composers
Metzger, Jon
“A star vibist” and “a flawless vibist,” as he has been trumpeted by Jazztimes and Cadence respectively, Jon Metzger has performed throughout the United States and Europe and has served as a jazz ambassador and cultural envoy in more than 20 foreign countries in the Near East, Northern and Sub-Saharan Africa, and Central America under the auspices of the US Department of State. A Musser endorsee and clinician for 24 years presenting hundreds of master classes and clinics at more than 40 prestigious US conservatories and universities and at the Percussive Arts Society’s International Convention, Metzger is also the author of The Art and Language of Jazz Vibes, widely considered the definitive, most comprehensive method book for learning the instrument. He has appeared on more than 35 recordings for the VSOP, Soul Note, Jazz Karma, Summit, and Elon Improvibes labels that included two Grammy nominations and one Cadence Top Ten Critics Pick and remains active as a composer in both jazz and classical mediums with more than 50 published compositions to his credit. A recipient of the North Carolina Miles Davis Jazz Education Service Award and 26 consecutive ASCAP Plus Awards, Metzger is a Professor of Music and the Artist in Residence at Elon University where he received the University Distinguished Scholar Award for 2005.