Jonathan Pinson's "BOOM CLAP"

Jonathan Pinson began his love affair with the drum set at the age of two when he was surrounded by the music of his mother’s choir. His formal music training began at the age of six with instruction on the piano. Shortly after, Jonathan transitioned to the drum set at the Colburn School of Performing Arts and studied with Billy Higgins from The World Stage.  

While in high school, Jonathan performed professionally at various jazz clubs around the Los Angeles area. He also enjoyed mentoring young percussion enthusiasts and helped conduct jazz workshops for inner city youths at local public elementary schools, in high school as well as in college.

During his senior year in high school, Jonathan won three major coveted awards, 1st place in the Music Center’s Spotlight Award (2007), Performer of the Year at Alexander Hamilton High School and the Jimmy Lyon’s Scholarship Award for a full tuition scholarship at the Berklee College of Music. Additionally, he received the Dolo Coker Scholarship (2009, 2010). 

After Jonathan received his Bachelors of Arts Degree in Music at the Berklee College of Music, he was one of seven musicians selected for the prestigious Thelonious Monk Institute of Jazz Performance at the University of California Los Angeles, which resulted in a Masters of Music.

Shortly after being chosen, he was asked to tour with Herbie Hancock and Wayne Shorter’s band, at the age of 23. This experience has identified him as a highly sought after drummer in the music industry and has allowed him to tour and perform with notable artists such as Ambrose Akinmusire, John Clayton, Dave Liebman, Ed Simon, Eric Reed, Kamasi Washington, Marquis Hill, Gilad Hekselman and Joey Alexander, to name a few.

He has performed and toured at various locations including the following: Tokyo Jazz Festival, International Jazz Day in Istanbul Turkey, Panama Jazz Festival, Monterey Jazz Festival, Nancy France Jazz Festival, Newport Jazz Festival, Martha’s Vineyard Jazz Festival, and the Montreal Jazz Festival.

Currently he is actively performing with other artists, and teaching throughout New York and the Los Angeles area.