Coming from a musical family, Jason Harnell started playing the drums at the ripe old age of six, when long-time friend of the family Louie Bellson gave him his first real drum set. Extensive private study was to follow with teachers such as Hank Bellson Shelly Manne, Joe Porcaro, Vinnie Colaiuta, Dave Weckl, Jeff Hamilton, Joe LaBarbara and Larry Goldings.

After attending the University of South Florida, Jason moved to Los Angeles in 1990. Since relocating to LA, Jason has been very active as a performer and has become one of the most sought after jazz drummers on the West Coast.

A partial list of the artists he has collaborated with includes: Kei Akagi, Sheryl Bailey, John Beasley, Steve Cardenas, Jay Clayton, Steve Cotter, Dave Carpenter, Lea DeLaria, Maynard Ferguson, Keith Ganz, David Goldblatt, Shelia Jordan, Kate McGarry, Ryan McGillicuddy, MOSS (Theo Bleckman, Lauren Kinhan, Peter Eldridge), Josh Nelson, Darek Oles, Jack Reilly, Jack Sheldon, Bob Sheppard, Ron Stout, Leonard Thompson, Steve Tavaglione and Ben Wendel.

Currently, Jason is leading his own trio featuring Larry Koonse and Joe Bagg as well as being a member of the bassless trio "Joe-Less Shoe" (with Matt Otto and Jamie Rosenn), who just released their first CD.

These days Jason maintains a busy teaching schedule as well. He is currently on faculty at University California Irvine as jazz drum instructor and has been since 2005. He also teaches at the Musicians Institute (P.I.T.) in Hollywood where he instructs private students as well as teaching a class of his own design titled "Bebop and Beyond: Developing Musical Creativity on the Drum Set."