James’ PhD research investigates how improvisational style relates to fretboard-thinking in common practice jazz styles on the guitar.  The research considers fretboard navigation strategies in jazz guitar improvisation, examining the relationship between individual guitar technique and musical identity and develops analytical approaches to illuminate these concepts.  The application of revealed fretboard concepts is developed into pedagogical materials with a particular focus on horizontal and vertical fretboard strategies as devices for improvisation. 

James has published research in the journal Jazz Perspectives on the guitar style of Pat Metheny and in a chapter in The Bloomsbury Handbook of Popular Music Education which explores a different area of James’ research interest, discussing the value that students place on traditional notation skills in popular music performance degrees.