Damon Grant performs original and traditional jazz compositions on vibraphone, marimba and a variety of other percussion instruments with Afro-Caribbean flair in his own group, The Damon Grant Project. He and his group have been recognized for their work in “Modern Drummer†and “Latin Beat†Magazines. Damon has also been recognized as a performer with the University of Massachusetts Jazz Ensembles by “Downbeat Magazineâ€, and has received four awards. Most recently Damon was in “People†magazine twice with the Funk/Rock group, The Bomb Squad.Damon, a native of Norwalk, Connecticut, has played with many ensembles, including some of the top Salsa, Orchestral, Dance, Jazz, Rock, and Funk groups in the United States. He has performed on stage with many world class musicians, including: Richie Flores, Horacio "El Negro" Hernandez, John Benitez, Robby Ameen, The Original Parliament Funkadelic, Fred Wesley, George Porter Jr., and Stefon Harris. Damon currently performs with the Funk/Rock group, The Bomb Squad, which won an American Music Award in 2003. Damon was also an original member of the Broadway show, Blast!, which won both a Tony and an Emmy award. He, and the groups he has performed in, have opened for, or shared the bill, with acts such as: John Mayer, Soulive, Martin Sexton, Colbie Caillat, Isaac Hayes, David Sanborn, the Dirty Dozen Brass Band, and George Clinton. Damon performed as a member of the Cadets Drum Corps for several years, in which he participated in the 1996 Closing Ceremonies of the Olympics in Atlanta, Georgia. Damon has performed at numerous venues, including: The Kennedy Center, The Montreal International Jazz Festival, The Rich Forum, The Ottawa Blues Festival, The Palace Theater, The Milford and Norwalk Oyster Festivals, The Berkshire Jazz Festival, The Hammersmith Apollo of London, Harper’s Ferry, The Downtown, The Iron Horse Music Hall, Tribeca Rock Club, The Funk Box, The Iridium Jazz Club, The Gathering of the Vibes, The New Jersey Performing Arts Center, The New Hampshire Funk and Blues Festival, The Percussive Arts Society International Conference, Toad’s Place, The Paradise of Boston, The Hammerstein Ballroom and countless other venues.Damon received a Bachelor of Music degree in jazz performance from the University of Massachusetts in February 2001. He has studied with musical legend Yusef Lateef, as well as master percussionist; Giovanni HidalgoDamon has just as much teaching experience as he has playing experience. He started by teaching at the high school he graduated from, Norwalk High School, in Norwalk, CT. He has taught their award winning marching and jazz ensembles in addition to being a guest performer and clinician. From there he began teaching at Boston College. Damon currently teaches at his alma mater, the University of Massachusetts at Amherst with Thom Hannum. He continues to do so today while also teaching privately in Norwalk and Greenwich, CT. Damon has consulted at Stamford High School and the East Coast Jazz Drum Corps, and taught the front ensemble for the 22 time DCI finalist, Crossmen Drum Corps as well as the 9 time DCI World Champion Cadets Drum Corps. Damon not only teaches locally, but also has traveled around the country giving masterclasses and clinics on various percussion instruments and styles of Jazz and Latin music.Damon Grant uses LP Percussion, Vic Firth Sticks and Mallets, Remo Drumheads, as well as Samson Technologies Audio equipment exclusively.
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