BIOGRAPHY
Performer and composer Jason Dreher’s mission in music is to convey to the audience how the emotions and places he has experienced have impacted him. Jason comes from humble beginnings, sitting on his great aunt Sister’s lap while she played piano in the small coal mining town of Hanna, Wyoming. Going to music class every day in elementary school where the students would sing and play small auxiliary percussion instruments. Getting to study the Trombone via a private instructor in the fifth grade. An instrument which he would play for a few more years before discovering his love for the guitar during his adolescence.
As a teenager Jason found his niche in music. Exploring many different styles of music from blues guitar legend Stevie Ray Vaughan to the music from the Lord of The Rings film series. One of his most formative band experiences was getting to sit in with a local country western band that played every Wednesday at the restaurant he washed dishes for. Jason never received any instruction on guitar during his early teenage years. The only players in town were the type that knew what notes to play, but not necessarily how or why they sounded so good. Instead, Jason relied on guitar tablature, recordings, and guitar method books that he could get his hands on. Jason composed often, writing down his songs by hand in both written notation and guitar tablature. It wasn’t until after graduating high school and moving to Los Angeles to study at Musician’s Institute that Jason finally received formal instruction on his instrument.
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Throughout his life journey Jason has always kept an open mind to what others had to say both musically and personally. His experiences playing with and listening to traditional country western bands at the Satellite Saloon in Wyoming, jazz fusion players at the Catalina Jazz Club in Los Angeles, classical musicians at Augsburg University in Minnesota, and jazz musicians in Utah left him with a very eclectic sensibility. Loving and accepting all styles and genres of music and ensembles. Coupled with these influences are the many teachers and mentors Jason has had throughout his musical life.
Jason holds a non-accredited associates degree from the popular music school Musicians Institute where he studied with players of all genres from heavy metal to jazz fusion. His main instructors at MI were Daniel Gilbert and Jamie Findlay. After graduating from Musicians Institute he studied with classical guitarist O. Nicholas Raths at Augsburg University in Minneapolis, Minnesota. After one year at Augsburg he moved to Salt Lake City Utah and began his studies at the University of Utah. In May of 2024 Jason received his bachelors degree in music with an emphasis on jazz guitar performance. His teachers at the University of Utah included Geoffrey Miller, Christopher Hough, Willis Clowe. He was then accepted into the University of Utah's graduate program, being awarded a full time teachers assistant position beginning in the 2024 fall semester.
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During his time in Utah Jason has performed with various ensembles including the jazz repertory ensemble, jazz big band, and Michie Jazz Quintet at the University of Utah. Around Salt Lake City Jason actively performs with CP6, 2 Book Trilogy, and Beacon Street Jazz Collective. Jason is also an active solo performer having provided solo jazz guitar for various University of Utah events as well as The Outlaw Inn and Sidekicks Book & Wine bar in Wyoming. Jason’s solo work features traditional jazz repertoire from the 1930’s through the 1960’s by artists and composers such as Miles Davis, John Coltrane, Billy Strayhorn, Duke Ellington, Victor Young, Cole Porter and many more. Venues Jason has played at in Utah include: The Pearl, Edison House, Casot Wine Bar, Laziz, The Grand America, Violet, Prohibition, The Salt Palace, Versante, Caputo’s Market and Deli, The Pendry, and Hopkins Brewery. His jazz organ trio 2 Book Trilogy can be found playing at Good Grammar Bar every Thursday from 7-10PM as well as many other venues in the Salt Lake Valley. His first album Vague was released on November 20th, 2023 and is available on all streaming platforms.
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Jason’s original music is aimed at fans of modern jazz music. Creative influences include modern jazz masters such as Kenny Garrett, David Binney, Lage Lund, Kurt Rosenwinkel, and Adam Rogers. Melody is of paramount importance in his music. Most tunes start with a melody alone with chords coming later. Jason is inspired to compose about places he has been or feelings that he has had, and tries to give the listener a taste of how those places and feelings impacted him.