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Jason Parker

Seattle-based trumpet/flugelhorn player and composer Jason Parker has been quietly making a name for himself as a first-call jazz, funk, R&B and rock musician. It was a visit from Dizzy Gillespie and band to Jason's elementary school that started him on the path to becoming a musician. Eight-year-old Jason worshipped at the feet of Dizzy for 30 minutes, and immediately asked his parents to buy him a trumpet. He played in jazz and rock bands all throughout high school and college, but put down the horn after graduation to focus on a career in radio. Starting on the midnight-6am shift at his college radio station in Los Angeles, Jason worked his way through better and better shifts in LA, Eugene and Denver, finally working his way to Program Director of a major adult rock station in Seattle. After winning the prestigious Gavin Award for A3 Major Market Program Director of the Year, Jason walked away from his promising career to turn his attention back to the horn.

Jason currently leads the Jason Parker Quartet, one of Seattle’s busiest jazz bands. He also plays with the improv-funk group Water Babies, Soul Provider Sensational Soul & Funk Review, Sarah Shannon, and the Jason Parker/Josh Rawlings duo, and occasionally sits in with Crooked Fingers, DeVotchKa, and many others.

Since moving to Seattle 12 years ago, Jason has played and recorded with local luminaries Byron Vannoy, Carrie Akre, Josh Rawlings, Sean Nelson, Brian Kirk, D'vonne Lewis, Nathan Spicer, Ty Bailie, Heather Duby, Evan Flory-Barnes, Darrius Willrich and Choklate, as well as national artists Tom Scott, Crooked Fingers and Sarah Shannon. His bands have shared stages with Elvis Costello, The Presidents of the United States of America, DeVotchKa, Little River Band, Greta Matassa, Micah P. Hinson and others, and have been featured at Bumbershoot, EMP's Jazz in January, Summer Concerts at Chateau Ste. Michelle, and The Triple Door. Jason has been asked to play for The Seattle Supersonics, Starbucks, Microsoft, UW Medical Center, Gov. Gary Locke and Pike Place Market.

Jason is also an avid educator, teaching private trumpet lessons, classes in recording, performance and music theory, and is an instructor for Paul Allen's Experience Music Project and The Right Brain Center for the Arts.

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137
Album Review

Jason Parker Quartet: Five Leaves Left

Read "Five Leaves Left" reviewed by Greg Simmons


For its fourth album, the Jason Parker Quartet takes a sharp departure from its previous three efforts. Rather than simply cutting another solid straight-ahead quartet date, trumpeter Parker has added vocalist Michele Khazak, and multi-woodwind blower Cynthia Mullis, to reinterpret an entire folk-pop album: Nick Drake's Five Leaves Left (Island Records, 1969). Despite being far outside the typical jazz cannon, Drake's music continues to receive coverage from a number of jazz artists, including pianist Brad Mehldau, proving that unexpected choices ...

313
Take Five With...

Take Five With Jason Parker

Read "Take Five With Jason Parker" reviewed by AAJ Staff


Meet Jason Parker:Seattle trumpeter Jason Parker leads the Jason Parker Quartet, who will release their second CD on October 24, 2009 on Broken Time Records. No More, No Less features some of Seattle's finest young jazz musicians. Stream and download now at Jason Parker's website.Instrument(s):Trumpet.Teachers and/or influences?Ev Stern, Tony Grasso, Ingrid Jensen, Brian Lynch, Terell Stafford, Laurie Frink, Miles Davis, Chet Baker, Freddie Hubbard and all the musicians in Seattle.

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121

Music Industry

Jason Parker Quartet - Five Leaves Left

Jason Parker Quartet - Five Leaves Left

Source: Music and More by Tim Niland

The late British singer-songwriter Nick Drake is having something of a resurgence in jazz recently, kicked off by pianist Brad Mehldau's cover of “River Man" and now extending to this well executed album by trumpeter Jason Parker. Performing with Parker on this album are Josh Rawlings on piano, Evan Flory-Barnes on bass, D'Vonne Lewis on drums and special guests Michele Khazak on vocals and Cynthia Mullis on tenor saxophone and flute. Five Leaves is a solid if slightly melancholy disc, ...

244

Recording

Jason Parker Quartet Releases "Five Leaves Left: A Tribute To Nick Drake" On March 29th

Jason Parker Quartet Releases "Five Leaves Left: A Tribute To Nick Drake" On March 29th

Source: Jason Parker

J&J Music announces the release of the new CD from the Jason Parker Quartet: Five Leaves Left: A Tribute To Nick Drake. The music will be released digitally on March 29th, with CD's to follow at the end of April on Seattle's Broken Time Records. The JPQ chose to pay tribute to the legendary singer/songwriter by remaking his classic debut album song-for-song in their own unique style. “I've been a fan of Drake's music for years," says Parker, “This record ...

59

Opinion

What It Really Means To Be A Working Musician

What It Really Means To Be A Working Musician

Source: One Working Musician by Jason Parker

As the title of this blog suggests, I pride myself on being a working musician. This year marks my 10th anniversary of making a living through my music and I couldn't be happier with how my life has turned out. When I quit my day job in 2001 I had no idea what my life would end up looking like, but I knew that whatever the outcome I'd be happier if I at least tried to build my life around ...

181

Video / DVD

Jason Parker Quartet / Nick Drake / Jay-Z Mash-up by Hip-Hop Producer Spekulation - "Can't Knock The Hustle"

Jason Parker Quartet / Nick Drake / Jay-Z Mash-up by Hip-Hop Producer Spekulation - "Can't Knock The Hustle"

Source: Jason Parker

Seattle's Jason Parker Quartet has recorded their latest album Five Leaves Left: A Tribute To Nick Drake, due out next month. Parker sent the mixes to his friend, hip-hip producer Spekulation for his input, and in return got back a 6 tracks cut up and remixed with Jay-Z lyrics! “Can't Knock The Hustle" is the first single from the “Smoke 'Em If You Got 'Em" EP by Spekulation, available February 29th. “Smoke 'Em If You Got 'Em" is a 6-track ...

76

Radio

Jazz Now! Seattle Podcast Debuts New Series: "Live From London Bridge Studio"

Jazz Now! Seattle Podcast Debuts New Series: "Live From London Bridge Studio"

Source: Jason Parker

We're excited to announce the debut of “Live From London Bridge Studio," presented by Jazz Now! Seattle. JNS has partnered with engineer extraordinaire Dave Miner and the good folks at London Bridge to bring you live concerts from the famed Seattle recording studio! The shows will feature two great Seattle jazz bands playing live at London Bridge. These shows will be free and open to the public on a first come, first served RSVP basis. A limited number of Jazz ...

181

Crowdfunding Campaign

Jason Parker Quartet to Record Tribute to Nick Drake via Kickstarter

Jason Parker Quartet to Record Tribute to Nick Drake via Kickstarter

Source: Jason Parker

The Jason Parker Quartet, one of Seattle's up-and-coming jazz bands, is heading into the studio on December 26th to record a tribute to Nick Drake. “Five Leaves Left: A Jazz Tribute to Nick Drake" is a unique concept in that it is a remaking, song by song, of the British singer-songwriter's debut album. Rather than take a retrospective look at music from throughout Drake's career, Parker has chosen to focus on only the songs from the one album. He has ...

56

Performance / Tour

Today is the Last Day to Vote for a Jazz Band to Play an Indie Rock Festival. Help Spread Jazz!!

Today is the Last Day to Vote for a Jazz Band to Play an Indie Rock Festival. Help Spread Jazz!!

Source: Jason Parker

The Jason Parker Quartet is one of the few jazz bands featured in this year's Seattle Weekly REVERB Fest. The weekly is holding a contest in conjunction with Seattle radio station KEXP to send one of the bands playing the festival to Iceland to play at the Iceland Airwaves Festival a well. Most of the bands featured in both festivals are indie rock bands. Rather than send another one to represent Seattle, wouldn't it be great if the band chosen ...

96

Event

Help Send a Jazz Band (the Jason Parker Quartet) to the Iceland Airwaves Festival with 3 Clicks of your Mouse!

Help Send a Jazz Band (the Jason Parker Quartet) to the Iceland Airwaves Festival with 3 Clicks of your Mouse!

Source: Jason Parker

The Jason Parker Quartet is one of the few jazz bands featured in this year's Seattle Weekly REVERB Fest. The weekly is holding a contest in conjunction with Seattle radio station KEXP to send one of the bands playing the festival to Iceland to play at the Iceland Airwaves Festival a well. Most of the bands featured in both festivals are indie rock bands. Rather than send another one to represent Seattle, wouldn't it be great if the band chosen ...

"The next generation of Seattle Jazz." --Earshot Jazz

"The Jason Parker Quartet re-defines traditional Jazz." --Gene Stout, Seattle Post-Intellegencer

"Swinging and spontaneous while remaining tightly orchestrated." --Hot House Jazz

"The Jason Parker Quartet applies just the right amount of intensity, leaving plenty of room for beauty." --Marc Myers, JazzWax

"What a killing group!" --AccuJazz

"Jazz with its feet firmly in the present" --Euskir Music

"Shockingly, unwittingly dance-in-your-kitchen good" --Nextbop.com

Photos

Music

Recordings: As Leader | As Sideperson

Five Leaves Left

Broken Time Records
2011

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Five Leaves Left: A...

Broken Time Records
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No More, No Less

Broken Time Records
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Live @ JazzTV

Jason Parker Music
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The Jason Parker...

Broken Time Records
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Bashert

From: No More, No Less
By Jason Parker

Mance's Dance

From: No More, No Less
By Jason Parker

Videos

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