Tom Grant (jazz musician)

Tom Grant ( born February 22, 1946 in Portland, Oregon) is an American jazz pianist and composer who has emerged particularly in Smooth and pop jazz.

Life and work

Grant comes from a musical family - his father was a tap dancer, his brother Mike also pianist; at the age of four he first learned piano and later drums. After a first degree at the University of Oregon in 1970, he belonged to the band of Jim Pepper and was involved in the cult album Pow Wow. Then he worked in Portland as a teacher. Woody Shaw caught up with him in 1976 in his band; then he accompanied Joe Henderson, Dexter Gordon, Charles Lloyd and Tony Williams (1979 to 1981). In 1976, Grant released his first album under his own name for Timeless on; In 1979 he formed his own band, in which he also pushed forward into the pop music genre. More albums of his own also emerged for Pausa, Verve, Shanachie. He also worked with Nancy King and Gino Vannelli.

He also composed music for radio and television.

Prizes and awards

Grant was inducted into the Hall of Fame of the Jazz Society of Oregon, 2004.

Disco Graphical Notes

• Mystified (1976, with Joe Henderson, Rick Laird, Ron Steen )
• The View from Here ( Verve Forecast, 1993)
• Solo Piano (2003)
• Nice Work If You Can Get It (2004)
• Tom Grant & Valery Day Side by Side (2005)
• Delicioso (2010)