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 Drummers 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 throughout early episodes of the hit show, Hannah Montana, aired weekly 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 had 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.
In the summer of 2006, Jason returned to his roots and relocated back to the New York City area. Since September of 2006, he has been a full-time, anchor faculty member of the prestigious Drummers Collective school of music in Manhattan where he specializes in classes, private lessons and clinics/masterclasses. His specialty classes include a 10-week long Progressive Rock EIP (Elective Intensive Program) focusing on advanced polyrhythm work, odd-time studies, ostinato soloing and progressive performances with a live rhythm section, as well as a separate 10-week long in-depth Polyrhythm course each semester. In 2007, Jason was asked to be an instructor at the first-annual Drum Fantasy Camp (in South Orange, NJ) giving clinics and master classes alongside notable drummers such as Dave Weckl, Steve Smith, Jason Bittner, and Horatio Hernandez. Shortly following, Jason recorded a DVD for Hudson Music for the Sound Percussion drum set line. The DVD, entitled
"Set Up, Tune and Play Your Drums," was released in the summer of 2008 and can be found in most popular music stores. It covers the basic assembly, construction and beginning steps to getting started on drum set.
Endorsed by Vic Firth drum sticks, the Vic Firth website has been very supportive of 2 video clinic/lesson series currently streaming on their site. The first is a 5-segment series on various Polyrhythmic independence and the other is a self-produced Polyrhythm & Ostinato video that has gained some viral popularity on various internet sites.
More recently, Jason has worked with two active bands in the tri-state area. Days Before Tomorrow, a melodic progressive rock band from Northern NJ, released their debut CD “The Sky Is Falling” in the summer of 2009. The CD was produced by Ron Nevison (Led Zeppelin, Kiss, Bad Company) and mixed by Grammy award winning engineer, Earl Cohen. In October 2009, it was announced that "The Sky is Falling" won RECORD OF THE YEAR at the LA Music Awards. In addition, he is currently playing with members of the Trans-Siberian Orchestra in several different situations, including a new original project entitled, Daredevil Squadron. The debut CD from Daredevil Squadron was released in November 2009 entitled, "Out Of The Sun." Additionally, he had served as the back-up drummer for the Trans-Siberian Orchestra for two seasons and can be heard on their most recent CD, “Night Castle.”
Finally, the start of 2012 has been an exceptionally gratifying period as new and important steps have occurred for him. Jason has landed the position to back up Mike Portnoy in the popular Neal Morse Band (Spock's Beard, Transatlantic) and will be seen in many shows & festivals throughout 2012. In addition, he has become an active sub on the popular NYC Broadway Show,'Rock of Ages.' 2012 will also see the release of the 2nd Edition of 'The Drummers Bible' which will include additional grooves and an increased & updated amount of text information throughout the book. He has become a permanent member of the Modern Drummer Education team and, though not picked as the final instructor, he was chosen in the top 5 players world-wide to replace Mike Mangini as the Contemporary/Progressive Rock professor at the world-famous Berklee College of Music. Jason proudly endorses Yamaha Drums, Paiste cymbals, Vic Firth Drum Sticks and Remo Drum Heads.
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