Biography
Skinny Hightower, whose birth name is Jason Carroll, established himself as a skilled drummer, pianist, and bassist whose work blends jazz traditions with broader contemporary appeal. Prior to his association with Trippin 'n' Rhythm Records, he self-produced the album Cloud Nine; the label then released his 2017 effort Emotions, which included the smooth jazz hit single "Taboo." After the 2018 project Retrospect, the title track from 2020's Blue Moon reached number one on the relevant chart. Subsequent releases such as 2023's Mind Over Matter and 2024's The Man kept him appearing regularly on smooth jazz airplay rankings.
Jason Carroll entered the world in 1985 in Wichita, Kansas, where an early fascination with music led him to begin drumming near the age of two. Church performances and piano lessons from his mother occupied him by age eight, and bass playing entered his skill set at twelve, coinciding with initial experiments programming beats on a computer. Although his parents' jazz and gospel record collections formed his first exposure, teenage listening expanded to encompass Stevie Wonder, Kirk Franklin, Tony Williams, Dennis Chambers, and additional artists. Intensive daily practice accelerated his progress, resulting in participation in his high school's marching and concert bands. Rather than accept a full-ride music scholarship after graduation, he chose employment to assist his family, which led to gigs with assorted local ensembles and the independent release Cool under the name Jason Carroll & the Smooth Jazz Symphony.
Enlistment in the Army came in 2012, followed by a five-year term that included three months stationed in Afghanistan; honorable discharge followed his mother's passing. Back in civilian life, he issued Cloud Nine in 2016 under the Skinny Hightower moniker and dedicated the recording to her memory. Trippin 'n' Rhythm Records subsequently issued Emotions in 2017, yielding another Smooth Jazz Airplay success with "Taboo," and Retrospect arrived the following year.
Blue Moon appeared in 2020 and produced two further chart-topping Smooth Jazz Airplay singles—the title track together with "Now or Never"—while also reaching the Top 20 on Billboard's Smooth Jazz Albums list. Mind Over Matter in 2023 and The Man in 2024 sustained his presence on the charts, the latter featuring groove-oriented selections such as "Free Indeed," "The Greatest Is Love," and "North Grove Street."
Jason Carroll entered the world in 1985 in Wichita, Kansas, where an early fascination with music led him to begin drumming near the age of two. Church performances and piano lessons from his mother occupied him by age eight, and bass playing entered his skill set at twelve, coinciding with initial experiments programming beats on a computer. Although his parents' jazz and gospel record collections formed his first exposure, teenage listening expanded to encompass Stevie Wonder, Kirk Franklin, Tony Williams, Dennis Chambers, and additional artists. Intensive daily practice accelerated his progress, resulting in participation in his high school's marching and concert bands. Rather than accept a full-ride music scholarship after graduation, he chose employment to assist his family, which led to gigs with assorted local ensembles and the independent release Cool under the name Jason Carroll & the Smooth Jazz Symphony.
Enlistment in the Army came in 2012, followed by a five-year term that included three months stationed in Afghanistan; honorable discharge followed his mother's passing. Back in civilian life, he issued Cloud Nine in 2016 under the Skinny Hightower moniker and dedicated the recording to her memory. Trippin 'n' Rhythm Records subsequently issued Emotions in 2017, yielding another Smooth Jazz Airplay success with "Taboo," and Retrospect arrived the following year.
Blue Moon appeared in 2020 and produced two further chart-topping Smooth Jazz Airplay singles—the title track together with "Now or Never"—while also reaching the Top 20 on Billboard's Smooth Jazz Albums list. Mind Over Matter in 2023 and The Man in 2024 sustained his presence on the charts, the latter featuring groove-oriented selections such as "Free Indeed," "The Greatest Is Love," and "North Grove Street."
Albums
Singles
