Trombonist John Hasselback, Jr. began his musical career at an early age, performing with his father as a young teenager. He received a Bachelor of Music Performance degree from the Hartt School of Music, where he studied both Classical and Jazz Music, and apprenticed with the legendary Jackie McLean.
John has been very active as a performing jazz musician. He has performed across the United States and Europe with many noted Jazz artists including Jaki Byard, Don Menza, Maynard Ferguson, Roswell Rudd, Gap Mangione and Chuck Mangione. He is a featured soloist on recordings with Gap Mangione, Kenny Wheeler, and Don Menza. "Menza Lines," which was recorded live in Los Angeles at the "Stratospheric" celebration of Maynard Ferguson's 75th birthday, was selected as one of the top releases of 2005 by the critics of Jazz Times Magazine. He performs regularly in the Western New York area, with his own quartet and as a sideman with many of the area's finest musicians. He performs regularly in Lewiston as a member of Ron Corsaro's "Upstate Express."
In addition to performing, John is also very active as a teacher. He has taught at Buffalo State College, Lockport High School, Ellicottville Central Schools, and is currently in his 11th year at West Seneca Central Schools. He serves as the coordinator of the district's annual Jazz festival. Additionally, he has served as the High School Jazz Ensemble Chairman for NYSSMA Zone 1, and as the Western New York Zone Representative for the International Association of Jazz Educators. He has been an adjudicator for both ECMEA and NCMEA, and is also an in demand clinician, and has performed as guest artist at a number of area school districts and colleges. He conducted the 2010 ECMEA High School Jazz Ensemble. John recently taught Jazz Trombone master classes and performed for students at Snow College in Utah.
John lives in East Aurora with his wife Lisa, also a music teacher and accomplished Jazz pianist. They are the proud parents of Caitlin, John III and Robert.
