1 hr sets) [Performance]. Wangaratta VIC. 2011 Muller, J. (2011). James Muller Trio in Melbourne (No. Of Pieces: 2 shows of 2 x 50 min sets) [Performance]. Melbourne VIC. 2011 Muller, J. (2011). Vince Jones at The Basement (No. Of Pieces: 2 shows of 2 x 1 hour sets) [Performance]. Sydney NSW. 2011 Muller, J. (2011). Vince Jones at The Basement (No. Of Pieces: 2 shows of 2 x 1 hour sets) [Performance]. Sydney NSW. -
Recorded/Rendered Creative Works
Year Citation 2025 Authors: Gray L, Muller J. Title: "The Exhibits" album. Description: N/A. Extent: 47 minutes. 2021 Authors: Stubbs K, Muller J. Title: Reminiscence of a Soul. Description: N/A. Extent: 60 mins. 2021 Authors: Stubbs K, Muller J. Title: 3 Shadows, 4 Angels. Description: N/A. Extent: 60 mins. 2019 Authors: Muller JP. Title: Big Hush. Description: N/A. Extent: 62 mins. 2017 Authors: Muller J. Title: James Muller and SCJO "OKAY". Description: N/A. Extent: 50mins. 2017 Authors: Muller J. Title: James Muller and SCJO "OKAY". Description: N/A. Extent: 50mins. 2015 Authors: Muller J. Title: James Muller "Neurotica". Description: N/A. Extent: 45 mins. 2013 Authors: Muller J. Title: Tina Harrod "The Revolution Is Eternal". Description: N/A. Extent: 1 hr. 2013 Authors: Muller J. Title: Tina Harrod "The Revolution Is Eternal". Description: N/A. Extent: 1 hr. 2013 Authors: Muller J. Title: Linda Oh "Sun Pictures". Description: N/A. Extent: 50 mins. 2013 Authors: Muller J. Title: Linda Oh "Sun Pictures". Description: N/A. Extent: 50 mins. 2013 Authors: Muller J. Title: Mark Isaacs Resurgence Band "Duende". Description: N/A. Extent: 50 mins. 2013 Authors: Muller J. Title: Mark Isaacs Resurgence Band "Duende". Description: N/A. Extent: 50 mins. 2012 Authors: Muller J. Title: The Idea Of North "This Christmas". Description: N/A. Extent: 1 hour. 2012 Authors: Muller J. Title: The Idea Of North "This Christmas". Description: N/A. Extent: 1 hour. 2012 Authors: Muller J. Title: Trichotomy "Fact Finding Mission". Description: N/A. Extent: 1 hour. 2012 Authors: Muller J. Title: Trichotomy "Fact Finding Mission". Description: N/A. Extent: 1 hour.
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