A list of Jim Rattigan’s accomplishments would fill pages, just as his music fills the air with the sheer joy of creativity. One of the world’s foremost exponents of the French Horn, he is also one of the few to have convincingly adapted it to jazz…

In a career spanning over forty years, he’s played in ensembles of every conceivable size and sort, but never had the opportunity to show what the French horn is capable of in stripped-back, quintessential jazz formats: the duo record and the Standards album. His latest project Duos sees him explore this most demanding but rewarding setting in a three-album Box Set featuring Ivo Neame, Nick Costley-White, and Hans Koller, allowing the full range and versatility of the horn to shine. 

Jim Rattigan has performed all over the world both as a jazz soloist and as a band member of various groups. These include the Michael Brecker Quindectet, the Charlie Haden / Carla Bley Liberation Music Orchestra, the McCoy Tyner Big Band, Django Bates’ Delightful Precipice, the Creative Jazz Orchestra with Kenny Wheeler, Brad Mehldau with the Britten Sinfonia, the Guy Barker Big Band and the Simon Purcell Octet. Jim has toured and recorded with the Mike Gibbs band the Hans Koller band with Steve Swallow and Bill Frisell, Julian Arguelles Ensemble, Mark Lockheart’s Scratch Band, and the London Sinfonietta.

Jim formed “Pavillon” in 2000 and recorded “Unfamiliar Guise”. In 2004 he recorded “Jazz French Horn”, in 2010 he recorded “Shuzzed” in 2011 “Strong Tea”, in 2014 “Triplicity” and in 2019 “The Freedom Of Movement”.

Jim studied French horn at Trinity College of Music and the Royal Academy of Music in London. While a student, he was a member of the European Community Youth Orchestra and a founder member of the European Community Youth Jazz Orchestra (Eurojazz).

On leaving college he embarked on a free-lance career working with all the major London symphony orchestras, chamber orchestras and small ensembles. He joined the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra where he was a member for six years. During this time he also worked with the Bobby Lamb / Ray Premru Big Band and played on the Mike Gibbs album ‘By The Way’.

Jim has played in numerous film scores including several James Bond movies, Lord Of The Rings, Batman, The Bourne Ultimatum, Moulin Rouge, Shrek, Florence and many more. He has also written music for film T.V. and radio. Jim has worked with many pop artists including Shirley Bassey, Tom Jones, Barry Manilow, Paul McCartney, Burt Bacharach, Joss Stone, Rick Astley, George Michael, Pulp, Damon Albarn, Adele, and Paloma Faith. He has also toured with Tony Bennett, Nigel Kennedy’s group, recorded with the Folk singer June Tabor and performed with Blues singer Michael O’Callaghan.

Jim has recently been awarded an A.R.A.M. from the Royal Academy of Music for his contribution to music.