"In these times when so many young musicians seem to seek head-scratching complexity in their performance, Jason Hainsworth’s rib stickin’ approach sounds downright novel by comparison!" - Willard Jenkins Originally from Houston, Texas, Jason Hainsworth is in demand both as a saxophonist and composer/arranger. Having studied at the prestigious High School for the Performing and Visual Arts, Jason went on to study music at the University of New Orleans with legendary jazz educator Ellis Marsalis and saxophonist Victor Goines. Hainsworth then moved to the New York/ New Jersey area to pursue his musical studies while performing along the east coast. After receiving his degree in music from William Paterson University, Jason entered Florida State University for graduate work where he earned his Masters degree in Jazz Studies.
As a performer, Mr. Hainsworth has been a member of Ed Calle’s Mamblue, Tito Puente Jr’s. Latin Jazz All Stars, Melton Mustafa Jazz Orchestra, Jason Marsalis, Etienne Charles Quintet, Michael Dease Quintet, as well as leading his own quartet. He has performed throughout the country and South America extensively.
As a composer/ arranger, Jason’s works have been performed throughout the world at various high school and university jazz festivals such as Oklahoma State, Louisiana State, University of Iowa, Jacksonville State, and Florida A&M. His first vocal arrangement was premiered last spring at the Florida Music Educators Conference by the Dillard Center for the Arts Vocal Ensemble. He was most recently commissioned by Michigan State University to arrange music featuring legendary drummer Jimmy Cobb.
Mr. Hainsworth’s debut album, Kaleidoscope, featured original compositions and arrangements for big band, which included Tanya Darby, Linda Oh, Claudio Roditi, and Michael Dease as soloists. His latest album Third Ward Stories, is his first for Origin Records.
Mr. Hainsworth serves as Director of Jazz Studies at Broward College. The University of Northern Colorado Jazz Press publishes Mr. Hainsworth’s compositions and arrangements.

Michael dease is one of the world's eminent trombonists, lending his versatile sound and signature improvisations to over 200 recordings and groups as diverse as Grammy-winning artists David Sanborn, Christian McBride, Michel Camilo, and Alicia Keys. Born in Augusta, GA, he played the saxophone and trumpet before choosing the trombone at age 17. In 2001, Dease moved to New York City to become part of the historic first class of jazz students at the Juilliard School, earning both Bachelors and Masters degrees, and quickly established a reputation as a brilliant soloist, sideperson, and bandleader. Best Next Thing (Posi-Tone, 2022), Dease’s newest release, his ninth on Posi-Tone, gathers together an assemblage of exceptional musicians to help him interactively explore the essence of the blues and reframe the abstract truths of jazz as the "Best Next Thing" for today's audience of listeners. Dease, the winner of the 69th Annual DownBeat Magazine Poll for Trombonist of the Year and multi-Grammy award winner, is also a sought-after lead, section and bass trombonist with today’s leading jazz orchestras. His experiences include bands led by Christian McBride, Roy Hargrove, Nicholas Payton, Charles Tolliver, Rufus Reid, Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra and the Dizzy Gillespie All-Star Big Band. However, it is on the frontline of quintets and sextets led by master musicians like The Heath Brothers, Winard Harper, Renee Rosnes, Bill Charlap, Claudio Roditi, and Lewis Nash, where Dease has revitalized the trombone’s image. Not content to simply improvise, Dease arranges and composes for many different bands, constantly adjusting his tone and timbre to add just the right flavor to the music. Dease’s unique blend of curiosity, hard work and optimism has helped him earn worldwide recognition, including awards from ASCAP, The International Trombone Association, Yamaha, Eastern Trombone Workshop, New York Youth Symphony, Hot House Magazine, Michigan State University, among others. Dease was profiled in Cicily Janus’ book, The New Face of Jazz: An Intimate Look at Today’s Living Legends (Random House). His experience in the studio has led him to produce several recording sessions for emerging artists, often composing and writing liner notes for the releases. Dease’s singular talent has made him an effective and prolific teacher, resulting in invitations, master classes and residencies at University of North Texas, Scranton University, University of Iowa, Florida State College, Broward College, and many institutions abroad. He serves as Professor of Jazz Trombone at the renowned Michigan State University jazz program and has also been on faculty at Queens College - CUNY, The New School and North-eastern University. Many of Dease’s current and former students are enjoying successful careers in the music world. Always an informed, but forward-thinking musician, Dease learned the craft from trombone legends Wycliffe Gordon and Joseph Alessi. His associations have run the entire spectrum of musical experience: Alicia Keys, Paul Simon, Paul Schaffer and the CBS Orchestra, Elton John, Neal Diamond, Illinois Jacquet, Slide Hampton & The World of Trombones, Fred Wesley, Maceo Parker, WDR Big Band, George Gruntz, Billy Harper, and numerous others. Dease enjoys spending every possible minute with his extraordinary wife and Professor of Percussion at MSU, Gwendolyn Dease, and their daughters Brooklyn & Charley. Michael Dease is a Yamaha Performing Artist and uses Pickett Brass and Vandoren mouthpieces exclusively.