15th Annual Brasil Jazz FestaL>R: Justin Grinnell (bass), Danny Green (piano), Natalie Cressman (trombone, voice), Ian Faquini (guitar, voice), Julien Cantelm (drums), Allison Adams Tucker (voice, Festa producer)
Nov. 19, 2023 @ Dizzy's (Musicians Association), San Diego, CA
Univ. of Iowa Professors of JazzL>R: Dr. William Menefield (piano), Curtis Taylor (trumpet), Justin Grinnell (bass), Dr. Damani Phillips (alto sax), Tyler Kreutel (drums)
Nov. 4, 2023 @ Dizzy's (Musicians Association), San Diego, CA
Peter Sprague Group Plays "Norwegian Wood"
Peter Sprague (guitar), Allison Adams Tucker (voice), Tripp Sprague (tenor sax), John Opferkuch (piano), Justin Grinnell (bass), Duncan Moore (drums)
YouTube Video Published Oct. 23, 2023
[Performance originally from "Live(ish) at SpragueLand Episode 32 - Peter Sprague Plays The Beatles" on Apr. 6, 2023]
"Justin and Melonie Grinnell: A Fine Romance" by Robert Bush, San Diego Troubadour (Feb 2020)
RIP Robert Bush (2023/10/20) - I'm not sure when I first met Robert. Starting in 2012 or so, he started writing articles about the groups I was performing and recording with, mainly the Danny Green Trio. Since then, I frequently ran into Robert at jazz shows around San Diego. Over the years he wrote a few reviews of Danny Green Trio performances and albums that usually included some short complimentary descriptions of my playing. About 10 years ago (Dec 2013) I put out my debut album, Without You, and Robert honored me by including my album in his "Top Ten SD Jazz Releases of 2013." | One of the most memorable encounters I had with Robert Bush was when my wife Melonie and I went over to his house to be interviewed for a cover article in the San Diego Troubadour (pictured above). Although we had encountered Robert at many jazz shows before, we had never really talked much. However, during the interview, we got to know Robert a bit better and then Melonie and him really connected when they found out that they both had grown up in South San Diego. | Of course, everyone in the San Diego jazz community was hit hard when we heard that Robert had cancer. Shortly thereafter, a fundraising event was planned at Tio Leo's (June 2023) to help raise money for Robert's medical expenses. It was an incredible event with a huge crowd, many memorable performances by various groups of musicians, and an intermission-ceremony with Dan Atkinson presenting Robert with a 'Jazz Hero' award from the Jazz Journalists Association. | I'm so thankful for the conversations I got to have with Robert over the years and for his documentation of so many San Diego jazz events. Read Robert's writings at robertbush.net.
(JG, 2023/10/23)
USD Faculty Jazz Quartet "Island Grooves and Jazz Moves: Celebrating Harry Belafonte"
L>R: Laurel Grinnell (drums), Justin Grinnell (bass), Leonard Patton (voice), Reka Parker (piano)
Oct. 18, 2023 @ University of San Diego, San Diego, CA
[Photo by Joshua Smith]
[Watch the whole concert on YouTube]
Justin Grinnell & Kathryn Schulmeister Double Bass Duo
Sep. 25, 2023 @ Athenaeum Music & Arts Library, La Jolla, CA
[Photo by Melonie Grinnell]
David Whitman Album Release Concert ("Ode To Joe")
L>R: Chris Montgomery (guitar), Justin Grinnell (bass), Melonie Grinnell (piano), Ian Tordella (tenor sax), Derek Cannon (trumpet), David Whitman (drums), Matt Hall (trombone)
Sep. 15, 2023 @ Dizzy's (Musicians Association), San Diego, CA
Peter Sprague Album Release - Wise One: Peter Sprague Plays Coltrane
Peter Sprague (guitar, arrangements), Tripp Sprague (tenor sax), John Opferkuch (piano), Justin Grinnell (bass), Duncan Moore (drums)
Released Aug. 1, 2023
2023 Francis Parker Summer Jazz Workshop, High School Week
Closing Ceremony
Faculty: Chaz Cabrera (director), Derek Cannon, Tommy Collins, Danny Green, Justin Grinnell, Melonie Grinnell, Leonard Patton, Claire Tongpalad (assistant director), Ian Tordella, David Whitman (not pictured)
July 29, 2023 @ Francis Parker School, San Diego, CA
[Photo by Nathan Jarrell]
Danny Green Trio performance followed by Louis Valenzuela's "ElectricLouieLand SDRealbook SpeakEasy Jam Session" [full livestream]
Danny Green (piano), Justin Grinnell (bass), Julien Cantelm (drums)
July 24, 2023 @ Modbom - Acid Vault, San Diego, CA
2023 Francis Parker Summer Jazz Workshop, Middle School Week
Bass Break Out Session
Back row, 2nd from right: Justin Grinnell (faculty)
July 14, 2023 @ Francis Parker School, San Diego, CA
[Photo by Leonard Patton]
Curtis Taylor Quartet
Curtis Taylor (trumpet), Melonie Grinnell (piano), Justin Grinnell (bass), Richard Sellers (drums)
July 2, 2023 @ Tio Leo's, San Diego, CA
San Diego Bass Fest 2023, Faculty Recital
L>R: Aaron Blick, P.J. Cinque, Ryan Baird, Justin Grinnell, Sayuri Yamamoto
June 23, 2023 @ San Diego State University, San Diego, CA
[Photo by Chia-Ling Chien]
Peter Sprague Quintet
L>R: John Opferkuch (piano), Justin Grinnell (bass), Duncan Moore (drums), Tripp Sprague (tenor sax), Peter Sprague (guitar)
May 28, 2023 @ Tio Leo's, San Diego, CA
[Photo by Cheryl Crittenden]
Sacha Boutros Manouche Guitar Quartet [full concert/livestream]
Sacha Boutros (voice), Joe Amato (guitar), Rudy Marquez (guitar), Justin Grinnell (bass)
May 27, 2023 @ Private Home, San Diego, CA
"Live(ish) at SpragueLand Episode 33 - Peter Sprague Plays John Coltrane" [full concert/livestream]
Peter Sprague (guitar), Tripp Sprague (sax, flute), John Opferkuch (piano), Justin Grinnell (bass), Duncan Moore (drums)
May 24, 2023 @ Spragueland Studio, Encinitas, CA
David Borgo Quartet [whole concert]
David Borgo (tenor sax), Alan Eicher (piano), Justin Grinnell (bass), Julien Cantelm (drums)
May 7, 2023 @ Encinitas Library, Encinitas, CA
Danny Green Trio Performs "When Opportunity Knocks"
Wu Tsai QRT.yrd Concert Series
Presented by La Jolla Music Society
Apr. 25, 2023 @ Conrad Prebys Performing Arts Center, La Jolla, CA
Danny Green (piano), Justin Grinnell (bass), Julien Cantelm (drums)
[Watch more video of this concert on Facebook: "Images Of A Different Place," "Katabasis," "Time Lapse To Fall," "When Opportunity Knocks"]
"Live(ish) at SpragueLand Episode 32 - Peter Sprague Plays The Beatles" [full concert/livestream]
Peter Sprague (guitar), Allison Adams Tucker (voice), Tripp Sprague (sax, flute), John Opferkuch (piano), Justin Grinnell (bass), Duncan Moore (drums)
Apr. 6, 2023 @ Spragueland Studio, Encinitas, CA
Peter Sprague Album Release - So Far Away: Peter Sprague Plays Carole King
Peter Sprague (guitar), Pamela Pendrell (vocals), Tripp Sprague (sax, flute, harmonica), Beth Ross Buckley (flute), Danny Green (piano), Justin Grinnell (bass), Duncan Moore (drums)
Released Apr. 1, 2023
[Listen to the album on Spotify or YouTube]
[Watch the original livestream on YouTube: Live(ish) at Spragueland, Episode 29]
"So Far Away - Peter Sprague Plays Carole King," by Peter Sprague, petersprague.com (April 2023)
Today we take a spin through the sonic atmosphere that songwriter Carole King created. ... The blend of her folk style with some jazz harmony included really touched me. ... We’ve got her hits, including "You Make Me Feel Like a Natural Woman," "I Feel the Earth Move," and "It’s Too Late" plus a few songs that I recently discovered. All of the tunes take on a new hue with my jazzification tendencies. ... Thanks in advance for listening to our take on Carole’s classics ...
LP And The Vinyl performs "Everybody Wants To Rule The World"
Leonard Patton (voice), Danny Green (piano), Justin Grinnell (bass), Julien Cantelm (drums)
Mar. 4, 2023 @ ASU Kerr Cultural Center, Scottsdale, AZ
[Listen to LP And The Vinyl perform "I Can't Help It"]
[Listen to LP And The Vinyl perform "The Lonely Band"]
LP And The Vinyl
Leonard Patton (voice), Danny Green (piano), Justin Grinnell (bass), Julien Cantelm (drums)
Mar. 1, 2023 @ Flickinger Center For Performing Arts, Alamogordo, NM
[Photo by Alan Higgins]
Jonathan Karrant "Reimagined: Soulful Hits of the 70s"
Jonathan Karrant (voice), Joshua White (piano), Justin Grinnell (bass), Julien Cantelm (drums)
Feb. 26, 2023 @ Old Town Temecula Community Theater, Temecula, CA
[Photo by Angie Clement-Cromwell]
Camarada Presents Sacha Boutros "From Paris With Love"
Sacha Boutros (voice), Beth Ross Buckley (flute), David Buckley (violin), Joe Amato (guitar), Jon Garner (guitar), Justin Grinnell (bass)
Feb. 25, 2023 @ Bread & Salt, San Diego, CA
[Watch the entire unedited concert on Facebook]
"Camarada's Little Bit of Paris in Barrio Logan" by Ken Hernan, San Diego Story (Feb. 28, 2023)
Conjuring the atmosphere of Parisian cabaret in Barrio Logan on Saturday, Camarada offered its entertaining program "From Paris, with Love." Artistic Director Beth Ross Buckley sagely brought in vocalist Sacha Boutros and her band to give the vocal repertory center stage, while she and violinist David Buckley added welcome obbligatos to some of the songs. ... Boutros' instrumentalists provided plush but propulsive textures that buoyed the vocalist, always immaculately tailored to her mood. ... bassist Justin Grinnell provided unusually inventive support. ... The band — Garner, Amato, and Grinnell — gave a rousing instrumental interpretation of "Minor Swing" ... They should have played more!
Leonard Patton's Annual Valentine's Tribute To Louis & Ella (show 6 of 6)
Leonard Patton (voice), Teryn Ré (voice), Jason Hanna (trumpet), Ed Kornhauser (piano), Justin Grinnell (bass), Duncan Moore (drums)
Feb 18, 2023 @ The Jazz Lounge, San Diego, CA
Leonard Patton's Annual Valentine's Tribute To Louis & Ella (show 4 of 6)
Leonard Patton (voice), Cobby Brzeski (voice), Steve Dillard (trumpet), Ed Kornhauser (piano), Justin Grinnell (bass), Duncan Moore (drums)
Feb 16, 2023 @ The Jazz Lounge, San Diego, CA
Leonard Patton's Annual Valentine's Tribute To Louis & Ella (show 2 of 6)
Leonard Patton (voice), Cathy Segal-Garcia (voice), Steve Dillard (trumpet), Ed Kornhauser (piano), Justin Grinnell (bass), Duncan Moore (drums)
Feb 14, 2023 @ The Jazz Lounge, San Diego, CA
Danny Green Trio Performs "A Day In The Life"
Danny Green (piano, arrangement), Justin Grinnell (bass), Julien Cantelm (drums)
Jan. 27, 2023 @ Casa Romantica Cultural Center and Gardens, San Clemente, CA
Tyson Fok Interviews Justin Grinnell
On Episode 16 of Tyson Fok's podcast, What The Hell Is Water?, "Tyson chats with Justin about justice, waiting, and not sweating the technique!"
What The Hell Is Water?, Episode 16: "JUSTIN GRINNELL: WTH is ... letters put together?!"
Released Jan. 16, 2023
[Listen to What The Hell Is Water?, Episode 16, on Spotify]
Peter Sprague Album Release - Spinning In Infinity: Peter Sprague Plays Paul Simon
Peter Sprague (guitar, arrangements), Allison Adams Tucker (voice), Tripp Sprague (tenor sax, piano), Justin Grinnell (double bass, electric bass), Duncan Moore (drums), Lisa Hightower (voice on "You Can Call Me Al")
Released Jan. 4, 2023
Cynthia Hammond & The Smokin' Jays
L>R: Jim Storey (guitar), Jay Hearn (drums), Cynthia Hammond (voice), Justin Grinnell (bass)
2001-ish @ Juke Joint, San Diego, CA
RIP Jim Storey - My first steady gig was on Wednesday nights from Dec 2000 to Aug 2001 at the Juke Joint (4th Ave) with vocalist Cynthia Hammond. Cynthia's band was usually made up of guitarist Jim Storey, drummer Jay Hearn, and me on bass. At some point, we started referring to ourselves as Cynthia Hammond & The Smokin' Jays, but I don't think we ever advertised that name. While playing our steady gig, we also did a couple of shows at Dizzy's (7th Ave) and recorded a demo album. In 2000-2001, I was essentially a beginner jazz musician. I was reading every tune, even the most well-known standards, out of my fake book. I have fond memories of working with Jim. He was always encouraging and we laughed a lot during our breaks.
(JG, 2023/01/04)
Peter Sprague and the Tribute Rebels Perform "Sing Your Song" (Composed by Justin Grinnell)
Peter Sprague (guitar), Tripp Sprague (tenor sax), Danny Green (piano), Justin Grinnell (bass), Duncan Moore (drums)
Published Jan. 3, 2023
[Originally performed during "Live(ish) at SpragueLand Episode 26 Peter Sprague Plays Songs of Home" on Jan. 28, 2022]
Melonie Grinnell Trio
L>R: Justin Grinnell (bass), Melonie Grinnell (piano), D'Vonne Lewis (drums)
Jan. 1, 2023 @ The Historic Davenport Hotel, Spokane, WA
:: some 2022 highlights
David Borgo Album Release - Cautiously Optimistic
David Borgo (tenor saxophone), Peter Sprague (guitar), Alan Eicher (piano), Justin Grinnell (bass), Julien Cantelm (drums)
Released Dec. 14-25, 2022 (one video per day)
"A Pair From Saxophonist David Borgo," by Dan McClenaghan, allaboutjazz.com (June 2, 2023)
[David Borgo's Cautiously Optimistic] is a follow-up to Suite Of Uncommon Sorrows. It says "All may not be right with the world, post-pandemic, but things do seem to improve." ... "Roland With The Times" is irrepressible, tipping the hat to Rahsaan Roland Kirk, sounding as if the times are good indeed, with a fine and lively bass solo from Justin Grinnell. Bass solos can be ho-hum at times, but it is not so with Grinnell, and some credit goes to drummer Julien Cantelm and pianist Alan Eicher for their deft comping. ... The music, full of positive vibes, serves as hope for a better world.
Justin Grinnell Song Release
Justin Grinnell's song, "Letters Put Together," is now the theme song for Tyson Fok's podcast, "What The Hell Is Water?" The song features Paul Seaforth (trumpet), David Borgo (tenor sax), Melonie Grinnell (piano), Richard Sellers (drums) & Justin Grinnell (bass)
What The Hell Is Water?, Episode 4, Released Aug. 20, 2022
[Listen to the podcast on Spotify]
[Listen to the whole song on YouTube]
Peter Sprague Album Release - Day Tripper: Peter Sprague Plays The Beatles
Peter Sprague (guitar), Rebecca Jade (voice), Tripp Sprague (sax, flute, piano), Justin Grinnell (bass), & Duncan Moore (drums)
Released Sep. 1, 2022
[Listen to the album on Spotify and YouTube]
[Watch the original livestream on YouTube: Live(ish) at Spragueland, Episode 30]
[Nominated for a 2023 San Diego Music Award for "Best Jazz Album"]
The Beatles are one of my all-time favorite bands and I like to take their songs and warp them into my jazz point of view. ... I experiment ... and work at it until I get what feels fresh and new but still feeling like a Beatles tune. ... what good fortune I have to work with my favorite musos and my favorite Rebecca Jade on vocals. [petersprague.com]