Jason Marsalis is the youngest branch on the world-famous Marsalis family tree, being the brother of Wynton and Branford. As a six-year-old he was already seated at his first real drum kit and was taught by legendary drummer James Black. Shortly after his university education, Marsalis was performing on stage with great names like Lionel Hampton and Joe Henderson. In 1998 he founded Latin jazz group Los Hombres Calientes together with Headhunters percussionist Bill Summers and trumpeter Irvin Mayfield with whom he recorded two albums. In that year his solo debut The Year Of The Drummer was also released. Following his adventure with Summers and Mayfield, Marsalis fulfilled a longstanding desire to work with pianist Marcus Roberts. In 2009 he exchanged his drums for the vibraphone and released Music Update, which was highly praised by DownBeat and The New York Times. On both successors to this album, Marsalis also demonstrates his outstanding talent on the vibraphone.
