Jason Marsalis

Jason Marsalis (born March 4, 1977) is an American jazz drummer and member of the Marsalis family of musicians. He is the youngest son of Dolores Ferdinand Marsalis and Ellis Marsalis, Jr.

Musical career

Marsalis was born in New Orleans, Louisiana, the son of Dolores (née Ferdinand) and Ellis Louis Marsalis, Jr., a pianist and music professor. His brothers are Branford Marsalis, Wynton Marsalis, Ellis Marsalis III (1964), Delfeayo Marsalis, and Mboya Kinyatta (1971). Branford, Wynton, and Delfeayo are also jazz musicians.

Marsalis studied percussion at Loyola University New Orleans. He worked as a sideman in mainstream jazz, funk, and jazz fusion groups; a Brazilian percussion ensemble (Casa Samba); and a Celtic music group. He introduced percussionist Bill Summers to trumpeter Irvin Mayfield, and they founded Los Hombres Calientes. Marsalis then joined pianist Marcus Roberts. Marsalis has also played with John Ellis, Michael White, Shannon Powell, and the Marsalis family. He and his brothers and their father were named NEA Jazz Masters. He is featured in Tradition Is a Temple, a 2013 documentary film about New Orleans.

In 2009, Marsalis released his first album as a leader on vibraphone, entitled Music Update. The album received 4.5 out of 5 stars in DownBeat magazine. Writing in The New York Times, critic Ben Ratliff said that Marsalis was "an excellent musician trying out something risky without embarrassment."

Selected discography

As leader

• Music Update (ELM)
• The Year of the Drummer (Basin Street)
• Music in Motion (Basin Street)

As sideman

• The Marsalis Family – Music Redeems (Marsalis Music)
• Roland Guerin – You Don't Have to See It to Believe It (Half Note)
• John Ellis – Roots, Branches & Leaves (Fresh Sound)
• The Marsalis Family – A Jazz Celebration (Marsalis/Rounder)
• The Ellis Marsalis Trio – Twelve's It (Columbia)
• David Morgan Trio – Live at the Blue Note (Half Note)
• Los Hombres Calientes – Los Hombres Calientes (Basin Street)
• Los Hombres Calientes – Vol. 2 (Basin Street)
• Marcus Roberts Trio – In Honor of Duke (Columbia)
• Stephen Riley – El Gaucho (SteepleChase, 2010)