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Jason Keiser

Jason Keiser is a professional jazz guitarist, multi-stylist, OA2 recording and performing artist, bandleader, and composer based in the Bay Area, currently residing in San Jose, California.

Jason just released "Kind of Kenny" featuring John Stowell, Erik Jekabson, Michael Zilber, and Danielle Wertz on OA2 Records on Friday October 25th, 2024 honoring the trumpet/flugelhorn master; Kenny Wheeler. This marks Keiser's 2nd album on OA2 Records and his 8th release in his discography.

“San Jose Guitarist Jason Keiser casts a wide musical net, enamored equally with bluegrass as with post-bop jazz. Rather than diluting his attention, his varied interests seem to have sharpened his imagination, judging by his impressive new album
“Shaw’s Groove”. © Andrew Gilbert, Bay Area News Group

"Jason Keiser blew me away when I first heard him play. He possesses an incredible guitar technique that encompasses everything from lightning fast runs to sensitive and nuanced chordal work. He is also a creative and sophisticated composer. But beyond these formidable gifts, Jason plays with a passion and vivacity that is both palpable and contagious."
Mimi Fox
Professional Jazz Guitarist, & Educator

Jason is the bandleader of The New Acoustic Collective, a jazz-bluegrass fusion string band carrying on the legacy of “dawg music” by David Grisman, SpaceGrass music of The Tony Rice Unit, and their own unique fusion acoustic music with blends of classical, jazz, bluegrass, and world music stylings. The New Acoustic Collective has performed as Official Showcase Artists at the 2021 International Bluegrass Music Association's “World of Bluegrass” in the Bluegrass Ramble with performances at The Pour House Music Hall & Raleigh Convention Center in Raleigh NC.

In addition to leading The New Acoustic Collective, Jason is an active solo jazz recording and performing artist, guitarist, composer, arranger, and freelancer who has recorded, collaborated, and worked with the following artists; John Stowell, Rick Vandivier, Mimi Fox, Wyatt Rice, Jim Kerwin, Mike Mullins, Thomas Cassell, Melissa Garay, and many more!

Awards

2016 Grey Fox Bluegrass Festival Bill Vernon Memorial Scholarship Guitar finalist

Gear

1977 Ovation Legend Model 1117-1, previously owned by Wyatt Rice Godin 5th Ave Archtop Hollowbody Neumann KM-184 Royer Labs R-10 Bosa L1 & S1 Pro PA's Elixir Strings D'addario Strings Charmed Life, Bluechip, Tone Slab, custom tortoise shell picks

Jason Keiser: Kind of Kenny

by Andrew Gilbert
September 14, 2024

Over the past decade San Jose guitarist Jason Keiser has carved out a sterling reputation as a bandleader whose musical passions range across North America's expansive soundscape, and this album extends his exploration into arrestingly lyrical territory. After highlighting Woody Shaw's treasure trove of intervallic leaping post-bop gems on 2023's Shaw's Groove, he turns his attention to another undersung trumpet maestro with Kind of Kenny, a deep dive into the ravishing music of Canadian composer Kenny Wheeler (1930-2014).

Album Review

Jason Keiser: Shaw's Groove

Read "Shaw's Groove" reviewed by Jack Bowers

by Jack Bowers
May 24, 2023

The “Shaw" in guitarist Jason Keiser's album Shaw's Groove is the late great Woody Shaw, one of the more innovative and influential jazz trumpeters of the twentieth century. Even though he lived only forty-four years (he died in May 1989), Shaw was an important role model whose sweeping influence remains strong to this day, both as a player and composer. The first four songs on Shaw's Groove were written by Shaw himself, among the many he composed ...

Website

All About Jazz Top 10 Songs: August 2022

Source: All About Jazz
September 1, 2022

All About Jazz features a free song every day spanning all genres of jazz, and of the tracks featured in August, these ten represent our reader's favorites as indicated by total listens. Musicians and record labels can submit full length MP3s for consideration here. Enjoy! Top Songs Corean Castaway Aaron Liddard From: Nylon Man 6:12 Cold Duck Time Daniel Latorre From: ORGANization Live 10:22 Atrás da porta
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“Guitarist Jason Keiser is finding a unique and compelling voice both as player and composer. His eclectic tastes in music and capability to live in different genres are combining in a beautiful synergy when Jason plays and writes. I will be following his career with interest and I look forward to collaborating with Jason in the near future.”

John Stowell

Professional Jazz Guitarist, Educator

Origin Records Artist