JASON HARNELL
Coming from a musical family, Jason Harnell started playing the drums
at age six, when long-time friend of the family, and jazz drumming legend, Louie Bellson gave Jason his first real drum set.
After extensive private study in his formative years with teachers Hank Bellson, Shelly Manne, Joe Porcaro, Tom Glaister and
Vinnie Colaiuta, he attended the University of South Florida and moved to Los Angeles in 1990. Upon arriving
in L.A., Jason continued his extensive private studies with Jeff Hamilton, Dave Weckl, Wally Snow and Joe LaBarbara and in
'92 was asked to join the prestigious Maynard Ferguson Big Bop Noveau Band. Jason enthusiastically accepted the invitation
and for nearly two years, toured all over North America, Europe,
Japan, Australia, Indonesia, and China. During this
time, he also recorded an album with Maynard for the Concord Jazz label, entitled "These Cats Can Swing".
Since then, Jason
has become one of the most sought after jazz drummers/educators/composers on the West Coast and a mainstay on the Los
Angeles jazz scene. His unmistakable
sound and style, as well as his boundless imagination and pure love of the instrument, make him a driving force on the
creative music scene today. Jason has
played and recorded with some of the world's top jazz musicians including Larry Goldings, Bob Sheppard, Larry Koonse, Kate
McGarry, Adam Benjamin, Kei Akagi, Bruce Forman, Steve Tavaglione and Darek Oles and was recently featured in Downbeat Magazine (10/09 edition), Jazziz Magazine (Fall 2009) and has appeared in several national
drum publications including Modern Drummer magazine (6/94, 7/94, 9/00).
Currently, Jason performs regularly with three different bands in and around the Los Angeles area. “JoE-LeSs ShOe”, the critically acclaimed trio featuring Matt Otto on saxophone and
Jamie Rosenn on guitar, has been togehter since 2002 and released their second album, "Outsole" in November of last
year on Jazz Collective Records. "3-ish",
the adventuresome chord-less trio comprised of
Ryan McGillicuddy on bass, Matt Otto on sax and JH on drums has been playing together since 2004 and released their debut
CD, “Baobab” in 2008 on J.C. Records. Jason is also a member of the popular, newly formed electric quartet,
“Sigmund Fudge” featuring Joe Bagg on keyboards, Jamie Rosenn on guitar and Ryan McGillicuddy on bass whose debut
album is due out later this year. All three bands focus on original material and
display a unique ability to traverse boundaries while exploring the very deepest levels of empathetic group interplay.
Harnell also has an extensive list of session credits including Verizon, Nissan, Chili's, Cheetos,
Suntory Royal Whisky, and "Funny People" (a Judd Apatow film, released in 2010). He can also be
seen (and heard) on the television show, "Married with Children" and in the upcoming Clint Eastwood film, "Hoover".
As an educator, Jason is currently on faculty as a lecturer in jazz drum
set performance at University California Irvine, (2004-present) and at the Musicians Institute in Hollywood (2005-present)
and is one of the most sought after and in-demand jazz drum set educators on the west coast. He is also an active, "core"
member of the Los Angeles Jazz Collective (www.lajazzcollective.com), which is a group of creative minded musicians dedicated
to building a stronger jazz community within Los Angeles and a greater public appreciation for improvised music.
Jason proudly endorses Yamaha Drums, Istanbul Cymbals, Remo Drumheads and
Vic Firth Drumsticks.
