James began playing classical guitar at age 7. He attended the Queensland Conservatorium of Music studying classical guitar, and graduated in 1992; he is now based in Melbourne, Australia. James was the winner of the Ike Isaacs International Jazz Guitar Award. As a bandleader James has released six albums, and appeared on many recordings for other artists. He works with a variety of Australia's finest musicians as well as many visiting artists including New Orleans trumpeter Leroy Jones, New York jazz vocalists Sheila Jordan, Chris McNulty and Cyrille Aimee and master drummers Jeff ‘Tain’ Watts and Jon Riley. James has also performed/recorded with such diverse artists as British guitar virtuoso Martin Taylor, The Australian Chamber Orchestra, The Melbourne Symphony Orchestra, The Queensland Orchestra, Katie Noonan, Megan Washington, Joe Camilleri & New York film composer Howard Shore. The James Sherlock Trio was featured in the ABC TV Jazz Series "The Pulse".