Danny Grissett Explained

Danny Grissett
Birth Place:Los Angeles, California, U.S.
Instrument:Piano, Fender Rhodes
Genre:Jazz
Occupation:Musician, composer
Years Active:Early 2000s–present
Label:Criss Cross
Associated Acts:Tom Harrell

Danny Grissett (born 1975) is an American jazz pianist, keyboardist, and composer.

Early life

Grissett was born in Los Angeles in 1975.[1] He first played the piano at the age of five, taking classical music lessons. He graduated with a B.A. in Music Education[1] from California State University, Dominguez Hills, then completed a two-year master's degree in jazz performance in 2000 at the California Institute of the Arts[1] followed by studies at the Thelonious Monk Institute at the University of Southern California Thornton School of Music.

Later life and career

After playing around Los Angeles he moved to New York City in 2003.[1] He became trumpeter Nicholas Payton's keyboardist early the following year, and has been a regular member of trumpeter Tom Harrell's band since 2005.[2] Grissett released his first album as a leader in 2006, on the Criss Cross label, for whom he has continued to record.[1] Promise and his following album, Encounters, were trio recordings with Vicente Archer (bass) and Kendrick Scott (drums). His next album, Form, from 2008, added saxophonist Seamus Blake, trumpeter Ambrose Akinmusire, and trombonist Steve Davis to the trio.

Playing style

A Down Beat reviewer in 2010 commented that Grissett employed "strategies drawn from Mulgrew Miller, Herbie Hancock and Sonny Clark to tell cogent stories that carry his own harmonic and rhythmic signature."

Discography

An asterisk (*) indicates that the year is that of release.

As leader/co-leader

Year recordedTitleLabelPersonnel/Notes
2005PromiseCriss CrossTrio, with Vicente Archer (bass), Kendrick Scott (drums)
2007EncountersCriss CrossTrio, with Vicente Archer (bass), Kendrick Scott (drums)
2008FormCriss CrossSextet, with Ambrose Akinmusire (trumpet), Steve Davis (trombone), Seamus Blake (tenor sax), Vicente Archer (bass), Kendrick Scott (drums)
2011StrideCriss CrossTrio, with Vicente Archer (bass), Marcus Gilmore (drums)
2015The In-BetweenCriss CrossQuartet, with Walter Smith III (tenor sax), Vicente Archer (bass), Bill Stewart (drums)
2017?RemembranceSavantQuartet, with Dayna Stephens (tenor sax, soprano sax), Vicente Archer (bass), Bill Stewart (drums)

As sideman

Year recordedLeaderTitleLabel
2003Mr. WizardHighNote
2006Ends and MeansHighNote
2006Gifts and GiversCriss Cross
2006Light OnHighNote
2006*This Is My HouseOkapi
2007NovemberMax Jazz
2007Early SongsCriss Cross
2007I'm Still HereAtelier Sawano
2008Generations55
2008Prana DanceHighNote
2008*Best of the WestBrooklyn Jazz Underground
2009Roman NightsHighNote
2009Men of HonorHighNote
2010The Talented Mr. PeltHighNote
2010The Time of the SunHighNote
2011Number FiveHighNote
2011SoulHighNote
2011*Milo SongsBrooklyn Jazz Underground
2011*40th DayEquinox Music & Entertainment
2012*Come a Little CloserUniversal
2014*So Many RoadsBrooklyn Jazz Underground
2014*RushBrooklyn Jazz Underground
2015*Tom HarrellFirst ImpressionsHighNote
2015*Dameronia With StringsEquinox Music & Entertainment
2016*Jeremy Pelt
  1. Jiveculture
HighNote
2016*Anne Mette IversenRound TripBrooklyn Jazz Underground
2016*Rale MicicNight MusicWhaling City Sound
2017*Tom HarrellMoving PictureHighNote
2018*Pee Wee EllisIn My Ellingtonian MoodMinor Music
2019*The Barcelona SessionsFresh Sound New Talent

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Artist Biography – Danny Grissett. Collar, Matt. AllMusic. October 12, 2015.
  2. Web site: Danny Grissett – Leader's Languages. Panken, Ted. Down Beat. April 2010. 22. October 14, 2015. https://web.archive.org/web/20160304065106/http://www.downbeat.com/digitaledition/2010/db201004/single_page_view/22.html. March 4, 2016. dead.