James was winner of the 2007 Landor Records competition and his debut recording of virtuosic solo cello pieces of the twentieth century was released in 2009 to excellent critical acclaim in the Strad, the Gramophone and the Classical Music magazines, the first in his ongoing partnership with the Landor label. During his studies, first with Hannah Roberts at the Royal Northern College of Music and then with Thomas Demenga at Basel Hochshule für Musik, James received innumerable prestigious awards including the Royal Philharmonic Society Julius Isserlis Scholarship, the Muriel Taylor Cello Scholarship and the Hattori Scholarship, and graduated from Basel in 2006 with the renowned ‘Soloists Diploma’. He has enjoyed associations with the Park Lane Group and 'Making Music', and has also received awards from the MBF, the Myra Hess Trust, Countess of Munster, Martin/Philharmonia, the English Speaking Union, Swiss Government Scholarship, Tillett Trust, Bromsgrove Competition, Sir John Barbirolli Competition, Denne Gilkes Trust, and the Haverhill Competition.

James is the cellist of the Bacchus Piano Trio with Alasdair Beatson and Thomas Gould, the Williamson Clarinet Trio with Sarah Williamson and John Reid, and is a regular at the International Musicians Seminar in Prussia Cove, which is a vital source of inspiration for him. As well as his solo and chamber activities, he has also served as guest principal cellist with many of the UK's top orchestras.

James, works regularly with Indian musicians, having studied Indian music in Calcutta and at the Ali Akbar School of Indian Music in Basel alongside his western music studies, and includes free improvisation in many of his concerts. As an improviser, James is a member of the Wigmore Hall's Ignite Ensemble.

James’s compositions for cello octet (see sheet music) have been performed at festivals throughout the world, including USA, Canada, Singapore, China, Austria, Germany, Switzerland, UK, Holland, Sweden, France and Italy.

James enjoys mountain climbing, and has has climbed Mont Blanc, Monta Rosa and trekked the Annapurna Circuit in Nepal, as well as all the major peaks in the UK.