Jim Piela is a saxophonist, composer, arranger, and educator based in New York City. Holding a graduate degree in Jazz Performance from NYU and hailing from the Midwest, Jim is constantly walking ​​the tightrope between order and chaos in his exploration of what it means to be a jazz musician.

Jim leads his own ensemble, the Jim Piela Quartet, and co-leads the jazz/funk/hip hop fusion band, the Planetary People. He most recently released “Out of Orbit,” a bold album that celebrates the unknown.  Other recent releases include “Non-Fiction,” Planetary People’s “Planetary Transmissions Vol. 1-5,” and Michael Sarian’s “Leon.”

Jim has also kept a busy teaching schedule; with a studio of private students ranging from beginner to undergraduate music majors, and frequent masterclasses at high schools and colleges. He has also taught as an adjunct instructor at SUNY Potsdam and NYU in their Jazz departments.

He has shared the stage (and the screen) with YouTuber Adam Neely, rising star guitarist Shubh Saran, blues singer extraordinaire Bette Smith, and the explosive singer and entertainer Leanne Borghesi. He works regularly as a creative performer in and around New York City, with performances at Lincoln Center, Blue Note, Birdland, the 55 Bar, Nublu, and Rockwood Music Hall. His travels have brought him to the Telluride Blues Festival in 2021, the Cork Jazz Festival in 2019 and numerous stints at Milwaukee’s Summerfest. He also composed and recorded music for BOINK! Dance company’s music videos, receiving national and international festival releases.

When not playing music, which is a rare occurrence, Jim enjoys all things science fiction, baseball, and editing his own videos.