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He was turned on to the drums in high
school there and began spending the summer months back in Alaska commercial fishing
with his grandfather in order to buy his first drum set, as well as saving money
for college. While attending high school in Seattle, he began playing in the school
jazz band and was bitten by the jazz- bug through listening to old recordings,
which his peers and teachers made for him.
From
1988-95 Wikan attended Central Washington University. Within this period he took
a year off to tour with the legendary Mills Brothers and Ellington alumni Herb
Jefferies. The road experience paid off as he was soon called to work with vocalist
Ernestine Anderson. During his travels he managed to study with some of the great
drum masters such as Chico Hamilton, Carl Allen, and Jeff Hamilton.
In 1996 Wikan immersed himself in the Seattle jazz scene and was taken under the
wings of multi-horn man Jay Thomas, Bill Ramsay, and composer James Knapp. During
this period he became one of the busiest sidemen in the northwest area backing
international artists including Pat Labarbra, Herb Ellis, John Fedchock, Rick
Margitza, Buddy Collette, Roswell Rudd, Mark Murphy, Kurt Elling, Bobby Shew,
Brad Turner, Jessica Williams and Dan Faehnle.
Wikans'
recent move to New York City immediately landed him a record date with pianist
Geoff Keezer, a tour of Japan with Downbeat Vocalist of the Year, Mark Murphy
and a week at the Blue Note with Grammy award winners, the New York Voices. As
well, he performed with the Ingrid Jensen Quartet at the Detroit jazz festival,
the Mary Lou Williams Jazz festival, the Savannah Jazz Festival and a live CBC
radio concert in Montreal. Other artists Jon has played with include; Karrin Allyson,
Sam Yahel, Ron Affif, Seamus Blake, Marcus Strickland, Jay Collins, David Budway,
Mark Elf, David Berkman, Jeffery Smith, Antonia Bennett, and young piano prodigy,
Aaron Parks. Wikan does not limit himself to being
just a sideman. He is an active clinician/ teacher, teaching privately at The
New School University and out of his home studio in Queens, NY. He is also an
emerging composer, writing music for various large and small groups which he both
leads and plays in. September of 2001, Jon was chosen to participate in the BMI
jazz composer's workshop in New York City, which gives him an opportunity to work
with composers Jim McNeely and Mike Abene. Jon's
most recent projects have been touring with The Geoffrey Keezer Trio and the formation
and recording of a new band called "Project O" with co-leaders Ingrid
Jensen (trumpet) and Gary Versace (B-3 organ) and stellar saxophone players Seamus
Blake, Steve Wilson and Christine Jensen. The bands' recent 2-week West Coast
(US/Canada) tour found Project O playing to sold out crowds including 3 nights
at The 2002 Earshot International Jazz Festival. Project O will release their
new record entitled NOW AS THEN on Justin-Time records in spring of 2003. Quotes
From Some of The Masters …….......................................................................….."He
be swingin!" Jeff "Tain" Watts ....................…..................................................................."
Your swingin your ass off" Clark Terry ………...................................................."His
Energy and dedication to his art inspires me" Jay Thomas ……..............…."Jon's
swingin his butt off!" Mark Elf |
