About Me
Originally from Los Angeles, California, pianist/composer Danny Grissett is a new addition to the New York jazz scene. He started playing the piano at age five, and began studying classically when he turned six. Danny continued his classical training through high school and college, earning his B.A. in Music Education in 1998, while developing a love for jazz along the way.
He further explored his love for jazz in graduate school, earning his M.F.A in Jazz Performance from Cal Arts in 2000, then an advanced performance certificate from the prestigious Thelonious Monk Institute in 2001. There he studied with jazz masters such as Barry Harris, Herbie Hancock, Terence Blanchard, Kenny Barron, Bobby Watson, Jimmy Heath and Carl Allen. Also during this time he began to establish himself on the LA Jazz scene with the guidance of one of his mentors, drummer Billy Higgins. He began performing more often with distinguished local and touring artists such as Billy Higgins, George Coleman, Jackie McLean, and Ralph Moore. In 2002 he joined drummer Roy McCurdy in the trio John Heard, (bassist formerly with the trios of Ahmad Jamal and Oscar Peterson.) The invaluable time spent with Heard and McCurdy, playing clubs frequently, talking about music and the scene in NY, proved to be instrumental in cultivating Grissetts ever increasing thoughts about moving east.
In the summer of 2003 Danny moved to New York, and within the first few months of Grissetts arrival, he became a sideman of choice for artists such as Vincent Herring, Vanessa Rubin. You can hear Danny on Vincent Herrings last three recordings, (Mr. Wizard, and Ends and Means on High Note, and Live at the Birds Eye.) Since his arrival to NY, he has performed internationally at jazz festivals and clubs in Italy, France, Germany, Japan, South Africa, Colombia, and many cities within the US. He has performed such notables as Freddie Hubbard, Steve Wilson, The Mingus Big Band, Marcus Strickland, Russell Malone, Jeremy Pelt, and is a member of the Tom Harrell quintet. Currently he working and touring with Nicholas Paytons new quartet.
Most recently Danny recorded his first cd as a leader. Promise on the Criss Cross Jazz label was release in May 2006.
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