Page 11 - BiTS_12_DECEMBER_2022_Neat

GRANT GEISSMAN — FROM BOP TO BLOOZ

By Lawrence Lebo

Veteran Jazz guitarist/composer/recording artist Grant
Geissman and I, can’t quite remember exactly when it was that
we first met. It was sometime during the late 80s, either when
he was teaching at the prestigious Dick Grove School of Music
and I was a student there, or it was out on a casuals job in
one of the many bands we both worked with as side
personnel …. or both! Needless to say,
I’ve long been a fan of his work.

As a guitarist Grant has toured,
recorded, and performed with some of
the biggest and best! From playing in
both the Gerald Wilson Big Band and
the Louie Bellson Big Band (1974), to
his famous and revered solo work on
Chuck Mangione’s international pop hit
“Feels So Good (1977)”, over the years
Grant has also played and recorded
with Peter Allen, Sheila E., Miki
Howard, Quincy Jones, Elvis
Costello, Diane Schuur, Brian Wilson
and Van Dyke Parks, Keiko Matsui,
David Benoit, Josh Groban and Ringo
Starr — just to name a few!

Geissman’s latest solo release titled
"Blooz" once again finds Grant in the
company of the finest fellow musicians,
supporting his artistic vision. The album
contains 14 originals that showcase
Grant’s virtuosic jazzy take on all the
many variations, or shades, as it were,
of the blues. Robben Ford, Josh Smith,
Joe Bonamassa, John Jorgensen as well
as Randy Brecker, Tom Scott, David
Garfield, and Russell Ferrante all
contribute to the work. They all share a
connection not only as peers, but
through my neighborhood Tarzana,
California vintage guitar store Norman’s Rare Guitars! "Blooz" is a celebration of the finest
musicians exploring and interpreting the roots of jazz that is the blues. It’s funky-slick and not
to be missed!

I asked Grant Geissman to tell us about his life, career, and his new release "Blooz". This is
what he told me …