For over 4 decades Jim Ouska has written songs, sang and played acoustic roots music, electric blues and straight ahead jazz. In addition to years performing solo, Twin Cities based bands he has put together include: jazz group Jordu, blues and R & B groups the Blenders and the Slim Hippos, duo Jim Ouska and Jane Aleckson, and acoustic duo Full Moon. Jim has released 3 CDs of original music. He has performed and recorded with many of the area’s finest musicians of many genres, as well as renowned jazz/blues/rock violinist Randy Sabien’s group featuring drummer Clyde Stubblefield (James Brown band) for nearly 20 years. Jim has also played with Blues legends Lazy Bill Lucas and Jesse Mae Hemphill, the Rhythm and Blues vocal group the Drifters (inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1998).

Jim won a WBSM/Jerome Foundation Jazz composer grant in 1991, has been featured in Twin Cities Jazz Society and Guitar Society concerts and received Minnesota Music Academy nominations for guitarist/band of the year in the Jazz, R&B and Bluegrass categories.