Jason Crosby had an auspicious musical beginning at the age of 2 when he started playing the violin, and shortly after it was discovered that he possessed perfect pitch. As a young boy, he immersed himself in classical music, and was playing piano at a professional level at a very young age. He then took on the guitar, the viola, the French horn and the trumpet and pursued those instruments with equal vigor for many years. A member of Robert Randolph and the Family Band, Jason exclusively plays his Yamaha Motif ES8. A multi-instrumentalist with extensive and varied musical pursuits, Jason also currently puts a great deal of energy into his own self-titled band, which explores a profusion of Jazz, Rock, Funk, Latin and Fusion music. Crosby has previously been a member of such bands as Oteil and the Peacemakers and the Susan Tedeschi Band, among others. Jason has played on dozens of albums and has toured with members of the Allman Brothers, The Dead, and the Meters. Over the last few years Crosby has also toured with artists like Carlos Santana, Eric Clapton and Dave Mathews.
After touring with the Long Island Youth Orchestra to countries such as China, Russia, Australia and Cuba, Crosby expanded his classical horizons by embracing other varied art forms, such as Jazz, Funk, Rock and Latin music. His two solo albums, "Out of the Box" and "Four Chords and Seven Notes Ago" display his diverse array of virtuosic talents, as he switches instruments from song to song, as well as the styles of music he creates and explores. Crosby continues to develop his own style of music, by fusing the Classical he was raised on with the Jazz that inspires his melodic maneuverings. Modern Drummer Magazine gave "Four Chords" four stars, and the review raves:
"Crosby shines on keys, trumpet, and violin, and his playing and writing combines the eclectic flair and sophistication of the new Southern fusion."
Jason's music is imbued with a depth of musical sophistication that comes only from years of searching different styles of expression in order to create new ones. Whether the Jason Crosby Band is conjuring up a melodic acoustic song or playing free jazz, they always manage to stretch the scope of imagination of what one type of music can contain. JCB is also known for its intense rhythmical variations, often playing songs in odd time signatures.
Jason's playing has graced over forty albums, from Susan Tedeschi's Grammy nominated blues album, "Wait for me" to Anastacia's pop hit, "Freak of Nature." His musical interests are as diverse as the instruments he plays.
Jason has also become an eminent organ player, playing B-3 (along with his Motif) with Robert Randolph and Susan Tedeschi. He has performed on DVDs like Live at Austin City Limits and Eric Clapton's Crossroad Guitar Festival.
Jason Crosby has also had the honor of playing violin solos with Carlos Santana, and keyboard with Dave Mathews and Bruce Springsteen. Having shared the stage with B.B. King and The Rolling Stones, Crosby is no stranger to the forces of music that have defined the musical scene for decades.
Jason has been featured many times on television shows, most notably Austin City Limits, Conan O'Brien, David Letterman, Jay Leno and Jools Holland. During his first Grammy appearance in 2004 with Robert Randolph, Jason played keyboard in the tribute to Funk, along with Outkast, the original P-Funk, and Earth Wind and Fire.
Jason Crosby has defied definition in his career, but one thing about him is blatantly obvious, this is a musician whose intrinsic talent and grace are rare gifts to the music scene today. Crosby's music is almost a melting pot of different sound and form, a profundity of creative elements as varied as the instruments he plays and the styles he explores. For a full discography, tour dates and more info, please visit jasoncrosby.com.
