James Christopher Earl (born 1957) is an American jazz bass guitarist who is a member of the Jimmy Kimmel Live!

In 1972, he picked up an electric bass guitar for $15 at the Rose Bowl flea market in Pasadena, California, where his family was living temporarily.

In 1973, with his high school classmates Dan Hovey and Rex Wilson, he formed his first band, Cosmic Rainbow.

In 1986, Earl moved to New York City and on the recommendation of his friend Steve Hunt joined the Jazz Explosion.

[20] On returning, he worked with his Elektric bandmate Eric Marienthal on the album One Touch and helped write the song "Backtalk".

[21] During the same year, he appeared on the album Elektric Band II: Paint the World and co-wrote with Corea "Ished",[22] "Spanish Sketch",[23] and "Reprise".

[25] Two years later he joined the band's collaboration with Steve Vai's on the tribute album The Songs of West Side Story, which was certified gold.

While touring with Corea in 1993, Earl performed in Rome, Italy, with Pino Daniele,[29] who invited them to record on his album Che Dio ti benedica.

In 1995, while touring with Daniele to promote Non calpestare i fiori nel deserto, he played in Milan, Italy, with Pat Metheny.

[30] In that year, he recorded Jimmy Earl, which featured David Batteau, Mitchel Forman, Franke Gambale, Deron Johnson, Gary Novak, Rique Pantoja, Randy Roos, Steve Tavaglione, and Dave Weckl.

[35] In 1996, Tom Brechtlein[36] recommended Earl as a replacement for Roscoe Beck in Robben Ford's band, The Blue Line, which was about to go on a bus tour of Europe.

These included appearances at Catalina Bar and Grill in Hollywood,[37] and at Yoshi's in Oakland, California,[38] where Vinnie Colaiuta was featured on drums.

During the 2012 NAMM Show at the Anaheim Convention Center,[55] Warwick introduced another Jimmy Earl Signature Bass.