Danny Grissett (born 1975) is an American jazz pianist, keyboardist, and composer.
Early life Grissett was born in Los Angeles in 1975. He first played the piano at the age of five, taking classical music lessons. He graduated with a B.A. in Music Education 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 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. 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. Grissett released his first album as a leader in 2006, on the Criss Cross label, for whom he has continued to record. 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/Notes2005PromiseCriss 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 recordedLeaderTitleLabel2003Mr. WizardHighNote2006Ends and MeansHighNote2006Gifts and GiversCriss Cross2006Light OnHighNote2006*This Is My HouseOkapi2007NovemberMax Jazz2007Early SongsCriss Cross2007I'm Still HereAtelier Sawano2008Generations552008Prana DanceHighNote2008*Best of the WestBrooklyn Jazz Underground2009Roman NightsHighNote2009Men of HonorHighNote2010The Talented Mr. PeltHighNote2010The Time of the SunHighNote2011Number FiveHighNote2011SoulHighNote2011*Milo SongsBrooklyn Jazz Underground2011*40th DayEquinox Music & Entertainment2012*Come a Little CloserUniversal2014*So Many RoadsBrooklyn Jazz Underground2014*RushBrooklyn Jazz Underground2015*Tom HarrellFirst ImpressionsHighNote2015*Dameronia With StringsEquinox Music & Entertainment2016*Jeremy Pelt#JivecultureHighNote2016*Anne Mette IversenRound TripBrooklyn Jazz Underground2016*Rale MicicNight MusicWhaling City Sound2017*Tom HarrellMoving PictureHighNote2018*Pee Wee EllisIn My Ellingtonian MoodMinor Music2019*The Barcelona SessionsFresh Sound New Talent
References
External links
An extended analysis of a Grissett performance