About:

Welcome to my new and very improved website!  In this website you can find my current & past projects including new & vintage photos, sounds from past bands and an equipment page for all you gear heads out there!  Most important, I am available for live session or recording in and around the central Virginia area.  Feel free to contact me at - Jason@JWDRUMS.ORG

Jason Ward starts playing percussion in 6^th grade band class where he learns music theory and performance from a symphonic setting.  While playing throughout his high school years he mastered all percussive instruments including tympani, snare drum and mallet percussion.  In 1991 Jason dabbled in Drum Corps where he marched snare with the Legend of Virginia Drum Corp.  Accomplishments around this time included numerous performance awards and first chair honors in area honor bands and out of state competitions.  Jason was also a member of the Charlottesville Municipal band and the drummer for his high school’s jazz band where he first found his love for playing the drum kit.

“I remember spending endless summer nights with my headphones on playing my first PEARL kit.  I would jam out to Led Zeppelin, Rush and the Police; trying to copy Bonham’s groove on The Ocean, Copeland’s technical time patterns in Message in a Bottle or Peart’s massive tom fills in Tom Sawyer.” 

It wasn’t long until Jason found his groove and was hooked up with some fine local musicians around the Charlottesville music scene.  He performed and collaborated with local rock bands such as Alter Ego, Cross Grain and Blind Ambition as well as founded the successful acoustic folk-funk band, Uncle Remus.  In later years, Jason joined forces with Uncle Remus manager and local music icon Gary Hawthorne (Modern Logic guitarist) and formed local bands CowGoMoo & Neon Kings.

In 2004, a friend sent word that this up-and-coming blues band, The Red House Blues Band had axed their rhythm section and was looking for a new drummer.  “Blues wasn’t one of my favorite grooves to play, so I was reluctant at first but agreed to give it a shot.  After my first unrehearsed gig I was totally digging blues drumming.  How could something as simple as swinging on the ride, quarter notes on the kick and a 2 & 4 backbeat groove so damn much?”  Jason was fascinated with this new style and worked with renowned blues bassist Steve Riggs from local C-ville band American Dumpster.  “Steve had played with blues greats like Muddy Waters and Jimmy Vaughn.  He introduced me to all kinds of new drum grooves,” says Jason.  “I really dig jamming with Riggs and I appreciate his expert input on blues drumming!”
 

Over the next few months Jason develops his own spin on traditional blues drumming.  He records and tours with The Red House Blues Band for two years playing every BBQ festival and smoky bar from DC to Danville.  He also contributed to the band placing 2^nd in both 2004-2005 BLUES FEST competitions hosted by the James River Blues Society.  Favorite gigs included the Roanoke Civic Center and the Charlottesville Downtown Pavilion where he opened for local blues icons The Nighthawks.  "Another grooving gig was when local musician Andy Waldeck filled in on bass one night at a local dive!  I have to say I was totally loving locking in with Andy's bass lines...truly the tightest bass player in these parts!"

Jason parts ways with this project in late 2005 and his growing family happily settles down in Virginia's Blue Ridge Mountains.  Jason and his wife Wendy have two children, Evan & Olivia and a dog, Toby.  Jason works with editorial graphic design and desktop publishing in Charlottesville.  When he’s away from the drums he enjoys backpacking, cooking, the gym, fine wine, live music and spending time with his wife and kids.

Itching to play live during the summer of 2006, Jason joins forces with local blues musicians Chris Winter on guitar/vocals, the groove-diggin blues bassist Craig Reid and blues-harp virtuoso Kevin Reed.  Jason plays a handful of local dates with this band; mostly street performances on Charlottesville's downtown mall.

Currently playing with:

Check out my blues band SOUTH29

Chase Tanner - Guitar & Vocals

Ryan Buglia - Bass & Vocals

Jason Ward - Drums

www.south29.com

Cutting right through the heart of Virginia, South29 leaves its audiences awash in a twisted blend of Texas style blues guitar and groove-heavy bass and drums.  With original and covered tunes by SRV, Hendrix, Cream and Robert Johnson in the mix, this trio of unchained musicians lay it down low and dirty, channeling the great power trios with their own style of right-between-the-eyes riffs.  Can you envision Jimi’s Band of Gypsies with Primus as the rhythm section?  Can you dig? 

Reviews:

A review on a local gig, from The HOOK:

"Their performance at Fellini's No. 9 last Saturday night was quite literally one of the best-- if not the best-- musical experience I've ever had in Charlottesville. -- Without swearing, it's hard to get across the utter amazement that overcame me last Saturday night."    - Mark Grabowski - The Hook

Influences & Favorite Drummers:

 

I have performed at the follow venues:

Charlottesville area:
Starr Hill Music Hall
The Outback Lodge
Durty Nelly’s Pub
Fellini’s #9
Trax - RIP
Tokyo Rose
Charlottesville Downtown Pavilion – opened for the Night Hawks
3WV 2004 Blues & Brews Festival
Sharky’s Bar & Grill
The Bomb Shelter - RIP
Almost Paradise - RIP
Pete’s Monticello Grill - RIP
Jaberwoki
Awful Author's Oyster Bar - RIP
Rapunzel's
Uncle Charlies Smokehouse
Saxx Jazz & Blues Lounge
Mustange Grille

Lynchburg Va:
Jazz Street Grille
The Ale House
Rubs
Claytons
2004 Blues & BBQ Festival
The Ellington Playhouse

DC area:
Austin Grill
Santa Fe Café
Festival of Leaves

Bedford Va:
Blues & BBQ Festival 2005, 07
Gabriella's
Sedalia Center Blues Fest 2004, 05, 07

Roanoke Va:
Roanoke Civic Center - Sounds at 6PM
Downtown pavilion - Festival in the Park
Brambleton Deli
Awful Arthur's Salem
This'll Dew Tavern
All Sports Cafe
Martin's

Richmond area:
Talons Sports & Spirits
Poe's Pub
Benny's Tavern
Bleu Bistro
Reactor 1

The Valley:
Bier Street Bistro
Alston's Pub
Main Street Grill
The Mirage
Electric Blue
Luigi's
Old Town Grill & Bar
Lime Kiln Theater
Pompeii Lounge
The Coppermine
Lynn’s Pancake House…I really did!
Cups 2 Go Coffee house
Baja Bean Co.
Wintergreen Winery
Sidelines Cafe
The Pub

Farmville:
Charlie's Waterfront Cafe
Heartland of Virginia Festival
Mulligan's

Danville Va:
Gaslight Grille