The Jason Pastras Trio is a progressive Blues band with subversive tendencies. Well versed in classic blues styles, but with an explorative bent, the band is driven to amalgamate the traditional with the ephemeral and esoteric. Soulful, reverb-soaked shuffles meet grinding riffage, psychedelic soundscapes, and percolating instrumental interludes. The Jason Pastras Trio weaves threads of bluesy instrumental prowess through imaginative, original songwriting.

Though he's garnered the experience to establish himself as a journeyman of the Atlanta Blues scene, Jason Pastras is no traditionalist. The Jason Pastras Trio takes a progressive view of the blues, letting it rock, groove, or freak out if the moment requires. Original songwriting, fresh takes on classics, and unfettered jamming are the hallmarks of a dynamic trio that keeps its focus on generating optimal vibrations for the people.

Jason Pastras: "My dad was a big blues fan, and he was also part of the Woodstock generation. When I was first learning to play, my first hero was Billy Gibbons. I was obsessed with the Deguello record. When my Dad saw I was into that, he got me three key records: B.B. King, Jimi Hendrix, and Cream, and I played them non-stop and learned every lick I could. That led me to Freddie King, Buddy Guy, Johnny Winter (he was a big influence - I saw him live three times in the early days of my playing), Albert Collins, and more."

"As a kid, Albert King was always playing in the the house and the car, too. We always listened to Rogene Bailey's blues show on WCLK, which hipped me to a lot of players, like Anson Funderburgh, Tinsley Ellis, the Kinsey Report, Johnny Copeland. At some point around this time, Stevie Ray Vaughan was on Austin City Limits, and it blew my mind! What a time for the blues!"

"There was a period of time during which classic blues was the template for my band's sound, but I always wander back to something that combines the raw bluesiness of a unit like the Jelly Roll Kings with 70's funkiness and creativity of albums like Completely Well, Texas Cannonball, and I'll Play the Blues For You, plus the fuzzed-out psychedelia that I've always loved."

Looking back, Jason Pastras is suprised to find himself a kind of veteran of Atlanta's Blues scene. He's been a mainstay at Fat Matt's for decades. He hosted the popular Darwin's blues jam for several years in the 2000's, playing with scores of established and up-and-coming Atlanta luminaries. He's played a wide range of venues over the years, from Blind Willie's to the Earl.

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