James Michael Bianco III (born March 25, 1976) is an independent musician, singer, songwriter and producer based in Lisbon, Portugal.
Early life Born in Brooklyn, New York, on March 25, 1976, Bianco is the youngest child of James Bianco, Jr. and Jane (née Levy) Bianco. The family, which also includes one older sister, moved from Brooklyn to Long Island, New York. According to his biography, in 1979 Bianco's father traded two 35 pound barbells and a bench press for the first upright piano in the Bianco home.Bianco, Jim. "Artist Biography", The Agency Group. Retrieved on 09-03-2009. As a youth, Bianco studied piano and played bass guitar in local bands. Bianco graduated from high school in 1994 and from college in 1998.
Career After graduation, Bianco spent time in Europe. Upon returning to the United States, a friend from college invited Bianco to Los Angeles, California, to play in his band. Bianco moved to Los Angeles in the spring of 2000. He played bass and wrote songs with the group until they disbanded. Bianco decided to learn to play the guitar, refine his singing skills and set about assembling a band of his own. He rented a room in West Los Angeles for $80 a month and practiced until he felt comfortable sharing his music. He began attending open mic nights around Los Angeles, performing at least three nights a week. One evening he attended a songwriter night at a small coffee shop in Hollywood called the Hotel Café. Soon after, Bianco was invited to open for Gary Jules.Scott, Bruce,:“Hotel Culture” , “Movmnt Magazine” Summer 2007. Retrieved 3 September 2009
The Hotel Café has grown from a small coffee shop into what is now considered one of the finest venues in Los Angeles. The Hotel Café has been credited for the renaissance of the Los Angeles singer/songwriter movement that began in the early 2000s.Miller, Jeff. “Hear Where They Came From“ “Los Angeles Times“ October 6, 2005. Retrieved on 3 September 2009 Initiated by Gary Jules’ idea of creating a supportive space for artists to hone their craft, coupled with appropriate timing and genuine need, musicians began gravitating to the Hotel Café. In a cooperative effort, Bianco, along with fellow musicians Gary Jules, Cary Brothers and owners Marko Schafer and Max Mamikunian, worked together to transform the space, book, promote and perform shows. Their efforts received a big promotional push from legendary KCRW music director Nic Harcourt. Today, the Hotel Café is considered one of the best venues in Los Angeles, noted for the superior sound, intimate setting and quality of the acts that perform on the bill.Balfour, Amy C.“Live Music Guide to Los Angeles“ “Lonely Planet“ January 28, 2008. Retrieved on 3 September 2009Bordal, Christian. “A Musical Residency at Hollywood's Hotel Cafe” “NPR Music Interviews and Profiles” March 11, 2008. Retrieved on 3 September 2009
Bianco is a regular performer at the Hotel Café and his residencies are a popular favorite.Babcock, Jay “A Subtle Bullet “The LA Weekly“ September 4, 2004. Retrieved on 3 September 2009 Usually playing with his full band, Bianco's sets have a reputation for being sold-out, high energy and sexually charged events. On occasion, Bianco has rented a catwalk and invited his burlesque dancer friends to perform and throw feathers during his set.Whitmire, Margo. “Jim Bianco“ “Billboard“ November 29, 2005. Retrieved on 3 September 2009. Bianco is also known for eliminating the traditional fourth wall between audience and performer by leading his band into the center of the audience during his song “Sing” encouraging audience participation, which culminates in a sing-along.Reverte, Michele “LAist Interview: Jim Bianco“ “LAist.com“ May 23, 2008. Retrieved on 3 September 2009Gallo, Phil. “Hollywood’s Hotel Café Hit’s the Road with Jim Bianco in the Driver’s Seat” “Variety.com” March 5, 2008. Retrieved on 3 September 2009.
On March 4, 2008, Bianco's album “Sing” was the first album released on the Hotel Café Records label. Bianco has said that most of the songs on the album had been composed on the piano in the back room at the Hotel Café after regular club hours.
Cary Brothers is credited for initiating and producing the Hotel Cafe Tour that began in 2005. Bianco has been included in the roster of headlining performers on the tour since its inception. He is one of the few of the Hotel Café artists that has participated in both the US and European legs of the tour. Other notable artists that have participated in this event are: Jessie Baylin, Sara Bareilles, Cary Brothers, Holly Conlan, William Fitzsimmons, Greg Laswell, Imogen Heap, Gary Jules, Tom McRae, Mandy Moore, Ingrid Michaelson, Meiko, Alexi Murdoch, Jay Nash, Katy Perry, Joe Purdy, Joshua Radin, Buddy, KT Tunstall, Butch Walker, The Weepies, Dan Wilson, Brian Wright and Rachael Yamagata.
The Band Bianco's band consists of Matt DeMerritt (aka Matty D) on saxophone, piano and flute, Brad Gordon (aka Professor Beeg) on keyboard, trumpet, clarinet and accordion, Kenny Lyon on electric guitar, Jason Pipkin (aka Pip) on drums, Josef Zimmerman (aka Joe EZ) on upright bass.
Bianco's full band was established by 2003. The first official member to join the band was drummer, Jason Pipkin. Bianco met Pipkin at a gig the day that Pipkin arrived in California from Texas. Bianco asked Kenny Lyon (then just a friend) to suggest a bass player and was introduced to Josef Zimmerman. Bianco began looking for a saxophone player and Zimmerman suggested Matt DeMerritt. After seeing Bianco's show, multi-instrumentalist Brad Gordon joined the crew offering to play keyboard, trumpet, clarinet and accordion. After seeing Bianco's show at The Mint in Los Angeles, Kenny Lyon decided to join the band.
In 2014, Bianco formed his 12 piece band Forniquette. Bianco describes their sound as "modern brothel music." The members of Forniquette are Jim Bianco (Vocals), Alex Budman (Clarinet/Tenor), Jon Flower (Bass), Jordan Katz (trumpet), Phil Krohnengold (Accordion), Elizabeth Lea (Trombone), Danny Levin (Trumpet), Chris Lovejoy (Percussion), Nick Mancini (Vibes), David Moyer (Baritone Sax), Jason Pipkin (drums), David Ralicke (Trombone).
Albums Bianco has officially released four studio albums: Handsome Devil Sing (HCR) Loudmouth Cookie Cutter
Bianco's unofficial releases include Well Within Reason Jim Bianco and the Tim Davies Big Band Steady (released in Japan) Once Again, with FEELING! (NoiseTrade)
He has also released one studio EP of ballads titled "Painkiller", one live album titled "Jim Bianco Live at the Hotel Cafe", and one four song self-titled EP with his brothel band Forniquette.
Prior to restructuring the CDBaby Top Sellers format in July 2009, three of Bianco's albums were ranked among the top 50 best sellers in the following categories: Well Within Reason – Rock: Acoustic #50 and Mood: Quirky Handsome Devil – Rock: Acoustic #45, Rock: Rock Roots #24, Type: Lyrical #26 Jim Bianco and the Tim Davies Big Band – Jazz: Big Band #28
Career highlights Bianco has been named among the top 100 hottest unsigned acts in Southern California by music trade industry journal Music Connection in 2002, 2004 and 2007. In 2003, Bianco entered the “Acoustic Live” music competition. Out of more than 500 applicants, Bianco placed first. The contest has been billed as an elimination style acoustic battle of the bands. Submissions are judged based on songwriting, performance, musicianship and originality.Anonymous. LA Gets Unplugged for TLAMS Acoustic Live" Retrieved on April 23, 2010. On September 2, 2004, Bianco and his band appeared on Nic Harcourt's esteemed Morning Becomes Eclectic radio program in support of the release of "Handsome Devil." They performed seven songs over the course of two sets and Bianco was interviewed by Nic Harcourt.Harcourt, Nic "Jim Bianco on KCRW’s Morning Becomes Eclectic with Nic Harcourt" "Morning Becomes Eclectic" Radio interview on September 2, 2004. Retrieved on 3 September 2009. In 2004, RCA recording artist Tunde Baiyewu, a member of Lighthouse Family, covered Bianco's song “Long Way Home.” The recording was released as a bonus track on Baiyewu's self-titled solo album, "Tunde." Bianco has been a regular performer in showcases at the SXSW musical festival since 2002. Bianco was one of eleven Los Angeles singer/songwriters invited by the Getty Museum to participate in a special Friday evening performance called "Drawing on LA: Songs for Taddeo Zuccaro". This concert was presented in conjunction with the exhibit "Taddeo and Federico Zuccaro: Artist-Brothers in Renaissance Rome." On December 14, 2007, Bianco played piano and sang his song “Thundercloud.” The Getty Museum “Friday Nights at the Getty Drawing on L.A.: Songs for Taddeo Zuccaro” “The Getty” December 2007. Retrieved on 3 September 2009.Boucher, Geoff “A Scattered Life” “Los Angeles Times” December 13, 2007. Retrieved on 3 September 2009 On February 22, 2008, Bianco's song “Belong” was featured as KCRW’s Top Tune.KCRW “Jim Bianco Belong Today’s Top Tune Feb. 22, 2008”“KCRW” Retrieved on 3 September 2009 On September 8, 2008, Bianco and his band performed "I Got A Thing for You" on The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson which aired on October 7, 2008. On November 16, 2008, Bianco performed a five-song set as a part of NPR's Mountain Stage in Charleston, West Virginia while on tour supporting Shelby Lynne.National Public Radio “Jim Bianco on Mountain Stage”“NPR” April 1, 2009. Retrieved on 3 September 2009 The Ventura Film Society invited Bianco to screen his series of short films and perform a set on March 17, 2010, at the 2010 Ventura Film Society Benefit.Ventura County Film Society."Ventura County Film Society Benefit 2010" Retrieved on April 23, 2010. Bianco walked the red carpet at the world premiere of the film Ca$h on March 25, 2010. The film features four of Bianco's song. The event was held at Brenden Theaters at the Palms Casino Resort in Las Vegas, Nevada.iCelebZ.com "World Premiere of the film "Cash"" "iCelebZ.com" March 25, 2010. Photo by Judy Eddy. Retrieved on 03-27-10 Bianco made a guest appearance playing guitar with Aqualung during the musical guest segment of The Tonight Show with Jay Leno on April 28, 2010. They performed Aqualung's song "Reel Me In." Bianco was on the cover of the Ventura County Reporter on the May 6, 2010, issue. He was quoted in Butch Warner's feature article, "The Magic of Music."Warner, Butch."The Magic of Music." The Ventura County Reporter. May 6, 2010. Retrieved May 8, 2010 On June 2, 2010, Bianco appeared as a guest on Sue Marchant's BBC Cambridgeshire radio program. Along with being interviewed, Bianco sang his song "Sing" and Marchant played the studio version of "I've Got A Thing For You."Marchant, Sue "Jim Bianco on BBC Cambridgeshire with Sue Marchant" "BBC Cambridgeshire with Sue Marchant" interview on June 2, 2010. Retrieved on 06-03-2010. In August 2010, Bianco performed at Hotel Carolina, an annual two-day singer-songwriter festival held in South Carolina.