diff --git a/jam-ui/src/components/client/JKSessionBackingTrackPlayer.js b/jam-ui/src/components/client/JKSessionBackingTrackPlayer.js
index 13ecf6fe7..b8c6c66a7 100644
--- a/jam-ui/src/components/client/JKSessionBackingTrackPlayer.js
+++ b/jam-ui/src/components/client/JKSessionBackingTrackPlayer.js
@@ -26,6 +26,10 @@ const JKSessionBackingTrackPlayer = ({
   const [currentPositionMs, setCurrentPositionMs] = useState(0);
   const [durationMs, setDurationMs] = useState(0);
 
+  // Error handling state
+  const [error, setError] = useState(null);
+  const [errorType, setErrorType] = useState(null); // 'file', 'network', 'playback', 'general'
+
   const volumeRef = useRef(null);
   const trackVolumeObjectRef = useRef({
     volL: 0,
@@ -39,6 +43,9 @@ const JKSessionBackingTrackPlayer = ({
   // UAT-003 Investigation: Track seek attempts while paused
   const pendingSeekPositionRef = useRef(null);
 
+  // Error tracking for polling
+  const consecutivePollingErrorsRef = useRef(0);
+
   // Utility function to format milliseconds to M:SS format
   const formatTime = (ms) => {
     // Handle undefined, null, or NaN values
@@ -51,6 +58,23 @@ const JKSessionBackingTrackPlayer = ({
     return `${minutes}:${remainingSeconds.toString().padStart(2, '0')}`;
   };
 
+  // Error handling utilities
+  const handleError = (type, message, err) => {
+    console.error(`[BTP] ${type}:`, message, err);
+    setError(message);
+    setErrorType(type);
+  };
+
+  const clearError = () => {
+    setError(null);
+    setErrorType(null);
+  };
+
+  const retryOperation = () => {
+    clearError();
+    // Specific retry logic handled by individual operations
+  };
+
   useEffect(() => {
     if (isOpen && backingTrack && jamClient) {
       // Initialize player state when opened
@@ -61,15 +85,30 @@ const JKSessionBackingTrackPlayer = ({
       // Fetch and set duration immediately when track loads (async)
       const fetchDuration = async () => {
         try {
+          if (!jamClient) {
+            handleError('general', 'Audio engine not available', null);
+            return;
+          }
+
           const durationInMs = await jamClient.SessionGetTracksPlayDurationMs();
           console.log('[BTP] Duration from jamClient:', durationInMs, 'Type:', typeof durationInMs);
 
           // Convert string to number (jamClient returns string values)
           const validDuration = parseInt(durationInMs, 10) || 0;
+
+          // Check for invalid duration (file error)
+          if (validDuration === 0 || isNaN(validDuration)) {
+            handleError('file', 'Failed to load track duration. The file may be invalid or unsupported.', null);
+            setDuration('0:00');
+            setDurationMs(0);
+            return;
+          }
+
           setDurationMs(validDuration);
           setDuration(formatTime(validDuration));
+          clearError(); // Clear any previous errors
         } catch (error) {
-          console.error('Error fetching track duration:', error);
+          handleError('file', 'Failed to load track duration', error);
           setDuration('0:00');
           setDurationMs(0);
         }
@@ -116,8 +155,21 @@ const JKSessionBackingTrackPlayer = ({
             console.log('[BTP] Playing state changed from', isPlaying, 'to', trackIsPlaying);
             setIsPlaying(trackIsPlaying);
           }
+
+          // Reset error counter on successful poll
+          consecutivePollingErrorsRef.current = 0;
         } catch (error) {
-          console.error('Error polling playback status:', error);
+          console.error('[BTP] Error polling playback status:', error);
+          consecutivePollingErrorsRef.current += 1;
+
+          // After 3 consecutive failures, show error and stop polling
+          if (consecutivePollingErrorsRef.current >= 3) {
+            handleError('network', 'Lost connection to audio engine', error);
+            setIsPlaying(false);
+            if (intervalId) {
+              clearInterval(intervalId);
+            }
+          }
         }
       }, 500);
     }
@@ -132,6 +184,11 @@ const JKSessionBackingTrackPlayer = ({
 
   const handlePlay = async () => {
     try {
+      if (!jamClient) {
+        handleError('general', 'Audio engine not available', null);
+        return;
+      }
+
       console.log('[BTP] handlePlay:', {
         isPlaying,
         currentPositionMs,
@@ -139,6 +196,8 @@ const JKSessionBackingTrackPlayer = ({
         hasPendingSeek: pendingSeekPositionRef.current !== null
       });
 
+      clearError(); // Clear any previous errors
+
       if (isPlaying) {
         // Pause
         await jamClient.SessionPausePlay();
@@ -186,12 +245,19 @@ const JKSessionBackingTrackPlayer = ({
         console.log('[BTP] SessionStartPlay completed, isPlaying set to true');
       }
     } catch (error) {
-      console.error('Error toggling playback:', error);
+      handleError('playback', 'Failed to start playback', error);
+      // Reset isPlaying to ensure UI is consistent
+      setIsPlaying(false);
     }
   };
 
   const handleStop = async () => {
     try {
+      if (!jamClient) {
+        handleError('general', 'Audio engine not available', null);
+        return;
+      }
+
       await jamClient.SessionStopPlay();
       setIsPlaying(false);
       setCurrentTime('0:00');
@@ -199,16 +265,29 @@ const JKSessionBackingTrackPlayer = ({
 
       // UAT-003: Clear any pending seek position when stopping
       pendingSeekPositionRef.current = null;
+      clearError(); // Clear any previous errors
     } catch (error) {
-      console.error('Error stopping playback:', error);
+      handleError('playback', 'Failed to stop playback', error);
+      // Force reset UI state anyway
+      setIsPlaying(false);
+      setCurrentTime('0:00');
+      setCurrentPositionMs(0);
+      pendingSeekPositionRef.current = null;
     }
   };
 
   const handleVolumeChange = async (e) => {
     const newVolume = parseInt(e.target.value);
+    const previousVolume = volume;
     setVolume(newVolume);
 
     try {
+      if (!jamClient) {
+        handleError('general', 'Audio engine not available', null);
+        setVolume(previousVolume); // Revert to previous
+        return;
+      }
+
       // Volume is controlled through the mixer system
       // Get the backing track mixer (use personal mixer)
       const backingTrackMixer = backingTrackMixers[0]?.mixers?.personal?.mixer;
@@ -240,26 +319,36 @@ const JKSessionBackingTrackPlayer = ({
 
       console.log('[BTP] Volume changed to', newVolume, '% (', volumeDb, 'dB)');
     } catch (error) {
-      console.error('[BTP] Error setting volume:', error);
+      handleError('playback', 'Failed to adjust volume', error);
+      setVolume(previousVolume); // Revert to previous on error
     }
   };
 
   const handleLoopChange = async (e) => {
     const shouldLoop = e.target.checked;
+    const previousLoop = isLooping;
     setIsLooping(shouldLoop);
 
     try {
+      if (!jamClient) {
+        handleError('general', 'Audio engine not available', null);
+        setIsLooping(previousLoop); // Revert checkbox
+        return;
+      }
+
       // Set loop state using SessionSetBackingTrackFileLoop
       // This requires the file path and loop boolean
       if (!backingTrack || !backingTrack.path) {
-        console.warn('[BTP] No backing track path available for loop change');
+        handleError('playback', 'No backing track available for loop change', null);
+        setIsLooping(previousLoop); // Revert checkbox
         return;
       }
 
       await jamClient.SessionSetBackingTrackFileLoop(backingTrack.path, shouldLoop);
       console.log('[BTP] Loop changed to', shouldLoop);
     } catch (error) {
-      console.error('[BTP] Error setting loop state:', error);
+      handleError('playback', 'Failed to toggle loop', error);
+      setIsLooping(previousLoop); // Revert checkbox on error
     }
   };
 
@@ -280,8 +369,14 @@ const JKSessionBackingTrackPlayer = ({
    */
   const handleSeek = async (e) => {
     const seekPositionMs = parseInt(e.target.value);
+    const previousPosition = currentPositionMs;
 
     try {
+      if (!jamClient) {
+        handleError('general', 'Audio engine not available', null);
+        return;
+      }
+
       console.log('[BTP] handleSeek:', { seekPositionMs, isPlaying });
 
       // Update local state immediately for responsive UI
@@ -305,7 +400,10 @@ const JKSessionBackingTrackPlayer = ({
 
       console.log('[BTP] Seek completed');
     } catch (error) {
-      console.error('[BTP] Error seeking:', error);
+      handleError('playback', 'Failed to seek to position', error);
+      // Revert UI position to last known good
+      setCurrentPositionMs(previousPosition);
+      setCurrentTime(formatTime(previousPosition));
     }
   };
 
@@ -392,6 +490,32 @@ const JKSessionBackingTrackPlayer = ({
                 <span>{getFileName(backingTrack)}</span>
               </div>
 
+              {/* Error Display */}
+              {error && (
+                <div style={{
+                  padding: '12px',
+                  backgroundColor: errorType === 'file' || errorType === 'network' ? '#f8d7da' : '#fff3cd',
+                  color: errorType === 'file' || errorType === 'network' ? '#721c24' : '#856404',
+                  border: `1px solid ${errorType === 'file' || errorType === 'network' ? '#f5c6cb' : '#ffeaa7'}`,
+                  borderRadius: '4px',
+                  display: 'flex',
+                  flexDirection: 'column',
+                  gap: '8px'
+                }}>
+                  <div>{error}</div>
+                  <div style={{ display: 'flex', gap: '8px' }}>
+                    <Button size="sm" color="secondary" onClick={clearError}>
+                      Dismiss
+                    </Button>
+                    {(errorType === 'network' || errorType === 'file') && (
+                      <Button size="sm" color="primary" onClick={retryOperation}>
+                        Retry
+                      </Button>
+                    )}
+                  </div>
+                </div>
+              )}
+
               {/* Row 2: Controls */}
               <div style={{ display: 'flex', flexDirection: 'column', alignItems: 'center', gap: '8px' }}>
                 <div style={{ display: 'flex', justifyContent: 'center', alignItems: 'center', gap: '8px' }}>
@@ -487,6 +611,32 @@ const JKSessionBackingTrackPlayer = ({
             <span>{getFileName(backingTrack)}</span>
           </div>
 
+          {/* Error Display */}
+          {error && (
+            <div style={{
+              padding: '12px',
+              backgroundColor: errorType === 'file' || errorType === 'network' ? '#f8d7da' : '#fff3cd',
+              color: errorType === 'file' || errorType === 'network' ? '#721c24' : '#856404',
+              border: `1px solid ${errorType === 'file' || errorType === 'network' ? '#f5c6cb' : '#ffeaa7'}`,
+              borderRadius: '4px',
+              display: 'flex',
+              flexDirection: 'column',
+              gap: '8px'
+            }}>
+              <div>{error}</div>
+              <div style={{ display: 'flex', gap: '8px' }}>
+                <Button size="sm" color="secondary" onClick={clearError}>
+                  Dismiss
+                </Button>
+                {(errorType === 'network' || errorType === 'file') && (
+                  <Button size="sm" color="primary" onClick={retryOperation}>
+                    Retry
+                  </Button>
+                )}
+              </div>
+            </div>
+          )}
+
           {/* Row 2: Controls */}
           <div style={{ display: 'flex', flexDirection: 'column', alignItems: 'center', gap: '8px' }}>
             <div style={{ display: 'flex', justifyContent: 'center', alignItems: 'center', gap: '8px' }}>