Jonathan Pinson

Jonathan Pinson is a dynamic American jazz drummer, composer, and bandleader. He began drumming at age two, inspired by his mother’s choir, and studied piano at six before switching to drums at the Colburn School of Performing Arts. Mentored by Billy Higgins at The World Stage, he played in Los Angeles jazz clubs during high school. He earned awards like the Music Center’s Spotlight Award (2007), Performer of the Year at Hamilton High, and the Jimmy Lyon’s Scholarship to Berklee. He later earned a Master’s from the Thelonious Monk Institute at UCLA. At 23, Jonathan toured with Herbie Hancock and Wayne Shorter, launching his global career. He has since performed with Kamasi Washington, Seal, Alex Isley, Moses Sumney, and Braxton Cook. He leads Boom Clap, a project rooted in musical storytelling, and performs at major venues like the Hollywood Bowl, Newport Jazz Festival, and Ronnie Scott’s. He teaches in NYC and LA, and endorses Istanbul Agop, Canopus, ProMark, and Evans.