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Jason Moran

In almost every category that matters—improvisation,composition, group concept, repertoire, technique andexperimentation—Moran, and his group The Bandwagon—with bassist Tarus Mateen and drummer Nasheet Waits—have challenged the status quo, and earned the reputationas "the future of jazz."

Frequently influenced by the wider world of art as his muse,Moran has found inspiration in edgy 20th century painterslike Jean-Michel Basquiat (check out "JAMO Meets SAMO"from Soundtrack to Human Motion, as well as his ongoingseries of "Gangsterism" compositions); Egon Schiele(whose painting "Facing Left" provided the eponymous titleto Moran's second album); and Robert Rauschenberg,whose chaotic refinement inspired Moran's third albumBlack Stars, featuring the legendary Sam Rivers.

Moran is currently preparing for the release of TEN, his10th anniversary album with The Bandwagon, on June 22,2010. The trailblazing trio has proven to be one of the mostenduring and creative piano trios in jazz today. TENrepresents their most assured and focused album to date.

Moran's debut recording as a leader, Soundtrack to HumanMotion, was released in 1999 to great critical praise. BenRatliff of The New York Times named it the best album ofthe year and the Jazz Journalists Association awarded it"Best Debut Recording." The following year, Facing Left,established The Bandwagon trio with bassist Tarus Mateenand drummer Nasheet Waits, and prompted JazzTimesMagazine to declare the album "an instant classic." Moranaugmented the trio for his third Blue Note release, BlackStars, adding avant-garde icon Sam Rivers, who playssaxophone, flute and piano on the recording. Gary Giddinsof the Village Voice exclaimed, "Black Stars is possibly aBlue Note benchmark, definitely one of 2000's outstandingdiscs."

In 2002, Moran released his universally acclaimed solopiano disc Modernistic, prompting the Cork (Ireland) JazzFestival to award him the 2002 Guinness Rising Star Award.Preeminent jazz critic Gary Giddins proclaimed it "abenchmark achievement and a profound illustration of hiscapacity to combine classicism and maverick innovation."

2003's release The Bandwagon, culled from the trio's six-day stint at New York's Village Vanguard, earned the teamof Moran-Mateen-Waits a title as "the best new rhythmsection in jazz! —NY Times." The Jazz JournalistsAssociation awarded Moran with the "Up-n-Coming JazzMusician" of 2003. Moran topped The Downbeat Critics Pollin three categories in 2003 and 2004—Rising Star JazzArtist, Rising Star Pianist, Rising Star Composer.

In 2005, his blues homage, Same Mother was released.This same year he received the first ever Playboy JazzArtist of the Year award. Artist in Residence debuted in2006 and showcased Moran's signature brilliance withambitious undertakings. In the span of one year, Moranaccepted and recorded three separate commissions fromthree pre-eminent and very diverse American artsinstitutions: The Walker Art Center in Minneapolis, the DiaArt Foundation, and Jazz at Lincoln Center.

In 2007, Moran was commissioned to create IN MY MIND:Monk at Town Hall, 1959, the critically-acclaimed multi-media performance investigating Thelonious Monk's famousrecording, Monk at Town Hall. IN MY MIND examinesMonk's process of creating this seminal concert using audioof conversations with Monk and the arranger Hal Overton.

This personal experience has been transformed into afeature documentary entitled IN MY MIND by director GaryHawkins. The film premiered at the 13th Annual Full FrameDocumentary Festival, and will have a special screeningwith the New York Public Library in April as part of the JazzLoft Project exhibition.

Not surprising, the legendary Monk had a pivotal role ininfluencing young Moran to become a jazz musician. In1981, at the age of six, the Houston native began studyingthe piano, but longed to quit until he first heard the sounds ofMonk, an experience that established an early role model inMoran's creative development. Moran later honed hismusical education at New York's Manhattan School ofMusic.

Music education still plays a central role in Moran's life. Heis on the piano faculty at Manhattan School of Music. Hehas been lecturer/instructor at Yale University, DartmouthUniversity, University of Pennsylvania, Eastman School ofMusic, The Kennedy Center, The New School, New York'sMuseum of Modern Art, Banff Center for The Arts,Denmarks' Vallekilde Jazz Camp, Skidmore and StanfordJazz Workshop.

A musician of diverse cultural interests, Moran is aconnoisseur of modern furniture design who now exclusivelyperforms in a chair specially built for him by the Danishdesigner Susanne Forsgreen. He is also a devotee of thepainter Jean Michel Basquiat whose work continues to fuelhis "Gangsterism..." series of compositions first heard onhis debut's instant classic "Gangsterism on Canvas." Thatseries reappears twice on Same Mother's opening andclosing numbers, "Gangsterism on the Rise" and"Gangsterism on the Set," which correlate stride anddissonance.

Moran has performed and/or recorded with artistsCassandra Wilson, Wayne Shorter, Charles Lloyd, DaveHolland, Marian McPartland, Don Byron, Joe Lovano, GregOsby, Steve Coleman, Von Freeman, Andrew Hill (duo), UriCaine (duo), Bunky Green, Sam Rivers, Lee Konitz, PaulMotian, Chris Potter, Jenny Scheinman, Christian McBride,and Stefon Harris.

His ongoing visionary collaborations in the art world havebrought him additional fans and respect. Moran's music is inthe collections of both the MOMA and Whitney Museum ofAmerican Art. He scored a ballet for renowned AlonzoKing's LINES Ballet, as well as scoring video works forcontemporary American artists Glenn Ligon and KaraWalker. Moran also has worked with pivotalvisual/performance artists Joan Jonas and Adrian Piper. Afuture collaboration with Grammy-nominated neo-soul artistMeshell Ndegeocello—a dance party centered on the musicof Fats Waller—will premiere in 2011.

Moran lives in New York City with his wife, mezzo sopranoAlicia Hall Moran, and their twin toddlers.

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Jason Moran at The Apollo Theater

by Paul Reynolds
April 18, 2025

Jason Moran Apollo Theater “Ellington in Focus" New York, NY April 11, 2025 The works of jazz's greatest composer, played brilliantly by a current master, alone at a concert grand piano. Jason Moran's solo tribute to Duke Ellington last Friday could have triumphed on any stage or in any context. “Ellington in Focus" gained special resonance, though, with the presence at the event of two other cultural touchstones. Looming over Moran as ...

In Pictures

February at SFJAZZ

by Ronald Davis
February 16, 2025

A collection of photos from various shows featuring Lee Ritenour, Dave Grusin, Jason Moran, Marcus Shelby & more at SFJAZZ in San Francisco in February 2025. Lee Ritenour, Dave Grusin, Jason Moran, Marcus Shelby, Ken Okada , Ben Torres, Murray Low, Tony Peebles, Patrick Wolff, Melecio Magdaluyo, Joel Behrman, Erik Andrews, Mike Olmos, Chris Clark, Richard Benitez, Marcus Shelby, Jemal Ramirez, Darynn Dean and The Marcus Shelby Jazz Orchestra . ...

Album Review

Jakob Bro, Lee Konitz, Bill Frisell, Jason Moran, Thomas Morgan, Andrew Cyrille: Taking Turns

Read "Taking Turns" reviewed by Neil Duggan

by Neil Duggan
December 14, 2024

Despite being recorded a decade ago, this album from Danish guitarist Jakob Bro sounds as fresh and contemporary as any 2024 release. Taking Turns was originally recorded in New York in 2014; the album release was delayed by ECM Records, who initially preferred to highlight Bro's trio work. The postponement proves fortuitous, as Bro's melodic compositions create expansive soundscapes that invite his all-star sextet to explore and improvise around his delicately rendered musical themes. Bro composed the seven ...

In Pictures

Jazz & Wine of Peace 2024 - Part 1

by Luciano Rossetti
November 10, 2024

A collection of photos from the Jazz & Wine of Peace in Cormons from October 23, 2024 to October 27, 2024 featuring Jason Moran, Hamid Drake, Kurt Rosenwinkel, Anthony Joseph, Marc Copland, Joe Locke, Wolfgang Muthspiel, Jamie Saft, Ray Anderson, Michael Formanek, Michael Moore, and many others. ...

Album Review

Shabaka Hutchings: Perceive Its Beauty, Acknowledge Its Grace

Read "Perceive Its Beauty, Acknowledge Its Grace" reviewed by Chris May

by Chris May
April 24, 2024

Ch-ch-ch-ch-changes ... Since signing with with Impulse! in 2018, Shabaka Hutchings has become best known for his incendiary work on tenor saxophone with Sons Of Kemet, The Comet Is Coming and Shabaka & The Ancestors. Perceive Its Beauty, Acknowledge Its Grace marks the start of a gentler, more instrospective phase in his music making. The trigger came during the pandemic, when Hutchings fell in love with the Japanese shakuhachi flute. The quietly spoken instrument first edged itself ...

Album Review

Charles Lloyd: The Sky Will Still Be There Tomorrow

Read "The Sky Will Still Be There Tomorrow" reviewed by Chris May

by Chris May
March 26, 2024

Those of us who were going to jazz festivals in summer 1966, and were lucky enough to catch the Charles Lloyd Quartet, will likely have one tune in particular imprinted on our memories. That was because “Forest Flower" so precisely reflected the acid-drenched zeitgeist blossoming in Europe and the US. Lloyd, Keith Jarrett, Cecil McBee and Jack DeJohnette recorded the piece at the Monterey festival in September 1966, and when Forest Flower was released in early 1967, it was the ...

Album Review

Charles Lloyd: The Sky Will Still Be There Tomorrow

Read "The Sky Will Still Be There Tomorrow" reviewed by Mike Jurkovic

by Mike Jurkovic
March 11, 2024

For a long, grateful while now the music of Charles Lloyd has rippled out from that rarified space where the ego does not prevail. A pool of depth and wonder which culminates in one masterful artwork after another, for example Wild Man Dance (Blue Note, 2015) and 8: Kindred Spirits Live from the Lobero Theater (Blue Note, 2019). Lloyd's eleventh Blue Note album, the double disc set The Sky Will Still Be There Tomorrow is also his first ...

Event

Celebrity Series Of Boston Announces 2022/23 Season

Source: Stephanie Janes PR
May 5, 2022

The Celebrity Series of Boston announces its 2022/23 season today, marking 84 years of bringing touring and local performing artists to Boston. In this new season, audiences will find a diverse and dazzling array of artists in one of the Series’ largest seasons ever. Expanded programming offers audiences new venues to explore, artist debuts, beloved returning artists, and in-person and streaming options for both the ticketed and free Neighborhood Arts events. With classical music and contemporary/jazz curated by guest programmers ...
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Birthday

Jazz Musician of the Day: Jason Moran

Source: Michael Ricci
January 21, 2022

All About Jazz is celebrating Jason Moran's birthday today!

Since his formidable emergence on the music scene in the late 90s, jazz pianist Jason Moran has proven more than his brilliance as a performer. The Blue Note Records recording artist has established himself as a risk-taker and innovator of new directions for jazz as a whole. In almost every category that matters—improvisation, composition, group concept, repertoire, technique and experimentation—Moran, and his group The Bandwagon— with bassist Tarus Mateen and drummer ...
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Birthday

Jazz Musician of the Day: Jason Moran

Source: Michael Ricci
January 21, 2021

All About Jazz is celebrating Jason Moran's birthday today!

Birthday

Jazz Musician of the Day: Jason Moran

Source: Michael Ricci
January 21, 2020

All About Jazz is celebrating Jason Moran's birthday today!

Birthday

Jazz Musician of the Day: Jason Moran

Source: Michael Ricci
January 21, 2019

All About Jazz is celebrating Jason Moran's birthday today!

Place our Musician of the Day widget on your ...
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Birthday

Jazz Musician of the Day: Jason Moran

Source: Michael Ricci
January 21, 2018

All About Jazz is celebrating Jason Moran's birthday today!

Place our Musician of the Day widget on your ...
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Birthday

Jazz Musician of the Day: Jason Moran

Source: Michael Ricci
January 21, 2017

All About Jazz is celebrating Jason Moran's birthday today!

Place our Musician of the Day widget on your ...
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Performance / Tour

NEC Faculty Member Jason Moran Led A Performance Of "The Music Of Andrew Hill"

Source: Braithwaite & Katz Communications
February 9, 2016

As the culmination of one of his regular teaching residencies, NEC faculty member Jason Moran presented a performance of the music of his mentor Andrew Hill in a concert titled simply “The Music of Andrew Hill" on Thursday, January 28. Moran led NEC students in the re-imagining of Hill's music, including material drawn from several landmark albums. The concert took three different approaches to the world of Andrew Hill. Interspersed through the evening, four pianists took on songs dating from ...
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Birthday

Jazz Musician of the Day: Jason Moran

Source: Michael Ricci
January 21, 2016

All About Jazz is celebrating Jason Moran's birthday today!

Place our Musician of the Day widget on your ...
read more

Event

Upcoming Free Jazz Events At Bric's Celebrate Brooklyn!

Source: Matt Gross
May 14, 2015

SATURDAY, JUNE 27, 7:30 P.M. JASON MORAN’S FATS WALLER DANCE PARTY | BUTLER, BERNSTEIN & THE HOT 9 The astonishingly inventive pianist and composer Jason Moran unleashes his fun side in this “joyous and foolish and graceful” (The New York Times) event, a spectacle complete with dancers and costumes that takes the stride innovator Fats Waller as a jumping off point to dig into grooves that flirt with everything from Motown to house to hip-hop. For all Moran’s skill and ...
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"Although he has the facility to play with breathtaking fleetness, his uniqueness traces to his refusal to be locked into predictable, bebop-based patterns." —The Los Angeles Times "Moran is like no other pianist at work. His improvisations are dynamic, eruptive, keyed to the compositions at hand." —Village Voice "When Jason Moran performs with his trio, Bandwagon, these days, he engages in a ritual that befits one of the most independent minds now working in jazz." —The New York Times "Of course, countless other jazz musicians have tried to reinvent eras past, including the elliptical 1960s, with varying degrees of success