Jon Krosnick

Jon Krosnick began playing piano at age 6 and drums at age 9. The bulk of his formal musical training took place during ten summers spent at the National Music Camp in Interlochen, Michigan. There, he studied classical percussion and jazz drumming, and he performed with orchestras, concert bands, percussion ensembles, jazz bands, and back-up bands for musical theater performances. Recognizing his accomplishments during those years, Jon was awarded the NMC Jazz Scholarship, and he won the High School Division's Concerto Competition. At Interlochen, Jon studied classical percussion with many noted instructors, including Niel DePonte (Oregon Symphony) and Scott Stevens (Metropolitan Opera Orchestra). While studying classical percussion with Fred Hinger (Metropolitan Opera Orchestra) while in high school, Jon won the Philadelphia Orchestra's Student Concerto Competition and performed with the orchestra.
While in college at Harvard, Jon played with the Harvard Orchestra and the Bach Society Orchestra, and he was the principal percussionist with the M.I.T. Symphony Orchestra. He traveled with the Harvard Orchestra to Germany to perform in the Herbert von Karajan Orchestra Competition. With the M.I.T. Symphony, he toured the east coast and performed on their recordings of contemporary classical works.
Also during his high school and college years, Jon led a parallel career as a jazz drummer. He studied with Dixieland expert Hy Frank, as well as with Peter Erskine, one of the most celebrated drummers on the contemporary international jazz scene. He performed in small jazz groups, such as the New Jazz Sextet, Silver Sax, and the Ferric Fang Quartet and Brasswind, as well as with the Harvard Jazz Ensemble, Bob Hope, and Doc Severinson.
During his graduate school years in Ann Arbor, MI, Jon played with the University of Michigan Jazz Ensemble, as well as small pop, rock, and jazz ensembles, including Pangea. Most notable is his membership in the Lunar Glee Club, which later became the Lunar Octet, an award-winning Latin/jazz ensemble that has appeared on numerous TV and radio broadcasts, released five recordings, reunited in 2014 for a 30th anniversary concert to a sold-house house including many luminaries of the Michigan jazz scene and standing ovation, and has come back alive, touring the U.S. and abroad. Among the players in the Lunar Octet was a young Craig Taborn, now a celebrated leader in the jazz piano world.
In Ann Arbor, Jon also led the Jon Krosnick Quintet, that featured Ron Brooks (who played bass with Bob James), Bill Lucas (now in the trumpet section of the Detroit Symphony), Ned Mann (former bassist with Michel Camilo, Tania Maria, and many others), and David Mann (who has since performed with Tower of Power, James Taylor, and Paul Simon).
While in Columbus, Ohio, Jon freelanced with a number of groups and appeared regularly with pianist Geoff Tyus, saxophonist Flip Jackson's Variations, and the jazz-fusion group State of Mind. His playing is featured on the 1993 CD release by Columbus pianist Bradley Sowash, Out West., with whom Jon toured. As a freelancer in California, Jon played with young trumpet prodigy Geoff Gallante at the San Jose Jazz Festival.
Jon's playing in Charged Particles reflects his primary influences on the drums: Peter Erskine, Dave Weckl, and Steve Gadd. His drumming style blends incredible technique (developed through his classical training) and a sensitivity to his fellow players with an explosive energy that propels the trio to electrifying velocities. The mixing of Murray's and Aaron's harmonic and melodic talents with Jon's rhythmic vitality sparks many exciting moments during an evening with Charged Particles.
Jon has served as artistic advisor (selecting jazz artists to perform) to the Portola Vineyards Summer Jazz Concert Series, the Domenico Winery Winter Jazz Concert Series called "Jazz Uncorked", and the Connect the Dots Conference at Stanford University, as well as Provinance Vineyards.
In 2018, he envisioned and co-created the first annual 7 Mile House Jazz Festival, which featured 11 bands performing over 12 hours, inaugurated a permanent exhibit of photographs (at the 7 Mile House and on line) of Bay Area jazz musicians by Jessica Levant, and presented the first annual awards to an outstanding jazz presenter (Mario Guarneri, of Jazz in the Neighborhood), outstanding jazz promoter (writer Andy Gilbert), and outstanding jazz musician (Vince Lateano). The second annual festival happened in 2019.
In addition to his accelerating performing schedule with Charged Particles, Jon performed with Chick Corea and John Patitucci in Lenox, Massachusetts, in late 2012. And in 2019, Jon performed in New York City with pianist Bill O'Connell and bassist Lincoln Goines.
While in college at Harvard, Jon played with the Harvard Orchestra and the Bach Society Orchestra, and he was the principal percussionist with the M.I.T. Symphony Orchestra. He traveled with the Harvard Orchestra to Germany to perform in the Herbert von Karajan Orchestra Competition. With the M.I.T. Symphony, he toured the east coast and performed on their recordings of contemporary classical works.
Also during his high school and college years, Jon led a parallel career as a jazz drummer. He studied with Dixieland expert Hy Frank, as well as with Peter Erskine, one of the most celebrated drummers on the contemporary international jazz scene. He performed in small jazz groups, such as the New Jazz Sextet, Silver Sax, and the Ferric Fang Quartet and Brasswind, as well as with the Harvard Jazz Ensemble, Bob Hope, and Doc Severinson.
During his graduate school years in Ann Arbor, MI, Jon played with the University of Michigan Jazz Ensemble, as well as small pop, rock, and jazz ensembles, including Pangea. Most notable is his membership in the Lunar Glee Club, which later became the Lunar Octet, an award-winning Latin/jazz ensemble that has appeared on numerous TV and radio broadcasts, released five recordings, reunited in 2014 for a 30th anniversary concert to a sold-house house including many luminaries of the Michigan jazz scene and standing ovation, and has come back alive, touring the U.S. and abroad. Among the players in the Lunar Octet was a young Craig Taborn, now a celebrated leader in the jazz piano world.
In Ann Arbor, Jon also led the Jon Krosnick Quintet, that featured Ron Brooks (who played bass with Bob James), Bill Lucas (now in the trumpet section of the Detroit Symphony), Ned Mann (former bassist with Michel Camilo, Tania Maria, and many others), and David Mann (who has since performed with Tower of Power, James Taylor, and Paul Simon).
While in Columbus, Ohio, Jon freelanced with a number of groups and appeared regularly with pianist Geoff Tyus, saxophonist Flip Jackson's Variations, and the jazz-fusion group State of Mind. His playing is featured on the 1993 CD release by Columbus pianist Bradley Sowash, Out West., with whom Jon toured. As a freelancer in California, Jon played with young trumpet prodigy Geoff Gallante at the San Jose Jazz Festival.
Jon's playing in Charged Particles reflects his primary influences on the drums: Peter Erskine, Dave Weckl, and Steve Gadd. His drumming style blends incredible technique (developed through his classical training) and a sensitivity to his fellow players with an explosive energy that propels the trio to electrifying velocities. The mixing of Murray's and Aaron's harmonic and melodic talents with Jon's rhythmic vitality sparks many exciting moments during an evening with Charged Particles.
Jon has served as artistic advisor (selecting jazz artists to perform) to the Portola Vineyards Summer Jazz Concert Series, the Domenico Winery Winter Jazz Concert Series called "Jazz Uncorked", and the Connect the Dots Conference at Stanford University, as well as Provinance Vineyards.
In 2018, he envisioned and co-created the first annual 7 Mile House Jazz Festival, which featured 11 bands performing over 12 hours, inaugurated a permanent exhibit of photographs (at the 7 Mile House and on line) of Bay Area jazz musicians by Jessica Levant, and presented the first annual awards to an outstanding jazz presenter (Mario Guarneri, of Jazz in the Neighborhood), outstanding jazz promoter (writer Andy Gilbert), and outstanding jazz musician (Vince Lateano). The second annual festival happened in 2019.
In addition to his accelerating performing schedule with Charged Particles, Jon performed with Chick Corea and John Patitucci in Lenox, Massachusetts, in late 2012. And in 2019, Jon performed in New York City with pianist Bill O'Connell and bassist Lincoln Goines.
Performance Excerpt: Chick Corea, John Patitucci, Jon Krosnick