Texan pianist Jason Moran (1975) found a compromise between impressionist
classical music, energetic bebop and moody new-age music on
Soundtrack to Human Motion (september 1998), arranged for a small ensemble, and Black Stars (march 2001), for a quartet with Sam Rivers. The
solo piano program of Modernistic (april 2002) used studio effects to bridge
ancient jazz piano and contemporary sound.
The Bandwagon: (november 2002) documented a trio with
Tarus Mateen on bass and Freddie Waits on drums, and was followed by
Same Mother (may 2004) and
Artist In Residence (2006).
Ten (recorded in 2009), Moran's first album in four years, was performed
by the Bandwagon trio (Moran plus bassist Tarus Mateen and drummer Nasheet Waits).
It contained a potpourri of compositions, ranging from a ballet to a soundtrack.
Trio 3 (bassist Reggie Workman, drummer Andrew Cyrille and reedist Oliver Lake)
and pianist Jason Moran recorded Refraction - Breakin' Glass (july 2012).
Credited to trumpeter Ron Miles, I Am A Man (december 2016) featured Bill Frisell (guitar), Thomas Morgan (bass), Brian Blade (drums) and Jason Moran (piano).
Jason Moran also composed the calliope music for
Kara Walker's steam-powered sculpture "The Kataswof Karavan" (2018).
Looks Of A Lot (june 2017) documents a collaboration between Jason Moran (piano) and Ken Vandermark (tenor sax and clarinet) leading a large ensemble of seven saxes, five trombones, seven trumpets, two pianos, two basses, six percussionists and a vocalist.
The Sound Will Tell You (january 2021) is a solo piano album.
The double-disc Seven Skies Orchestra (november 2022) gathered
an all-star sextet:
saxophonist Ivo Perelman,
trumpeter Nate Wooley,
viola player Mat Maneri,
celloist Fred Lonberg-Holm,
bassist Joe Morris
and
vibraphonist Matt Moran.
From the Dancehall to the Battlefield (2023)
is a tribute to early 20-th century bandleader James Reese Europe.