Saxophonist James Riggs serves as Regents Professor at the University of North Texas where he teaches saxophone, directs the award winning Two O' Clock Lab Band and coordinates the world's largest enrollment of saxophone students. Riggs is recognized as an innovative teacher known for his insights into classical and jazz saxophone techniques and jazz improvisation. He has produced many award-winning saxophonists including first place winners and finalists in the North American Saxophone Alliance Young Artist Competition, finalists in the Thelonious Monk Jazz Saxophone Competition and winners in Down Beat magazines Student Music Solo Awards. Riggs' former students hold teaching and performing positions in numerous colleges and universities throughout the United States and in major military bands in Washington, D.C. His students hold first call professional playing positions across the globe including Hamburg, New York City and Los Angeles. For four years including 2001, Down Beat Magazine selected the UNT Two O' Clock Jazz Band as ("Winner") of the Annual Student Music Awards. The Two O' Clock Lab Band has six recordings that are heard regularly on radio throughout Asia, Europe and the United States garnering praise from colleagues, composers, critics and garnering consideration by the NARAS Grammy's.
Riggs is a recording artist and has performed regularly with the Dallas and Ft. Worth Symphony Orchestras. Riggs performed with the Dallas Symphony on the European tour of Holland, Belgium, Switzerland, Germany, England and Ireland. He recorded Prokoviev's Lt. Kije, Gershwin's Rhapsodie in Blue, Porgy and Bess and American In Paris with the Dallas Symphony Orchestra and appeared as a jazz soloist with the United States Navy Commodores in Washington, D.C. Riggs has conducted All-State Jazz Bands in Michigan, Ohio, Oklahoma, Kentucky, Tennessee. Riggs has appeared as a featured performer and clinician at Jazz Festivals throughout the USA and Sweden. As a freelance artist he has performed with Frank Sinatra, Ella Fitzgerald, Tony Bennett, Nancy Wilson, Henry Mancini, Nelson Riddle, Stan Kenton and others. He holds degrees from the University of North Texas and the University of Toledo. Riggs is an artist/clinician for Selmer Corporation and Rico International.
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