Jason Marsalis is one of the most gifted drummers in jazz today. He is the youngest son of the late pianist Ellis Marsalis. During his last year of high school at the New Orleans Center for the Creative Arts, he joined the new trio founded by pianist Marcus Roberts. Mr. Marsalis began touring regularly with Mr. Roberts the next year while studying at Loyola University. While he has performed with many other musicians, including Michael White, John Ellis, Shannon Powell, the Marsalis family, and the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra, Mr. Marsalis has been the drummer in the Marcus Roberts Trio for 29 years. He has been featured on all of Mr. Roberts’s recordings since joining the Trio and has also released five of his own recordings. His recording The 21st Century Trad Band showcases his remarkably creative approach to soloing while Melody Reimagined, Book 1 (Basin Street Records) highlights his creative imagination by reinventing a series of historic standards for a modern audience. 

Mr. Marsalis’s style is heavily influenced by the greats of both jazz and classical music. With Mr. Roberts, he has performed with symphony orchestras all over the world. When he is not touring, he can be found working on music or helping to train other young musicians.