The youngest son in the iconic Marsalis jazz family in New Orleans, Jason Marsalis is a drummer and vibraphonist who is known for his virtuosic instrumentation and polyrhythmic style. Born to pianist Ellis Louis Marsalis, Jr. and his wife Delores, Marsalis made his professional debut at age 12, when he joined his father's band. Cutting his teeth as a sideman for funk fusion outfits, classic jazz ensembles, a Celtic ensemble and a Brazilian percussion group called Casa Samba, he developed his compositional skills among various types of music, resulting in the dynamic soundscapes of his first album as leader on vibraphone, 2009's Music Update. Widely regarded for his solo material, he is also renowned for his work with pianist Marcus Roberts and his collaborations with his siblings, Branford, Wynton and Delfeayo Marsalis.
