The Grasso’s Always Greener

by | Nov 9, 2024 | Quartet/Quintet, Trio, Vocal

Pasquale Grasso is an Italian-born jazz guitarist now based in New York City. He is known for a pianistic approach to jazz guitar, largely influenced by Bud Powell’s style; he has somehow managed to transfer the essence of piano language onto guitar. Grasso’s innovative blend of classical-guitar and bebop influences have helped him create a sound that’s completely his own, setting him apart as a one-of-a-kind jazz guitarist … in 2016 Pat Metheny told Vintage Guitar magazine that Grasso was “the best guitar player I’ve heard in maybe my entire life.” Recently, he has been getting more public exposure with several of his own recordings released by Sony Masterworks, and teaming up with super-vocalist Samara Joy on two of her recent hit albums.

(Below upper left) Pasquale Grasso adds his personal touch to the American Songbook Standard, Just One of Those Things, live at The Cutting Room in NYC. Pasquale is on guitar, Phil Stewart plays drums, and Ari Roland is on double bass. Charlie Christian’s Seven Come Eleven (Below upper right) was recorded at Birdland,also in NYC, and features the guitars of Pasquale Grasso, Frank Vignola, and Olli Soikkeli … with Gary Mazzaroppi on bass, and Vince Cherico playing drums. Finally a video (Bottom) with Grasso’s guitar and Samara Joy singing Ellington’s In My Solitude, from his Pasquale Plays Duke album.

Another Side of Art

by | Nov 2, 2024 | Sextet

Art Blakey has always been known as an energetic drummer, and The Jazz Messengers recognized as a potent force in jazz. There have been several permutations of The Messengers since 1954, when Horace Silver led the original group. It passed to Blakey after only one year and Art led it for the rest of his life. From 1961 to 1964, he expanded it to include trombonist Curtis Fuller. With Lee Morgan’s untimely demise, Freddie Hubbard became the trumpet player, Cedar Walton took over at piano, and Reggie Workman played bass. Wayne Shorter remained on tenor sax. That’s the group (including Art, of course) that you’ll hear on these selections from the 1963 San Remo Jazz Festival in Italy.

The nostalgic 1937 tune That Old Feeling (above) is a swinging, bop-centric arrangement that’s a bit easier going than the typical Jazz Messenger sound. For all intents and purposes, Blakey reduces the players to a trio, and features Cedar Walton at the piano. Skylark (below), originally from 1941, underwent a resurgence in 1997 with the movie “Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil.” It features Freddie Hubbard, and also shows a softer side of Art Blakey and the Jazz Messengers.