Justin Chesarek

Biography

Justin Chesarek is a highly accomplished American jazz drummer, composer, and educator recognized for his exceptional sense of swing, musical versatility, and expressive performance style. Originally a native of rural Pennsylvania, Chesarek discovered his lifelong passion for the drums at age ten after watching a video of Ringo Starr in the Beatles Anthology documentary. He quickly began formal training under prominent Pittsburgh-area drum educator Randy Roth. By age twelve, Chesarek was already gaining invaluable on-the-job experience gigging with Pittsburgh jazz legend Harold Betters and drawing deep inspiration from observing legendary drummer Roger Humphries live.

He went on to build a rigorous academic foundation in music, earning a Bachelor of Music in Music Education from Slippery Rock University. Seeking to further his training, he relocated south to Atlanta in 2008 to pursue a Master of Music in Jazz Studies at Georgia State University. Shortly after his arrival, Chesarek established a pivotal, five-year Wednesday night residency at Churchill Grounds, which was Atlanta's premier jazz club at the time. This steady platform allowed him to fully integrate into the regional music scene and quickly solidify his reputation as one of the city's top-call percussionists.

As a premier performer and collaborator, Chesarek splits his time between high-profile local ensembles and prestigious global stages. He is a long-standing member of the Joe Alterman Trio and performs regularly with the Trey Wright Trio, the Joe Gransden Big Band, and the ATL Collective. His dynamic drumming has anchored performances at renowned domestic venues like the Blue Note and the Iridium in New York, the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C., and the Atlanta Jazz Festival. Internationally, he has traveled across the globe to perform at major events, including the Juneau Jazz and Classics Festival in Alaska, the North Sea Jazz Festival in Holland, and the Montreux Jazz Festival in Switzerland.

Beyond his work as a traditional sideman, Chesarek is a prolific bandleader and composer who frequently showcases his original music through his group, The Tree-O of Love. His writing allows him to inject unique colors and rhythmic concepts into his melodies, blending the virtuosity of bebop with the soulful grooves of early fusion. His versatility has allowed him to share the stage and record with an array of musical icons and jazz royalty, including saxophonists Houston Person and Donny McCaslin, trumpeter Russell Gunn, vocalist Carmen Bradford, and guitarist Gilad Hekselman.

Chesarek is also deeply committed to music education and training the next generation of percussionists. He serves as a member of the jazz studies faculty at Kennesaw State University and is an Artist Affiliate of Jazz Percussion at Emory University, having also previously taught at Morehouse College. A proud resident of Decatur, Georgia, where he lives with his family, Chesarek maintains a private teaching studio and is an official artist endorser for major industry brands including Canopus Drums, Zildjian Cymbals, and Vic Firth drumsticks.