Jason Moran

Jason Moran

By Johanna Goodman

The Bandwagon: Nasheet Waits, Jason Moran, Tarus Mateen

By Paul Brown

Wayne Shorter Quartet with Jason Moran at Umbria Jazz Melbourne 05

By Enzo Capua

Jason Moran

By Clay Patrick McBride

Jason Moran

By Clay Patrick McBride

Jason Moran and Joe Lovano

By John Abbott

Jason Moran

By Paul Brown

Joe Lovano and Jason Moran outside the Village Vanguard

By John Abbott

Jason Moran

By John Abbott

Jason Moran

Jason Moran Bandwagon

By Paul Brown

Jason Moran

By Eric Wong

Jason Moran

Charles Lloyd Quartet (L to R: Lloyd, Reuben Rogers, Jason Moran and Eric Harland)

By D. Darr

Jason Moran and friend at 2010 CareFusion Newport Jazz Festival

By Melissa Mergner

Jason Moran performing with his Bandwagon trio at CareFusion Newport Jazz Festival 2010

By Melissa Mergner

Jason Moran performing with his Bandwagon trio at CareFusion Newport Jazz Festival 2010

By Melissa Mergner

Jason Moran performing with his Bandwagon trio at CareFusion Newport Jazz Festival 2010

By Melissa Mergner

Jason Moran performing with his Bandwagon trio at CareFusion Newport Jazz Festival 2010

By Melissa Mergner

Jason Moran backstage at CareFusion Newport Jazz Festival 2010

By Melissa Mergner

Jason Moran

Jason Moran Bandwagon Trio (left to right): Nasheet Waits, Jason Moran and Tarus Mateen

Charles Lloyd Quartet

Jason Moran performs with Bandwagon at the 2010 Rosslyn Jazz Festival

By Lee Mergner

Jason Moran performs with Bandwagon at the 2010 Rosslyn Jazz Festival

By Lee Mergner

Jason Moran and In My Mind personnel at Town Hall in Feb. 2009

Jason Moran and Bandwagon trio

By Clay Patrick McBride

Jason Moran

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One of the most inventive pianists in modern jazz, Jason Moran grows in influence and stature each year. Born in 1975, Moran grew up in Houston. He started on the piano at 6 and was originally classically trained. At 13 he heard a recording of Thelonious Monk that inspired him to switch permanently to jazz. Moran attended Houston’s High School for the Performing and Visual Arts. After graduating, he enrolled at the Manhattan School of Music, where he studied with Jaki Byard. He also studied privately with Muhal Richard Abrams and Andrew Hill. In 1997 while still in college, Moran toured Europe with Greg Osby’s group, becoming a member of the band for a couple of years and making his first recording on Osby’s 1997 album Further Ado for Blue Note.

Moran signed with Blue Note as a leader in 1999 and made his debut on Soundtrack to Human Motion. By the following year, he was leading a trio with bassist Tarus Mateen and drummer Nasheet Waits that was named the Bandwagon. After recording a trio CD, the group became a quartet on its next CD with the inclusion of saxophonist Sam Rivers. Moran’s 2002 solo album Modernistic was highlighted by his deconstruction of James P. Johnson’s “You’ve Gotta Be Modernistic,” displaying Moran’s familiarity with earlier jazz styles even as he took them apart. Moran has continued recording as a leader but also has worked as a sideman with Cassandra Wilson, Joe Lovano, Don Byron, Steve Coleman, Lee Konitz, Von Freeman, Christian McBride, Ravi Coltrane and, most recently, Charles Lloyd.

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