James Kwan, an active, experienced and awarded Low brass player in local classical music arena. He started playing West African drumming in 1994. He joined the very first Djembe (African drum) group, Island Sun Drum Group, and learnt West African and Brazilian percussion from Dr. Lung Heung Wing, the former Principal Percussionist of the Hong Kong Philharmonic Orchestra. James and the group performed in various mass drumming events in Hong Kong, Mainland and Macao, including "ISCM World Music Days 2002 Hong Kong" and "Percussion Carnival" in October 2002.

James then advanced his drumming technique from his second djembe teacher, Mamady Keita, the renowned Master Drummer of African Drumming. In his annual advance study in West African, James learnt not only the technique of playing djembe and dunun, traditional African drumming and music arrangement technique, he also particularly familiarized himself with the cultural background and historical meaning of every African song he learnt.

James promotes Mandingue drum music and traditional West African culture actively in Hong Kong. He established "Mini-Guinea Drum Workshop". He started teaching traditional African drumming technique in Tom Lee Music Centre since 2003. Besides organizing djembe workshops for adult, James also made use of fun of drumming to teach children tradition cultural stories of Africa, and inspired children and young people the importance of conservation of our own Chinese tradition.

James frequently cooperated with social service organizations, and trained elderly, people with psychiatric disability, and young people with adjustment problems in voluntary basis. His students were invited to perform in mass events, like TVB Golden Kids Song Carnival in 2003, RTHK 2004-2005 Children Story Telling Competition in 2005.

Since 2002, James hosted "Drum Circle" in Tom Lee Music Carnival at Hong Kong Cultural Centre, Tsimshatsui, and attracted over hundred participants each time. He is recently the endorser of REMO, the world’s leading drum company.