About
What do Kurt Vonnegut, Thelonious Monk, Argentine and Chilean folk music, and the socio-political issues of our time all have in common? They all find their way into the music and mind of pianist-composer Jason Yeager.
Jason recently released two highly acclaimed recordings: Hand in Hand (Club44 Records) with his Broadway actress-singer spouse, Julie Benko; and Unstuck in Time: The Kurt Vonnegut Suite (Sunnyside Records) with his eponymous septet and special guest Miguel Zenón. Highlighted in the New York Times Fall Pop & Jazz preview, Hand in Hand has been hailed as “exquisite” (Times Square Chronicles) and “an impressive outing” (BroadwayWorld). Meanwhile, Unstuck in Time was described as “both complex and highly accessible” (JazzTimes) and “an elaborate valentine to Vonnegut” (Downbeat).
Inspired by the social activism and vision of his mentor, Danilo Pérez, Yeager released the acclaimed 2019 album New Songs of Resistance (Outside in Music), which includes reimagined nueva canción protest songs from South America and original compositions that address contemporary social issues. New York Music Daily called the release “one of the best albums of 2019 in any style of music.” Prior to this album, he released All At Onceness (called a "compelling new album" by the Boston Globe) with musical polymath Randal Despommier; United (named a Best Album of 2017 by Downbeat) with violin virtuoso Jason Anick; and a pair of trio albums, Affirmation and Ruminations.
Originally from the Boston area and now based in New York City, Jason is an active performer on the international scene, having performed across five continents at such venues and festivals as Carnegie Hall, the Blue Note, Smalls Jazz Club, Birdland Jazz Club, Berklee Performance Center, Qintai Concert Hall, Panama Jazz Festival, Festival Internacional de Jazz de Costa Rica, and more.
In addition to his 7 albums as a leader, Jason has performed on 25 more as a side musician. He’s performed and recorded with the likes of Luciana Souza, Ran Blake, Sean Jones, Ayn Inserto, Ben Monder, Steve Wilson, George Garzone, Jason Palmer, Noah Preminger, and Aubrey Johnson. He regularly gigs around NYC and beyond with artists like Fleur Seule, Randal Despommier, and Jason Anick.
Yeager was the 1st-place winner of the 2022 Jazz WaHi Jazz Composition Competition, for which he was commissioned to write a five-movement suite based on literature set in or associated with the New York City neighborhood of Washington Heights. He was also the 2nd-place winner of the 2022 Ravenscroft Jazz Piano Competition, and a two-time Finalist of the Jacksonville Jazz Piano Competition (formerly Great American Jazz Piano Competition).
Mentored in music by generous and inspirational teachers, Jason is now a committed educator in his own right. He is Assistant Professor of Piano at Berklee College of Music, where he has taught since 2012. He also teaches at the New York Jazz Academy and through his private studio. He graduated Phi Beta Kappa, summa cum laude from the Tufts University/New England Conservatory Double Degree Program, and earned a Master of Music, summa cum laude, from the Berklee Global Jazz Institute.
Originally from Framingham, MA, Yeager was first mentored by extraordinary artist-teachers, including Milton Academy's jazz director, bassist Bob Sinicrope, and pianists Dan Loschen and Kyle Aho. He has since studied with some of the foremost musicians in the world, including Fred Hersch, Danilo Pérez Sophia Rosoff, Ran Blake, Terri Lyne Carrington, John Patitucci, Vijay Iyer, Joe Lovano, and Jerry Bergonzi.
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“...[Jason] always impressed me with his talent, his curiosity and his desire to create his own music while really investigating the jazz piano tradition.” -Fred Hersch, Grammy-nominated pianist/composer and Doris Duke Fellow
“An individualist with a high concept, [Jason Yeager’s] music contains grace and color and a great deal of depth.” -Greg Osby, renowned saxophonist/composer
“An incredible composer and musician...[who] surprises you like a thunderbolt.” -Ran Blake, pianist/composer, MacArthur Fellow
“The evidence is clear on Affirmation, his second outing on…Inner Circle Music....With a highly interactive trio...Yeager stakes out his own unique territory.” -Bill Milkowski, Downbeat Magazine
“Yeager’s relentless, usually understated intensity, starkly evocative compositions and imaginative reworking of a smartly assembled mix of classic songs make this one of the best albums of 2019 in any style of music.” -New York Music Daily Blog
“Perhaps this joyous piece that closes [New Songs of Resistance] is a sign that Jason Yeager feels hope even in the teeth of the political monsters spread around the world….Exciting music that speaks to the struggles of Latin America, the United States, and the world; listen closely and pay attention.” -Richard Kamins, Step Tempest Blog
Photo by Simon Yu