Born and raised in Albuquerque, New Mexico, Rowan McJimsey began playing piano at age three, and started studying jazz at age eleven with trombonist and harmonica player Phil Arnold. Concurrently, he became a member of Simple Truth, a group directed by renowned Albuquerque-based jazz vocalist Carla Van Blake.

In 2017, McJimsey placed second in the John Lewis Piano Competition, held in conjunction with the New Mexico Jazz Festival. In 2018, 2019, and 2020, he performed at Lizfest, an event held in honor of Elizabeth Weedmark in San Diego, California.

Currently, he performs at venues in Albuquerque and Santa Fe in both solo and group settings, and with many New Mexico musicians, including John Funkhouser, Alex Murzyn, and Kim Stone who, in their turn, have played with artists such as Tito Puente, Dizzy Gillespie, The Rippingtons, Spyro Gyra, and Delfeayo Marsalis. Throughout the years, McJimsey has played across genres, including jazz, rock, pop, Latin, gospel, and electronic music.

He has also appeared on numerous video projects and radio shows, including several appearances on The Children’s Hour as a featured guest artist, and on Sessions Academy. He has performed on applicants’ audition tapes for various institutions, and his work has also been featured on KUNM’s All That Jazz.

In addition to performing, McJimsey is a music producer and film composer, having worked on projects for the University of New Mexico’s Film department. He has also worked as an editor and sound designer on videos, documentaries, and podcasts for various companies and organizations, including The Beacon Network, Ovation Solutions, 350.org, the Youth Jazz Collaborative of New Mexico, and Expo New Mexico.