Born in Limerick, Ireland, James McQuade has been a fixture on the New York City jazz scene since 2014. His playing combines a bright, swinging style with a deep knowledge of the jazz tradition, an empathetic and intuitive approach to accompaniment and wide-ranging experience of other genres. He has performed at clubs including Smalls, Mezzrow, Cloak Room, Penny Jo's, and Sour Mouse, and has appeared with artists including Patience Higgins, Marc Devine, Rome Neal, Annette St. John, and Andreas Varady among many others. As well as leading his own groups, he is currently a member of the Lauren Reilly Joint, the Nathanael Koenig Group, the Eagle/Colt Jazz Combo, and the Meg Johnston Quartet. He is also active in classical music as a member of the Riverside Orchestra and the Litha Symphony, and in a variety of other genres with acts including Disensembles. His bass playing is featured on the soundtrack of the 2025 short film Pandémie from Aliké Words Productions.