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Jason Lee Bruns

Jason Lee Bruns (b. October, 3, 1979, Coldwater, Ohio) is an American percussionist, drummer, producer, and educator specializing in Pop, Rock, Funk, R&B, Jazz, Brazilian, and Afro-Latin drum set styles. His playing in known for his ability to sound like five drummers at once, fierce leadership from behind the kit, solid and driving grooves, and subtle melodic fills that confidently lead the band. He is also a well trained classical percussionist, plays the soprano steel pan, and is a specialist in Brazilian & Cuban percussion instruments and genres - all of which influence his drum set playing to sound unique.

As either a drummer and/or percussionist Jason has been in the house bands for Beck, Lewis Price (The Temptations), Neil Sedaka, Liane Carroll (2x BBC Jazz Award Winner) and the L.A. Master Coral. Jason has performed at L.A.’s top venues including Disney Hall, House of Blues, Herb Alpert's Vibrato, Vitello's, and Catalina Jazz Club on the Sunset Strip.

As a producer and band leader Jason has released seven self-produced albums on his own label (Panout Music Group™) most recently “Cherry Avenue” featuring singer Kevin Bachelder, preceded by "Live at Catalina Jazz Club", “45 RPM”, “with Jason Gamer”, "The Egrem Session” recorded at the famous Egrem Studio in Havana Cuba (i.e. Buena Vista Social Club), "L.A.C.E." by the L.A. Caribbean Ensemble, his demo reel “Tapas”, and the single "Where I'm Going".

Jason holds a Bachelors of Music and a minor in composition from Miami University (Ohio) and a Masters in Jazz Studies from the University of Southern California, as well as performer's certificates from the Mangueira Samba School in Brazil and the International Folklore Laboratory in Havana, Cuba. Jason is also an AVID "Certified ProTools Instructor" and holds a Master's Certificate in audio production from Berklee Music. He Studied in order under Terri Lyne Carrington, Peter Erskine, Aaron Serfaty, Bill Albin, Cliff Bowerman, John Taylor, and Don Donnett.

Jason has held an artist residency for the City of L.A. ("L.A.'s Best"), taught for USC "Jazz Reach", and is the founder of both the World Music and Recording Arts programs at Campbell Hall's new Arts and Education Center in North Hollywood, CA. These programs include two Steel Drum Orchestras, Brazilian Batería, Salsa Band, West African Drumming, and a State-of-the-Art industry standard recording facility.

As an author Jason's method on teaching rhythmic notation was published by the Percussive Arts Society's academic journal “Percussive Notes”. He is a member of the American Federation of Musician's (Local 47), BMI, the Percussive Arts Society, and a voting member of the Recording Academy (Grammy's/NARAS).

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Audiophile Review Magazine -

"...Bruns is not only a talented drummer, but also a skilled composer and arranger and he deftly demonstrates this on this live album. His adaptations of selections by Coltrane, Thelonious Monk, Antonio Carlos Jobim as well as others invite the listener to return again and again."

JAZZ DA GAMA review by Raul da Gama -

...a rhythmic colourist who works beyond his drums set; ...His polyrhythmic inventions come from a head full of sounds. His capacity to be creative is truly impressive and Mr. Bruns is melodic to boot. This comes from the maturity of not simply having being born of Elvin Jones, but also Max Roach and Roy Haynes; and of course a propensity to invent and create magical structures and cycles. ...

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Primary Instrument

Drums

Location

Los Angeles

Willing to teach

Beginner to advanced

Credentials/Background

Drum Lessons - Jason's been teaching private drum lessons since he was a Junior in High School. His students include beginners, college bound music students, and hobbyist and professionals of all ages. To read more about Jason's private studio and teaching philosophy visit his private lessons website here: www.TakeDrums.com Music Theory Tutor - With a Masters in Music and a Minor in Composition as well as being the Music Theory teacher at a private high School in North Hollywood, California Jason offers music theory lessons to students and pro's who want to strengthen their theory chops. Recording Arts: ProTools - As an AVID "Certified Instructor" with a Masters Certificate in Audio Engineering (Berklee Music), the "Recording Arts Director" at Campbell Hall (North Hollywood, CA), and the owner and founder of an independent record label (Panout Music Group) Jason can help you improve your recording techniques and skills through internship opportunities and/or private instruction.

Clinic/Workshop Information

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Photos

Music

Recordings: As Leader | As Sideperson

Cherry Avenue

Panout Music Group
2015

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LIVE at Catalina Jazz...

Panout Music Group
2012

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45 R.P.M.

Panout Music Group
2011

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L.A.C.E.

Panout Music Group
2009

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JLB Jazz Collective -...

Panout Music Group
2008

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Tapas

Panout Music Group
2008

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Videos

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