Jason Gianni

Originally from New Jersey, drummer/author Jason Gianni obtained a Master of Music degree in Percussion Performance from Pennsylvania State University as well as a Bachelor of Music degree in Percussion Performance and a Minor in Jazz Studies from the University of Delaware. Jason has also studied at the Drummer's Collective in New York City with notable players such as Horacio "El Negro" Hernandez, Clayton Cameron, Mike Clark and Kim Plainfield.

After moving to San Francisco in 1996, he became an active player in the Bay Area music scene, performing with many artists such as Eric Martin (Mr. Big), Trent Gardner (Magellan), legendary big band drummer Louie Bellson, the New Morty Show swing band, the Megan Slankard Band, members of both Tower of Power & Santana, bassist Kai Eckhardt, members of the Escovedo family and several Salsa, Jazz and Funk ensembles. Jason spent 6 years as a full-time, touring member of the popular Bay Area rock band, MiGGs. In 2005, MiGGs released their sophmore recording entitled, Insomnia, signed to 33rd Street Records and produced by Gavin MacKillop (Toad the Wet Sprocket, Goo Goo Dolls, Sugarcult).

Additionally, in 2003, Jason became the featured drummer on the CD by progressive rock artist Magellan, entitled Impossible Figures, released on InsideOut Records.

As a session drummer, Jason has recorded television & radio commercials for clients such as Toyota, Discover, McDonalds, Showtime, the Oakland Athletics, Izusu, Polaroid, the California Lottery, PBS, Sprint, Capital One, Foster Farms, Blue Shield and many more. You can also hear Jason's drumming in each episode of the recent hit show entitled, Hannah Montana, every week on the Disney Channel. However, his most familiar session work is his playing on the opening theme song drum tracks for the popular Nickelodeon children's cartoon Spongebob Squarepants.

In addition, Jason has taught privately throughout the Bay Area at both Drum World in San Mateo, California and the Haight Ashbury Music Center in San Francisco.

As a writer, his work has appeared in Modern Drummer magazine several times (including a feature article describing the specifics of "Jingle Drumming") and he was a regular drum columnist in the West coast version of the Jazz Steps Newsletter.

Most notably, Jason has co-authored The Drummer's Bible, a guide to popular drum styles which offers approximately 400 musical examples in standard drum notation. It includes grooves & practical variations and also provides overviews of the history & development of almost all popular music styles for the modern drum set player. For more information, visit http://www.drummersbible.com In addition, he is a current drum editor for an up and coming music website entitled Musicplayers.com (http://www.musicplayers.com).

In the summer of 2006, Jason returned to his roots and relocated to the New York City area. Since September of 2006, he has been a faculty member of the Drummers Collective where he specializes in classes, private lessons and clinics/masterclasses. He is currently running a 10-week specialized elective course in Progressive Rock, focusing on advanced polyrhythm work, odd-time studies, ostinato soloing and other related topics. Jason endorses Paiste cymbals, Remo drumheads, and Vic Firth sticks.