# Jim Self

James Martin Self (born August 20, 1943) is an American tubist and composer from Los Angeles. Self has performed extensively in Los Angeles and internationally as a soloist, chamber musician, orchestral tubist, and, most notably, as a studio musician in the Los Angeles movie studios having appeared on over 1500 soundtracks. He is also known for his association with the Pasadena Symphony, the Pacific Symphony, the Los Angeles Opera and the Hollywood Bowl Orchestra.

## Childhood, education, and early career

James Martin Self was born on August 20, 1943, in Franklin, Pennsylvania, the third youngest of four siblings born to Helen Louise (née Martin, 1907–1980) and James Warren "Pete" Self (1906–1959), and grew up in neighboring Oil City, Pennsylvania. His father, James, worked as an assistant production manager at the Worthington Corporation and was a softball and baseball player. His mother, Helen, was a member of his hometown's First Baptist Church. His older brother, William, worked as an electrical engineer.
After graduating from Oil City High School in 1961, Self went to Indiana State College (now known as Indiana University of Pennsylvania). He studied under trumpeter William Becker, whom he considered a "a father figure and a kind of soul mate". In 1965, he earned his bachelor's degree in music education.
After graduation, Self joined the United States Army Band. The concert band tuba section included Leo Hurst, Bob Pallansch, Dan Perantoni, Chester Schmitz, and Paul Scott. During his time with the US Army Band, Self earned a Master of Music in Tuba Performance from Catholic University of America and studied with Harvey Phillips.
Self left the Army Band in 1967. He was offered the position of Assistant Professor of Tuba and the University of Tennessee in 1969.
In 1971, while still working at the University of Tennessee, Self began working on a Doctor of Musical Arts degree at the University of Southern California. At USC he studied under Tommy Johnson.

## Los Angeles
### Studio career

Self has performed on the Los Angeles studios since 1974. In this time he has recorded over 1500 soundtracks for motion pictures and television. One of Self's most notable soundtrack credits is his performance on Close Encounters of the Third Kind. His performance was featured as the "voice of the mothership." Self can be heard as a soloist in such films as Jurassic Park, Home Alone, Home Alone 2, Casper, Batteries Not Included, Sleepless in Seattle, and Dennis the Menace. Jim Self has been the first call tubist for such notable film composers as John Williams, James Newton Howard, John Debney and James Horner. In recent years, he performed on John Williams' scores for The Force Awakens, The Last Jedi, and The Rise of Skywalker. Self often doubles on cimbasso for soundtrack work, particularly since the late 1990s.

### Orchestral performances

Jim Self holds principal tuba positions with the Hollywood Bowl Orchestra (1991–present), Pasadena Symphony (1975-present), Pacific Symphony (1986–present), Los Angeles Opera (1986–present), and Opera Pacific (1987-2008). In his opera orchestra performances he plays the cimbasso when required. Self is also a frequent substitute tubist with the Los Angeles Philharmonic.

### Teaching

Jim Self taught at the University of Southern California from 1976-2024. His retirement at USC was celebrated with a "Swan Song Concert". At USC Self taught tuba and coached brass chamber music. Self taught at the University of Tennessee from 1969-1975. He has also taught at such festivals as Music Academy of the West and the Henry Mancini Institute.

### Compositions

Self has published over 90 solo, chamber, and symphonic works. In 2008 the Pacific Symphony performed his composition, Tour de Force: Episodes for Orchestra. The 13 minute work has also been transcribed for wind ensemble and was co-premiered by the USC Thornton Wind Ensemble under the direction of H. Robert Reynolds and the IUP Wind Ensemble under the direction of Jack Stamp.
Jim and his wife Jamie have made gifts to his alma mater Indiana University of Pennsylvania, including funding the Legacy Brass Quintet, a brass quintet for honors students, and establishing the Jim & Jamie Self Brass Scholarship in 2023.

## Awards

Harvey Phillips Award (ITEA), 2010
Roger Bobo Award for Excellence in Recording (ITEA), 2008 - InnerPlay
Lifetime Achievement Award (ITEA), 2008
Distinguished Alumni Award, Indiana University of Pennsylvania, 2003
Most Valuable Player Award (Tuba), National Association of Recording Arts and Sciences, 1983, 1985, 1986, 1987
President, International Tuba Euphonium Association, 1979-1981

## Discography

| Disc title | Year of release | Genre | Contributing artists |
| Children at Play | 1983 | Jazz | Jon Kurnick, Guitar Ernie McDaniel, Bass Harold Mason, Drums |
| New Stuff | 1988 | Jazz | Jon Kurnick, Guitar Ernie McDaniel, Bass Harold Mason, Drums |
| Tricky Lix | 1991 | Jazz | Gary Foster, Alto Sax Warren Luening. Trumpet Bill Booth, Trombone Jon Kurnick, Guitar Joel Hamilton, Bass Alan Estes, Drums |
| Changing Colors | 1995 | Classical | Terry Trotter, Piano |
| The Basset Hound Blues | 1997 | Jazz | Pete Christlieb, Tenor sax Terry Trotter, Piano Tom Warrington, Bass Steve Houghton, Drums Stanley the Basset Hound, Vocals |
| The Big Stretch | 1999 | Classical | Tommy Johnson Winston Morris Gene Pokorny Norm Pearson Fred Greene Doug Tornquist Loren Marsteller Malcolm McNab David Duke Bill Booth |
| My America | 2003 | Americana | Burnette Dillon, Trumpet Bill Booth, Trombone Gary Foster, Clarinet and Saxes Mike Lang, Piano Tim May, Banjos and Guitars Dave Carpenter, Basses Bernie Dresel, Drums Joel Derouin, Violin Armen Ksadjikian, Cello Kim Scharnberg, Synthesizer Brian Kilgore, Percussion Chuck Niles, Narration |
| Size Matters | 2003 | Jazz | Bill Scarlett, Tenor Sax Bill Swann, Piano Taylor Coker, String Bass Daryll Johnson, Drums |
| Inner Play | 2005 | Jazz | Gary Foster, Alto Sax, Bass Clarinet, Flute, Alto Flute Pete Christlieb, Tenor Sax Dan Higgins, Soprano/Alto/Tenor Saxes, Flute Terry Trotter/Tom Ranier/Mike Lang, Pianos Tom Warrington/Dave Carpenter/Ken Wild, Basses Steve Houghton, Steve Schaeffer, Ralph Humphrey, Drums Gayle Levant, Harp Jim Fox, Acoustic/Electric Guitars John Magnussen, Vibes, Percussion Brian Kilgore, Percussion Brad Dechter, Alto Sax The Jay Rosen Strings |
| The Odd Couple | 2008 | Jazz | Ron Kalina, Harmonica Larry Koonse, Guitar Tom Warrington, Bass Joe La Barbera, Drums |
| Concerto for Tuba and Orchestra | 2012 | Classical/Jazz | Hollywood Ensemble Bill Cunliffe, Piano |
| 'Tis the Season TUBA Jolly | 2013 | Christmas | Norm Pearson, tuba Doug Tornquist, tuba Dave Holben, tuba Beth Mitchell, tuba Scott Sutherland, tuba Chuck Koontz, tuba Blake Cooper, tuba Steve Klein, tuba Gary Hickman, tuba Fred Greene, tuba Alan Kaplan, euphonium Alex Iles, euphonium Bill Booth, euphonium Bill Reichenbach, euphonium Phil Keen, euphonium James Miller, euphonium Don Sawday, euphonium Ken Kugler, euphonium Brian Kilgore, percussion Bernie Dresel, drums |
| Flying Circus | 2015 | Classical | Barry Perkins, trumpet Tony Ellis, trumpet Rob Frear, trumpet Dave Wailes, trumpet Daniel Rosenboom, trumpet Marissa Benedict, trumpet Malcom McNab, trumpet John Lewis, trumpet Keith Popejoy, horn Jim Taylor, horn Dylan Hart, horn David Duke, horn Mike Hoffman, trombone Dave Stetson, trombone Steve Suminski, trombone Bill Booth, trombone Doug Tornquist, tuba Todd Miller, conductor |
| YO | 2016 | Latin Jazz | Ron Blake, flugelhorn and trumpet Rob Hardt, flute and saxes Francisco Torres, trombone Andy Langham, piano Rene Camacho, bass Joey de Leon, bata, shekere, and timbales Giancarlo Anderson, congas George Ortiz, bongos |
| Floating in Winter | 2017 | Jazz | John Chiodini, guitar |
| Out on the Coast | 2020 | Jazz | David Angel, tenor sax and conducting Phil Feather, saxes and flutes Gene Cipriano “Cip”, saxes and clarinet Jim Quam, tenor sax and clarinet Tom Peterson, tenor sax and flutes Bob Carr, baritone sax and bass clarinet Jonathan Dane, trumpet and flugel horn Ron Stout, trumpet and flugel horn Stephanie O’Keefe, horn Scott Whitfield, trombone John Chiodini, jazz guitar Susan Quam, string bass Paul Kreibich, drums |
| The Light Fantastic | 2020 | Jazz | John Chiodini, guitar |
| Hangin' Out | 2022 | Jazz | John Chiodini, guitar |
| My America 2: Destinations | 2022 | Jazz | Kim Scharnberg, conductor Ron Stout, trumpet and flugelhorn Bill Booth, trombone and euphonium Scott Whitfield, trombone Phil Feather, alto saxophone and English horn Tom Peterson, saxophones John Chiodini, guitars Steve Fister, guitars Bill Cunliffe, piano and melodica Ken Wild, basses Kendall Kay, drums Brian Kilgore, percussion |
| Touch and Go | 2023 | Jazz | John Chiodini, guitars Ron Stout, trumpet Ken Wild, bass Kendall Kay, drums |
| Tour de Force | 2024 | Jazz | River City Brass Band James Gourlay, conductor and tuba soloist Zach Collins, tuba soloist |
| Feels So Good | 2024 | Jazz | John Chiodini, guitar Steve Marsh, saxophone Phil Feather, saxophone Bill Booth, trombone Kris Bergh, trumpet |