Hello, my name is Christian Grizzard. I´m a fairly eclectic musician who has willingly experienced a wide variety of musical styles, mostly as a bassist. I've also had experience as a singer, songwriter, bandleader, producer, recording engineer, booking agent, press agent and finder of kindred musical spirits.
Other interests of mine have included reading, motorcycle riding, skydiving, printing, graphic arts, yoga, meditation and the ongoing study of Life, the Universe and Everything. I´m originally from Atlanta, GA and now reside in Nashville with my wife Robbie and our son, Gabriel.
I currently direct a rock and soul improvisational musical gathering called The Electric Experiment . I also play bass for The Johnny Hiland Band , Debbie Ritter & 440 Blues and The Cosmic Blues Authority. If you need a bassist, a band, or would like to record some music together, please contact me.
BIO:
I was introduced to the music of Led Zeppelin at age 4 and decided to become a "space artist" when I was 6. At 14, after a couple of brief attempts at guitar, I finally discovered my true instrument on electric bass. I played in a couple of rock bands in high school, and would occasionally travel to play weekend gigs with my uncle´s country band. After high school, I worked in the graphic arts/printing business in Birmingham, AL.
During that time, I played music part-time with numerous local bands/artists, including The John Henderson Jazz Trio & guitarist Brian Lutterbie, bassist Stan Foster (Rollin in the Hay) and singer/artist Beverly Owen. I also played with the blues band, The Shinolas, featuring guitarist Doug Lee, guitarist Steve Kirkpatrick, keyboardist Macey Taylor & drummer Todd Chase. After becoming dissillusioned with day-job life, I bought a motorcycle and aimlessly traveled the country for five months....
1996-1997
....After my exciting road trip, I recieved a bass degree from The Atlanta Institute of Music, studying with Adam Nitti (Dave Weckl Band, Bass Player columnist) and Randy Hoexter. I was also fortunate enough to have been in a couple of classes taught by great guitarist Jimmy Herring (Widespread Panic, The Dead, Jazz is Dead, A.R.U.).
1997-2000
After graduating music school, I hit the road as bassist for The Rob Thorworth Trio (a.k.a. Gravy). Led by singer/guitarist Rob Thorworth , this Blues/Rock power trio also featured drummer Chris Fryar (Oteil & The Peacemakers). I played bass on his CD "Life is Suffering" in 1998. One of the songs from the recording appeared in the 2001 film " Rustin ". The trio also acted as backing band on the 1999 singer/songwriter Mama Trish release, "Renaissance Women & Dumptruck Girls". Some of the guests that joined the band live were Topper Price, Robert Moore & Mark Kimbrell (Oteil & the Peacemakers). The drum chair was later filled by Mike Talbot . The list of artists we shared stages with includes The Meters, Widespread Panic, The Fabulous Thunderbirds, The Derek Trucks Band, Kool and the Gang, Marshall Crenshaw, R.L. Burnside, The Derailers, Drivin´ & Cryin´, Chris Duarte, Tinsley Ellis, Hank Williams III, Marcia Ball & Rollin in the Hay.
2000-2003
In 2000, I relocated to Mobile, AL, where I began playing with singer/songwriter Molly Thomas (Todd Snider, Matthew Ryan). The Molly Thomas Band also featured guitarist Corky Hughes (Carlos Washington, Black Oak Arkansas), and drummers T.K. Lively (Wet Willie) & Mike Talbot . I also spent time as bassist for the blues band, Hank Becker & the Boogie Chillin´. Led by guitarist Hank Becker , other band members included Donna Hall (Wet Willie) and Ricky Chancey (Hank Williams Jr., Wet Willie). Some of the acts we shared stages with include The Everly Brothers, John Prine & Trace Adkins.
Most of my time on the Gulf Coast was spent playing bass with Corky Hughes , keyboardist Chris Spies (Strut, Larry Baeder Group) and drummer John Milham (Grayson Capps, Carlos Washington) in the funk/fusion/jazz/jam band, Kung Fu Mama. Some of the special guests who joined us on stage were Jeff Sipe (Susan Tedeschi, Leftover Salmon, A.R.U.), Jimmy Hall (Wet Willie, Jeff Beck), The Larry Keel Experience and fire dancer Commanda Galactica. The band also backed up rappers Rando Dixon & Vic Broughton, forming the hip-hop cover band Al Most & The Not Quites. The list of artists Kung Fu Mama played shows with features Wet Willie, Karl Denson, The Codetalkers featuring Col. Bruce Hampton, Carlos Washington, Robert Walters, King Johnson & Strut.
Other bands/artists I performed and/or recorded with during my time in Mobile include The Cozmos, The Filthy Rich featuring Nick Branch & Guthrie Trapp (Jerry Douglas Band, Patty Loveless),
Lisa Mills (Big Brother & the Holding Co.), Grayson Capps , Beau Berman , Robbie Fleming (Gatemouth Brown), Scott Boyer & Topper Price. I also played a few shows backing up singer/songwriter Walter Egan , who is known for his hits, Hot Summer Nights and Magnet & Steel (w/ Stevie Nicks).
2003-present
In the Fall of 2003, I sold my motorcycle and headed to Nashville. After only living in Music City a short while, I met drummer Justin Amaral (Junior Brown) and banjo player Charles Butler (Langhorne Slim), and the eclectic trio Bee Speed was quickly formed. We released a CD in 2004 which has received favorable reviews and press from Banjo Newsletter, Bassics Magazine, Modern Drummer, Jambands.com, Kynd Music and Shake Magazine.
Another recording I am happy to have played bass on is the 2004 Rob Thorworth release "Dig it Up", which also features drummer Mike Talbot . Also that year, I had the incredible and eye-opening experience of touring Jordan, Egypt, Spain and Italy, backing up former Miss Tennessee Carrie Folks. In late 2005, Wet Willie singer Donna Hall released the CD "It´s Never Too Late", which included the song "Good at Being Blue", my first attempt at writing a song with lyrics.
Since 2004, I have been the bassist for singer/songwriter Jimmy Barret . I played on his debut CD "Introducing Jimmy Barret", which includes special guest Jim Lauderdale . Jimmy´s band also features singers Ann & Regina McCrary (Bob Dylan, Stevie Wonder, Elvis), Wendy Newcomer , guitarists Kenny Hutson (Eliot Morris) & Jake Bradley, fiddler Ollie O´Shea (Jim Lauderdale), trumpet player Steve Patrick (Larry Carlton), Charles Butler & Justin Amaral . The band has appeared regularly on Billy Block´s Western Beat show, and has been the opening act for Gretchen Wilson & Lee Ann Rimes.
In 2006, I took my bass on the road with the chart-rising country band Carolina Rain . The band, fronted by guitarist Rhean Boyer, banjo player Jeremy Baxter & mandolin player Marvin Evatt, features guitarist Erik Halbig & drummer David Black . The list of acts we opened shows for includes Big & Rich, Little Big Town, America and Neal McCoy. Also last year, Chris Spies released the CD "Confessions of a Kung Fu Mamma", which features recordings begun during the days of Kung Fu Mama.
In late 2006, I helped form the quartet, The Cosmic Blues Authority . This rockin' blues and soul jam band also features guitarist Beau Berman (Mista D), keyboardist Clint Parris (Secret Gossip) and drummer Adam Abrashoff. Special guests who have joined the band onstage include Johnny Neel (Allman Brothers Band) and Old Union . I also performed Jazz standards with The Clint Parris Trio and rock and roll with Joe Wyatt & Friends featuring Erin James and Cody Leppo (The Johnny Hiland Band).
In late 2007, I released my first collection of original material recording project under the name THE ELECTRIC EXPERIMENT . The CD, Life On The Blue Dot , is a collection of songs I´ve written since living in Nashville and was co-produced by 4 time Grammy winner
Trina Shoemaker . The recording features the following list of wonderful musicians:
Christian Grizzard
vocals, bass
Corky Hughes (Vibration Configuration, Kung Fu Mama, Black Oak Arkansas)
Jack Pearson (The Allman Brothers Band)
Guthrie Trapp (Jerry Douglas Band, Patti Loveless, The Filthy Rich)
Beau Berman (The Cosmic Blues Authority, Mista D)
guitars, mandolin
Dennis Wage (Jack Pearson Band, T. Graham Brown)
Clint Parris (The Cosmic Blues Authority, Secret Gossip)
organ, keys
John Milham (Grayson Capps, Vibration Configuration, Kung Fu Mama)
Justin Amaral (Junior Brown, Bee Speed)
drums, percussion
Joel Andrews (honorary member of The Cozmos)
didgeradoo
Katherine Moon
sitar
Steve Patrick (Larry Carlton)
trumpet
Charles Butler (Bee Speed, Langhorne Slim)
banjo
Ricky Chancey (Hank Williams Jr., Wet Willie)
pedal steel, harmonica
Julia Emahiser (Nashville Chamber Orchestra)
cello
Rob Thorworth (Gravy)
Ann McCrary (Stevie Wonder, Elvis)
Regina McCrary (Bob Dylan, Stevie Wonder, Elvis)
Jimmy Hall (Wet Willie, Jeff Beck)
Trina Shoemaker
Donna Hall (Wet Willie)
Stan Foster (Rollin.. in the Hay)
Wendy Newcomer (Jimmy Barret)
Lisa Mills (Big Brother and the Holding Co.)
vocals
produced by
Christian Grizzard &
Trina Shoemaker
Since the release of Life On The Blue Dot, a band was formed and has since been playing around the Southeast. A brand new rock and soul sound has now evolved and is captured on the brand new recording, A New Reality . This latest release features Christian Grizzard, Clint Parris, Josh Pessar, Adam Abrashoff and legendary gospel/soul singers Ann & Regina McCrary.
As a sideman, I´ve recently been performing with Robert Howell & The Visitors and Debbie Ritter & 440 Blues , and am very happy to be the new bassist for The Johnny Hiland Band .
Stay tuned, there´s more to come....
Peace,
Christian
