Photo taken by © Tara Linhardt @ IBMA WOB 2020 feat. The New Acoustic Collective
"Jason is a breath of fresh air in the local jazz landscape, bringing an Americana roots oriented approach to the standard repertoire"
-Gus Kambeitz Professional Bay Area Bassist & Music Educator |
 Photo taken by © Richard Le
"Once in awhile you encounter an artist who transcends mere technical wizardry and brings something extra to the table that can't be taught. Jason Keiser is just such an artist. Jason's playing is adventurous and exuberant, with a stylistic sense of whimsy anchored by a studied command of his instrument, enabling him to color outside the lines while bringing the listener full-circle, each solo a unique journey. An extremely accomplished young guitarist and composer whose reverence for, and expertise of Jazz and New Acoustic music will serve listeners well for a long time to come." -Mike Mullins mandolinist & guitarist, Acoustic Oasis recording artist |
 Photo taken by © Richard Le
“Guitarist Jason Keiser is finding a unique and compelling voice both as player and composer. His eclectic tastes in music and capability to live in different genres are combining in a beautiful synergy when Jason plays and writes. I will be following his career with interest and I look forward to collaborating with Jason in the near future.”
-John Stowell Professional Jazz Guitarist, Educator, Origin Records Artist |
The Axe Axis by Jason Keiser
featuring Rick Vandivier & John Stowell
Out NOW on all platforms, streaming services, and Bandcamp below!
Digital & Physical Albums are available!
Tracklist & Composers/Arrangers:
1. Africa composed by John Coltrane, arr. By Jason Keiser
2. Picadilly Lilly composed by Dave Liebman, arr. By Jason Keiser (feat. John Stowell)
3. Uncertainty composed and arr. By Jason Keiser (feat. John Stowell)
4. All the Things You Are composed by Jerome Kern, arr. By Jason Keiser
5. A Fox Trot composed and arr. By Jason Keiser (feat. John Stowell)
6. Wheeler’s Waltz composed and arr. By Jason Keiser (feat. John Stowell)
7. Peace composed by Horace Silver, arr. By Jason Keiser
8. Swindlers Sweep composed and arr. By Jason Keiser (feat. John Stowell)
9. Stella by Starlight composed by Victor Young, arr. By Jason Keiser (feat. Rick Vandivier)
10. Parrot On My Shoulder composed and arr. By Jason Keiser & John Stowell (feat. John Stowell)
11. Solar composed by Chuck Wayne, arr. By Jason Keiser & John Stowell (feat. John Stowell)
12. Gentle Piece composed by Kenny Wheeler, arr. By Jason Keiser (feat. Rick Vandivier
1. Africa composed by John Coltrane, arr. By Jason Keiser
2. Picadilly Lilly composed by Dave Liebman, arr. By Jason Keiser (feat. John Stowell)
3. Uncertainty composed and arr. By Jason Keiser (feat. John Stowell)
4. All the Things You Are composed by Jerome Kern, arr. By Jason Keiser
5. A Fox Trot composed and arr. By Jason Keiser (feat. John Stowell)
6. Wheeler’s Waltz composed and arr. By Jason Keiser (feat. John Stowell)
7. Peace composed by Horace Silver, arr. By Jason Keiser
8. Swindlers Sweep composed and arr. By Jason Keiser (feat. John Stowell)
9. Stella by Starlight composed by Victor Young, arr. By Jason Keiser (feat. Rick Vandivier)
10. Parrot On My Shoulder composed and arr. By Jason Keiser & John Stowell (feat. John Stowell)
11. Solar composed by Chuck Wayne, arr. By Jason Keiser & John Stowell (feat. John Stowell)
12. Gentle Piece composed by Kenny Wheeler, arr. By Jason Keiser (feat. Rick Vandivier
Liner Notes by John Stowell
Jason Keiser is emerging as a jazz guitarist and composer to take notice of. His improvisations are spontaneous, in the moment, compositional and melodic. His songs are informed with a strong melodic sensibility, combined with some unusual harmonies that make for compelling listening.
For this recording, Jason is playing his steel string Ovation acoustic, and his sound creates a nice contrast to the electric guitars of his two duo partners, Rick Vandivier and John Stowell. Jason’s strong sense of internal pulse and judicious use of space make him an ideal duo partner in the intimate guitar duo setting. Jason has chosen a program of some of his original compositions, songs from several modern jazz composers, and a few standards. His conversations with Rick and John unfold to create beautiful synergies and dialogues that draw the listener in and take them on a journey. Jason’s three unaccompanied pieces also reveal him to be a capable solo guitarist with a well developed chord melody concept and an energetic and dynamic pulse. It will be interesting to see where Jason’s musical journey will take him next. We’ll be watching and listening.
John Stowell
Portland, Oregon, February 2022
For this recording, Jason is playing his steel string Ovation acoustic, and his sound creates a nice contrast to the electric guitars of his two duo partners, Rick Vandivier and John Stowell. Jason’s strong sense of internal pulse and judicious use of space make him an ideal duo partner in the intimate guitar duo setting. Jason has chosen a program of some of his original compositions, songs from several modern jazz composers, and a few standards. His conversations with Rick and John unfold to create beautiful synergies and dialogues that draw the listener in and take them on a journey. Jason’s three unaccompanied pieces also reveal him to be a capable solo guitarist with a well developed chord melody concept and an energetic and dynamic pulse. It will be interesting to see where Jason’s musical journey will take him next. We’ll be watching and listening.
John Stowell
Portland, Oregon, February 2022
"The Axe Axis" Press
Press “Gentle Piece” feat. Rick Vandivier
“Jason Keiser and Rick Vandivier have an intimate and empathetic conversation blending Jason’s acoustic and Rick’s electric guitars on Kenny Wheeler’s “Gentle Piece”. Soothing sounds for the heart and mind, highly recommended.”
John Stowell
Professional Jazz Guitarist
Origin Records Artist
“Lovely to hear Ken Wheeler's music being kept alive by some fine players across the water!”
Stan Sulzmann
Professional English Jazz Saxophonist
Kenny Wheeler colleague & Band Member; 1988-2015
Press “Wheeler’s Waltz” feat. John Stowell Single Release
"An evocative, beautiful waltz featuring lithe and sympathetic playing by Keiser and Stowell."
Mimi Fox
Professional Jazz Guitarist
Origin Records Artist
Further Press:
“Unusual and great arrangement of one of my compositions, Picadilly Lilly. Jason and John really mix things up and swing. Enjoy!!”
Dave Liebman
Professional Jazz Saxophonist
NEA Jazz Master
“I recently became acquainted with Jason Keiser through our mutual friend John Stowell. Jason impresses me as a serious young guitarist, composer and recording artist with a solid work ethic and a bright future. Jason’s composition “Wheeler’s Waltz” and arrangement of Kenny Wheeler’s “Gentle Piece” evoke the tone and texture of ECM classics while advancing his own singular creative vision. I will follow Jason’s career with much interest.”
Dmitri Matheny
Jazz flugelhornist, composer, educator, recording artist
"Beautifully played, well recorded and produced. An easy listen that has creative integrity. A wonderful variety of thoughtful originals and tastefully arranged standards, played by musicians that interplay seamlessly while maintaining their individual voice."
Jason Lewis
Professional Jazz Drummer, Origin Records Artist, Adjunct Faculty Jazz Studies Professor; San Jose State University
“Jason Keiser and Rick Vandivier have an intimate and empathetic conversation blending Jason’s acoustic and Rick’s electric guitars on Kenny Wheeler’s “Gentle Piece”. Soothing sounds for the heart and mind, highly recommended.”
John Stowell
Professional Jazz Guitarist
Origin Records Artist
“Lovely to hear Ken Wheeler's music being kept alive by some fine players across the water!”
Stan Sulzmann
Professional English Jazz Saxophonist
Kenny Wheeler colleague & Band Member; 1988-2015
Press “Wheeler’s Waltz” feat. John Stowell Single Release
"An evocative, beautiful waltz featuring lithe and sympathetic playing by Keiser and Stowell."
Mimi Fox
Professional Jazz Guitarist
Origin Records Artist
Further Press:
“Unusual and great arrangement of one of my compositions, Picadilly Lilly. Jason and John really mix things up and swing. Enjoy!!”
Dave Liebman
Professional Jazz Saxophonist
NEA Jazz Master
“I recently became acquainted with Jason Keiser through our mutual friend John Stowell. Jason impresses me as a serious young guitarist, composer and recording artist with a solid work ethic and a bright future. Jason’s composition “Wheeler’s Waltz” and arrangement of Kenny Wheeler’s “Gentle Piece” evoke the tone and texture of ECM classics while advancing his own singular creative vision. I will follow Jason’s career with much interest.”
Dmitri Matheny
Jazz flugelhornist, composer, educator, recording artist
"Beautifully played, well recorded and produced. An easy listen that has creative integrity. A wonderful variety of thoughtful originals and tastefully arranged standards, played by musicians that interplay seamlessly while maintaining their individual voice."
Jason Lewis
Professional Jazz Drummer, Origin Records Artist, Adjunct Faculty Jazz Studies Professor; San Jose State University