From his arrangement of Caravan heard in the final scene of the Academy Award-winning motion picture “Whiplash” to his published compositions and arrangements numbering in the hundreds, John Wasson’s music has been heard and performed around the world by professional and educational artists alike.

Born and raised in the Twin Cities in Minnesota, John journeyed to the University of North Texas where he earned degrees in music theory and trombone performance, and played in the world-renowned One O’Clock Lab Band, appearing on four of their recordings and two European tours.

He has since made his home in the Dallas-Fort Worth area as an in-demand composer, arranger, and performer. He has also produced several recordings for the Dallas Brass, including their Dallas Brass Debut, WIndborne, and Nutcracker albums.

Mr. Wasson has created compositions and arrangements for such prestigious organizations as the Dallas Symphony, the U. S. Air Force Airmen of Note, National Geographic, The United Way, and the American Prairie’s “Ken Burns Prize.”

He has created orchestral shows for the Dallas Brass, pianist Danny Wright, the Texas Boys Choir, and Western Swing artist Dave Alexander. He has supplied music for the Minnesota Orchestra, the U. S. Air Force bands, the Navy Chorus, the Fort Worth Symphony, Southern Methodist University, and the University of North Texas Centennial Celebration.

John’s published works appear in the catalogs of of Hal Leonard, Alfred Music, PraiseCharts, Word Music, Walrus Publishing and SMP Press. He has also created commissions for many educational and school ensembles. He was the arranger for the Purdue All-American Marching Band for 22 years, and chief arranger for the Dallas Cowboys Stadium Band.

Performer

Since the Fall of 2022 John has rejoined the Dallas Brass as a Trombonist, after being a charter member on Bass Trombone and Tuba in the original group 40 years ago. He directs and performs in his own Strata Big Band, which recently released its first album “Chronicles” on the Summit/MAMA Record label. He also leads and performs in his CoolBrass Jazztet. John has performed with such groups as The Stan Kenton and Woody Herman Orchestras, the Michael Waldrop Big Band, the Ayn Inserto Jazz Orchestra, the Charles Lazarus Brass Ensemble, and the Forever Fabulous Chickenhawks, and has backed up such notable artists as Ray Charles, Tony Bennett, Liza Minelli, Reba McIntyre, Bob Hope, Nelson Riddle, Frank Sinatra, Jr., and Mel Torme.

He has performed as a regular member of the Richardson Symphony Orchestra and the Fort Worth Opera Orchestra, and the Dallas-based jazz trombone ensemble Them Bones. John currently freelances on trombone and tuba in the Dallas/Fort Worth metroplex in both the Classical and Jazz/Commercial worlds. John was the recipient of the Yaxley Bass Trombone Award at the International Trombone Workshop in 1982. He is an XOBrass performing artist.