Ace Sonoma sideman: Musician Jason Crosby

Crosby has toured the world with youth orchestras, appeared on the Tonight Show, sat in with Dweezil Zappa and recorded with Santana and Clapton.|

Nearby shows

Jason Crosby doesn’t have any upcoming shows in Sonoma but you can catch him at the Sweetwater in Mill Valley on Dec. 21 and 22 with Steve Kimock; and Dec. 28 at the Chapel in SF with Cosmic Twang.

Since about 2013, concert goers in the North Bay have grown accustomed to seeing a smiley guy playing a variety of instruments on stage. He plays piano! Now he’s playing violin! Now guitar!

That smiley guy is Sonoma resident Jason Crosby. In a career he began as a young man in 1993, Crosby has toured the world with youth orchestras, appeared on the “Tonight Show,” sat in with Dweezil Zappa and recorded with Carlos Santana and Eric Clapton.

Crosby has appeared on many recordings of well-known artists. When not in the studio or on the road, which is over 200 nights a year, he lives in Schellville.

Before embarking on a six-shows-in-six-nights swing through his native East Coast, Crosby sat down and talked about his job as a professional side man.

“I have a charmed life,” he said. “I get to play with great bands in great venues, in beautiful places, then get to come home to Sonoma. It is a treat.”

Most peoples’ first memory is something like licking pureed carrots off fingers or being fed broccoli. Crosby’s first memory is playing the piano. He is told that, as a tot, he was given a miniature violin. He recalls playing melodies, then moving to the piano and playing them there, in the same key. His family realized that Crosby was on to something.

As a 4-year old, he auditioned to become a student of a renowned concert pianist. She spoke only Russian, but that was not a hindrance. She realized, too, that Crosby was talented – he was on to something. He studied with her until he was 17 years old.

Crosby’s big brother took him to see Pink Floyd when he was 13. It was a veritable “a-ha!” moment in the young musician’s developing brain.

Later he became a fan of the New York-based jam band God Street Wine. “I would sit in class and space out, thinking about their songs, and solos I could play. I dreamed of sitting in with them,” he said.

He eventually got to know the members of the band, and they asked him to sit in on keyboard. Phil Lesh, bassist for The Grateful Dead and now owner of San Rafael’s Terrapin Crossroads, adopted God Street Wine as his band on an East Coast tour.

That exposure led to Crosby being noticed by Grateful Dead guitarist Bob Weir. Soon, Crosby was playing live to 50,000 listeners on “Weir Here” webcasts. Weir told Crosby, “If you move out here (Marin), I will put you to work.”

Crosby soon found a place to live “out here.”

Now, because he plays so many instruments so well, he’s in high demand. He is a regular member of the scene at Terrapin Crossroads. He recently toured with John McLaughlin.

He also has a new solo album titled, “Cryptologic.” Performing on it are members of San Francisco’s Mother Hips. He wrote the songs and sings on the record, in addition to playing many of the instruments.

When asked how he likes living in Sonoma, he said, “I love it. It’s very relaxing here, after being on the road. It’s easy. I enjoy having nice people recognize me at Whole Foods or walking through the Plaza”.

“My life has been like that, charmed. I put myself out there, and let the universe direct me,” he said.

When you see him playing in the band you’re watching, you will know why he’s smiling. Crosby is on to something.

Nearby shows

Jason Crosby doesn’t have any upcoming shows in Sonoma but you can catch him at the Sweetwater in Mill Valley on Dec. 21 and 22 with Steve Kimock; and Dec. 28 at the Chapel in SF with Cosmic Twang.

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