Danny Grissett

• Name — Danny Grissett • Birthplace — Los Angeles, California, U.S. • Born — 1975 • Instrument — Piano, Fender Rhodes • Genre — Jazz • Occupation — Musician, composer • Years Active — Early 2000s–present • Label — Criss Cross • Associated Acts — Tom Harrell • Website — dannygrissett.com • Illustration — Danny Grissett (2018) in Aarhus, Denmark

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.

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.

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."

• Year recorded — Title — Label — Personnel/Notes • 2005 — Promise — Criss Cross — Trio, with Vicente Archer (bass), Kendrick Scott (drums) • 2007 — Encounters — Criss Cross — Trio, with Vicente Archer (bass), Kendrick Scott (drums) • 2008 — Form — Criss Cross — Sextet, with Ambrose Akinmusire (trumpet), Steve Davis (trombone), Seamus Blake (tenor sax), Vicente Archer (bass), Kendrick Scott (drums) • 2011 — Stride — Criss Cross — Trio, with Vicente Archer (bass), Marcus Gilmore (drums) • 2015 — The In-Between — Criss Cross — Quartet, with Walter Smith III (tenor sax), Vicente Archer (bass), Bill Stewart (drums) • 2017? — Remembrance — Savant — Quartet, with Dayna Stephens (tenor sax, soprano sax), Vicente Archer (bass), Bill Stewart (drums)

• Year recorded — Leader — Title — Label • 2003 — Vincent — Mr. Wizard — HighNote • 2006 — Vincent — Ends and Means — HighNote • 2006 — Jimmy — Gifts and Givers — Criss Cross • 2006 — Tom — Light On — HighNote • 2006* — Anne Mette — This Is My House — Okapi • 2007 — Jeremy — November — Max Jazz • 2007 — Lage — Early Songs — Criss Cross • 2007 — Kiyoshi — I'm Still Here — Atelier Sawano • 2008 — Kengo — Generations — 55 • 2008 — Tom — Prana Dance — HighNote • 2008* — Anne Mette — Best of the West — Brooklyn Jazz Underground • 2009 — Tom — Roman Nights — HighNote • 2009 — Jeremy — Men of Honor — HighNote • 2010 — Jeremy — The Talented Mr. Pelt — HighNote • 2010 — Tom — The Time of the Sun — HighNote • 2011 — Tom — Number Five — HighNote • 2011 — Jeremy — Soul — HighNote • 2011* — Anne Mette — Milo Songs — Brooklyn Jazz Underground • 2011* — Ozan — 40th Day — Equinox Music & Entertainment • 2012* — Laïka — Come a Little Closer — Universal • 2014* — Anne Mette — So Many Roads — Brooklyn Jazz Underground • 2014* — Tom — Rush — Brooklyn Jazz Underground • 2015* — Tom Harrell — First Impressions — HighNote • 2015* — Ferit — Dameronia With Strings — Equinox Music & Entertainment • 2016* — Jeremy Pelt — #Jiveculture — HighNote • 2016* — Anne Mette Iversen — Round Trip — Brooklyn Jazz Underground • 2016* — Rale Micic — Night Music — Whaling City Sound • 2017* — Tom Harrell — Moving Picture — HighNote • 2018* — Pee Wee Ellis — In My Ellingtonian Mood — Minor Music • 2019* — Raynald — The Barcelona Sessions — Fresh Sound New Talent