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. 

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 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.

Jason currently works 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. 2011 will see the release of their sophomore effort.  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." 

Lastly, he had served as the back up drummer for the Trans-Siberian Orchestra for the past two seasons and can be

heard on their newest CD release, “Night Castle.” Jason endorses Paiste cymbals, Vic Firth Drum Sticks and Remo

drum heads.