Grant Gordy
Grant Gordy
Review By Steven Stone
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  Grant Gordy's thing is acoustic jazz. But unlike most jazz guitarists, his axe-of-choice isn't a big ‘ol carved archtop, but a dreadnaught-sized flattop box.

Gordy began playing guitar at 13 when his father gave him an A&L acoustic. Soon he was playing in local bands and gigging regularly. In 1996's Gordy heard David Grisman Quartet's DGQ-20, and the album changed his life. "I was hearing all these cool new chords and complex arranged tunes and great players and something about it just fit for me. It even got me started thinking about writing my own tunes." He immediately gravitated toward acoustic jazz.

Eventually, after gigging with a veritable who's who of acoustic jazz players, including Mike Marshall, Daryl Anger, and Edgar Meyer, Gordy put together his own quartet in 2006 and gigged for a couple of years. Then Gordy got the call from David "Dawg" Grisman to sub in and then ultimately join the Grisman's Quintet as guitarist.

Currently Gordy still plays with the David Grisman Quartet as well as touring with his new group made up of the folks who played on the album. In many ways the music on his first solo release isn't that far afield from his regular gig. The musicians are different (except for one cut which features Grisman on mandolin) with Domenic Leslie on mandolin, Alex Hargreaves on fiddle, Paul Kowart on bass, and Jayme Stone on banjo. Stone also serves as co-producer. How does Gordy's music differ from Grisman's? Gordy tends toward a more lyrical and more melody driven approach compared with Grisman's rhythmic and groove-oriented tunes. Also Gordy's arrangements are more straight ahead theme and variations rather than riffs.

Older jazz buffs who still spend their listening hours with forty-year-old sessions will especially enjoy Gordy's modern yet lyrical approach to jazz.

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