Jim “Jimi Jazz” Prescott was born in Vermont and spent his formative years in various towns throughout the Northeast and New England, ultimately graduating from North Kingstown Senior High School in Rhode Island. Despite having the opportunity to pursue fine arts in higher education, Prescott opted for a more conventional path by earning a Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering (BSEE '88), following a family tradition as both of his grandfathers were engineers. While studying at Boston University, he became involved in the underground rock scene, providing a creative contrast to his rigorous engineering coursework. It was during this time that he learned to play electric bass and formed his first band, Liquid Nik. Here, he crossed paths with musical prodigy Dave Watts, who later gained recognition with the band The Motet, and Liquid Nik achieved a modest cult following in the Boston area.
After graduating from Boston University, Prescott continued to play with various local bands while maintaining a parallel career in engineering. He worked for AKG Acoustics Digital Products Division, contributing to the development of an early Digital Audio Workstation, and later for Cambridge Signal Technologies, where he helped launch an innovative acoustic correction system. Unfortunately, the market was not ready for this technology, and Cambridge Signal Technologies, also known as SigTech, ultimately did not survive. However, Prescott's music career, which had been advancing since he switched to upright (string) bass and began serious jazz studies with Bruce Gertz from Berklee College of Music, provided a reliable alternative. It was at a jam session at Berklee that he met Garrett Dutton, and along with drummer Jeff Clemens, they formed G. Love & Special Sauce.
In December 1993, G. Love & Special Sauce released their self-titled debut album, and the following year embarked on an extensive worldwide tour that spanned nearly fifteen years. Highlights of their touring included performances at major festivals in the U.S., Australia, Europe, and Asia, such as Glastonbury in the U.K. and the Fuji Rock Festival in Japan. During the mid-90s HORDE tour, the band cultivated a dedicated college following that remains supportive to this day. They appeared in several MTV videos, including the minor hit “Cold Beverages,” and made numerous appearances on both daytime and late-night talk shows, including The Jenny Jones Show, Jimmy Kimmel Live!, The Late Late Show, Late Night With Conan O'Brien, and The Late Show with David Letterman. This exposure helped them amass a significant fan base characterized by a particular age demographic and musical taste.
Prescott's songwriting with G. Love & Special Sauce has been featured in various major and independent films and television series, including Day Trippers, Cellular, and American Dad. He co-produced eight albums with the band for major labels, collaborating with notable figures such as Dr. John and producers like Jim Dickinson, T-Ray, Chris D., and Mario C., known for his work with the Beastie Boys.
After gaining experience in some of the world's finest studios, Prescott relocated to the San Francisco Bay Area, where he established Loft Studios to record the jazz and new music emerging from the region. His unique style and the eclectic soundscape of the area influenced his multifaceted solo work, which spans from adult pop to jazz and avant-garde noise art.
In 2006, Prescott moved to Portland, where he formed JamBox with Jonathan Long, a fellow alumnus of the All Fellas Band. JamBox served as a collaborative space for detailed multi-track digital recording while allowing Prescott to pursue his personal vision in film. Despite the success of various recordings and film projects, JamBox closed in 2010 due to lease issues.
After departing from G. Love & Special Sauce in 2008, Prescott resumed his musical studies with jazz icon Glen Moore and participated in an extended weekly jam session in downtown Portland. He currently collaborates with a range of musical groups on string bass, leads his own ensembles, and continues to engage in audio production for film and video. In true Portland fashion, his artistic expression has expanded to include conceptual art and filmmaking.
