GARY GRANT
In 1975, Gary moved to Los Angeles and took his place as one of that city's top recording artists. Gary has recorded with a whose whom of the music world and been featured on many recordings as a soloist. Mr. Grant's sound has been heard on the "Academy Awards" to the "Emmy's". From 12 years of the "Simpsons" to 12 Recordings with "Earth Wind and Fire". His styles range from funk, rock, jazz, pop, country to classical...and can be heard all over the world with an accumulation of over 1 billion recordings sold. He has been a member of the world-famous Jerry Hey horn section for the past 25 years.
Gary's latest endeavor's, besides recording with the top recording artist's and movie's, is the brand new release of his new CD, "BREAKOUT". "BREAKOUT" (adult contemporary jazz) not only features Gary but also includes a list of the world's finest musician's. These musicians join Gary in a common goal of musical excellence.
"BREAKOUT" is not only a new CD of Gary's vision, but also a collection of musical experiences, after recording hits with so many great artist's over the years.
Attached are some of Mr. Grant's many CD recordings and soundtracks for motion pictures.
Motion Pictures
What Women Want Castaway Mr. Happy
Forrest Gump Miss Congeniality Summer Catch
Hercules Emperor's New Groove Austin Powers
Southpark Dude, Where's My Car Speed 2
Predator The Abyss Conehead
Lush Life Dirty Dancing Hoffa
Goodfellas Ghostbusters Guarding Tess
Bodyguard Golden Child Flintstones
Eraser Batman Forever Maverick
Alladin High Anxiety Stewart Little
Back to the Future Mrs. Doubtfire Richie Rich
Parent Trap A League of Their Own Running Scared
Pratical Magic Ruthless People Pretty Woman
What Lies Beneath The Shadow Sister Act
Death Becomes Her Sleepless In Seattle Swing Kids
The Kid Romancing The Stone Silver Streak
War Of the Roses The Return Of The Titans
Young Guns SantaClaus 2
------
RECORDINGS
Seals Quincy Jones Maynard Ferguson
Toto Dave Grusin Patty Austin
Frank Sinatra Lee Ritneour Tom Scott
Barbara Striesand Al Jarreau Spro Gyro
Michael Jackson Larry Carlton Arturo Sandoval
George Duke Stevie Wonder Patty Austin
Whitney Houston Brian McKnight Christina Aguilara
Henry Mancini Take Six Rippertons
Celine Dione George Benson Mervyn Warren
Stanley Clarke Chicago Elvis Costello
Freddie Hubbard David Foster Woody Herman
McCoy Tyner Lionel RichieMarshall Tucker Band
Ray Charles Aretha Franklin Elvis Presley
AeroSmith Jeffrey Osborn Rod Stewart
K.D. Lang Bon Jovi Chaka Khan
Mariah Carey Louis Miguel Rickie Lee Jones
Tony Bennett Natalie Cole James Ingram
Stevey Woods Manhattan Transfer Robin Ford
Big Advice Ringp Starr Mya
------
BREAKOUT
ARTIST
GARY GRANT
This exciting new musical offering from trumpeter Gary Grant is aptly titled. This is truly a "breakout" for Grant - an opportunity for this immensely talented musician to strut his stuff. Gary's skills as a gifted and versatile trumpeter are well known to the select group of composers, arrangers and players who spend their days and nights in Hollywood studios and soundstages, but now he breaks out in a big way with his brand new release. Now we can appreciate his versatile skills as a composer, arranger, and producer, as well as his sparkling command of his horns - both trumpet as well as flugelhorn.
The energy from Gary Grant and the cast of stellar ensemble of players he has assembled is electric. The music sizzles from the very first track- this CD is truly good to the last note of the last track.
The CD kicks off with SLATIN' penned by Aaron Zigman and Grant. Grant's leads off stating the sinuous theme with solid rhythmic underpinning by Zigman's driving piano comping, Charles Johnson's guitar and Abraham Laborial's pulsing bass lines and John Robinson's crisply deft drums. Grant's sizzling trumpet is joined for the big band ensemble sections by trombonist Bill Reichenbach and Larry Williams' potent tenor. Gary and Larry share solo space and the horn section takes it out.
I KNOW I NEED YOU by Dan Higgins and the leader, features Higgins playing a funky keyboard lick which leads to Grant's soulful flugelhorn which weaves through the moody "A" minor melody. With the powerfully propelling force of Michael Thompson's guitar and Dave Carpenter's bass, the track features Gary's gift of feeling flugelhorn playing over the intimate sounds of the rhythm section.
COSMO is a track dripping with a helping of soulful "grease" and an unmistakable attitude - the urge to move to the music is impossible to ignore. It's a "C" minor romp with solid ensemble sections that swing before Gary's trumpet and Marc Russo's alto sax take over again. Gary has some Harmon mute quips, but it's Russo who has some funkily soulful solo opportunities, of which he takes full advantage. Bob Boykin and Ken Wild's popping bass work complement Aaron Zigman's blues-tinged keyboard and John Robinson's standout drumming.
Fellow trumpeter Jerry Hey and soprano saxophonist Brandon Fields join in on PERPETUITY by Zigman and Grant. Zigman's piano and synth licks drive well with the finger-popping work of bassist Neil Stubenhaus and drummer Robinson. Gary's smoothly swinging Harmon combines with Fields to make some really beautiful music, then the leader muses solo over the rhythm section till fade-out.
Dan Higgins contributes not only a cookin' arrangement but also his dynamic tenor sax and flute talents to Benny Golson and Quincy Jones' evergreen, KILLER JOE. Some rousing ensemble accents get this track swinging. The familiar theme rolls out into solo stints for Grant and Higgins. As with every track on the CD there is this feeling of consummate pros doing what they do, with such ease and power, and loving every moment of it!
Grant, Zigman and Bill Reichenbach combine for SACRIFICE . Gary's superb command of his craft is evident on every tune, but never more than his rendition of the moody melody. He intertwines his muted solo musings with an all too brief solo contribution by Reichenbach, who contributes bass, tenor trombone as well as baritone horn. . Be sure to catch the wonderfully imaginative orchestration of the backgrounds going on behind the solos., over Steve Houghton's solid drum sounds.
Grant is featured on a soaring opening statement of the soulful composition, FIELD OF PLAY, a creation of the trumpeter and woodwindist Dan Higgins. -- just when you think it's "ballad time", the powerful rhythm "engine" of George Doering's guitar, Ken Wild's bass and Robinson's drums kicks off on it's own, and we are swingin' again.
Larry Williams and Gary collaborated to give us ANOTHER TIME , which immediately moves into a subtle "bossa " kind of groove. Ernie Watts joins Gary in the statement of the theme. Then Ernie has the opportunity to display the wonderful, searching soulfullness that is his trademark. Grant's facile and compelling flugelhorn impels us to move to the music once again. Note how Abraham Laborial's bass line walks down as Gary and Ernie's line soars upward. over Bob Boykin and Heitor Pereira's guitars, as John Robinson's subtly swinging drums and Joe Pusitari's pulsing congas keep things cooking.
A brass opening comes out of nowhere to herald Aaron and Gary's DON'T WAIT , but Ken Wild on bass, Steve Houghton on drums, together with Zigman's keyboard and Bob Boykin's guitar puts it in the pocket, as it smoothly rocks along. Some tasteful synth strings add an sweet, silvery atmospheric touch to the proceedings, which leads to a rousing rip-up by the trumpets, (Grant doubling, perhaps even quadrupling himself). Then Gary takes over as he stretches out soloistically.
John Robinson's drum lead-in introduces us to SNAKECHARMER, another Zigman and Grant offering which features some down home funky horn licks. Then comes some roaring horn ensemble work. Dan Higgins brings his arsenal of alto, tenor and soprano saxes to the mix, as a one man sax ensemble as well his trademark burning soloing. The arrangement, which incorporates Carol Parks' vocal talents, as well as Heitor Pereira's guitars, is ingenious, fun and swings like crazy. Ken Wild and John Robinson drive the track along on bass and drums respectively. (Dig the spacey sounds near the coda.)
Aaron and Larry Williams' BEBE begins in a quiet, introspective mood -- a perfect vehicle for Grant's superb artistry, this time spotlighting his beautiful flugelhorn style. Gary's melodic line arches up, and his moving, heartfelt playing is beautifully counterpointed as the rhythm section kicks in, subtly yet powerfully, again featuring Heitor Pereira's sensitive guitars, Abe Laborial's rock-solid bass , Aaron Zigman's synth and keyboard filigree, and John Robinson's drums and percussion. It's a wonderful total package as they provide a perfect backdrop over which Bill Reichenbach and Gary solo.
Gary Grant's first solo effort is a marvelously successful musical work - a wonderful exposition of his musical and emotional range, not only as an instrumentalist, but also as a composer, arranger and producer who makes his own unique statements melodically and puts his own personal stamp on the music.
Read more...