Jason Marsalis
Jason Marsalis (born March 4, 1977) is an American jazz drummer and member of the Marsalis family of musicians. He is the youngest son of Dolores Ferdinand Marsalis and the late Ellis Marsalis, Jr. Musical career. Marsalis was born in New Orleans, Louisiana, the son of Dolores (née Ferdinand) and Ellis Louis Marsalis, Jr., a pianist and music professor. His brothers are Branford Marsalis, Wynton Marsalis, Ellis Marsalis III (1964), Delfeayo Marsalis, and Mboya Kenyatta (1971). Branford, Wynton, and Delfeayo are also jazz musicians. Marsalis studied percussion at Loyola University New Orleans. He worked as a sideman in  mainstream jazz, funk, and jazz fusion groups; a Brazilian percussion ensemble (Casa Samba); and a Celtic music group. He introduced percussionist Bill Summers to trumpeter Irvin Mayfield, and they founded Los Hombres Calientes. Marsalis then joined pianist Marcus Roberts. Marsalis has also played with John Ellis, Michael White, Shannon Powell, and the Marsalis family. He and his brothers and their father were named NEA Jazz Masters. He is one of the artists featured in "Tradition Is a Temple", a 2013 documentary film about New Orleans. In 2009, Marsalis released his first album as a leader on vibraphone, entitled "Music Update . The album received 4.5 out of 5 stars in DownBeat" magazine. Writing in "The New York Times", critic Ben Ratliff said that Marsalis was "an excellent musician trying out something risky without embarrassment." Personal life. Marsalis was raised Catholic.