JUSTIN GRINNELL is a San Diego-based freelance jazz bassist and music educator. More importantly, he is a husband to pianist/educator Melonie Grinnell and father to their two sons.
Justin frequently performs with his own groups and as a sideman. He is often performing with San Diego's most respected jazz artists, including Holly Hofmann, Christopher Hollyday, Duncan Moore, Jim Plank, Richard Sellers, Peter Sprague, Tripp Sprague, Joshua White, Mike Wofford, and Mikan Zlatkovich.
Justin is a long-standing member of the Danny Green Trio (with pianist Danny Green and drummer Julien Cantelm), a melodic and nimble piano trio featuring Green's original compositions and his creative combination of Modern Jazz, Brazilian Jazz, and Classical influences. Since its inception in 2008, the trio has released five albums: With You In Mind (2009), A Thousand Ways Home (2012), After The Calm (2014), Altered Narratives (2016), and One Day It Will (2018).
Since 2015, the Danny Green Trio has teamed up with vocalist Leonard Patton to form LP And The Vinyl, a collaborative project reconstructing popular music ("from The Beatles to Bowie") with a jazz toolbox. The quartet released its debut album, Heard And Seen (Origin Records), in April 2020.
Justin can be heard performing his own compositions and arrangements on his 2013 debut album, Without You. The album features Justin on acoustic and electric bass alongside tenor saxophonist Robby Marshall, pianist Josh Nelson, and drummer Dan Schnelle.
In addition to performing, Justin maintains an active teaching schedule as adjunct faculty at University of San Diego and Grossmont College. He has also served as an adjudicator and clinician at local music festivals, such as the Coronado Jazz Festival and the San Diego Bass Fest.
Justin received his Bachelor's and Master's Degrees in Jazz Performance from San Diego State University while studying with bassists Gunnar Biggs and Bert Turetzky. Justin also achieved ABD (all but dissertation) status for a doctoral degree in Jazz Studies at the University of Southern California. Besides studying privately with Los Angeles' first-call jazz bassist, Darek Oles, Justin's enrollment at USC gave him the opportunity to study with internationally-recognized jazz artists Peter Erskine, Russ Ferrante, Bob Mintzer, and Alan Pasqua.
:: selected discography
ARC Trio
:: Triptych Mirror (2006)
David Borgo
:: Cycles (Apr 2025)
:: Cautiously Optimistic (Dec 2022)
Danny Green
:: One Day It Will (2018)
:: Altered Narratives (2016)
:: After the Calm (2014)
:: A Thousand Ways Home (2012)
:: With You In Mind (2009)
Justin Grinnell
:: Without You (Dec 2013)
Nathan Hubbard
:: Encinitas and Everything After (2014)
:: (compositions 1998-2005) (2006)
:: Skeleton Key Orchestra (2004)
Scott Kyle
:: Facing East (2007)
:: Full Circle (2005)
LP And The Vinyl
:: Heard And Seen (Apr 2020)
Dmitri Matheny
:: Sagebrush Rebellion (2014)
Ogd_S(11) Translation Has Failed
:: New Encinitas (2013)
:: This Middle Ground (2012)
:: Bring Back The Gasmask (2009)
:: if memory serves (2007)
Peter Sprague
:: Peter Sprague Plays Jobim (Feb 2025)
:: Peter Sprague Plays Grusin & Klugh (Feb 2025)
:: Peter Sprague Plays Coltrane (Aug 2023)
:: Peter Sprague Plays Carole King (Apr 2023)
:: Peter Sprague Plays Paul Simon (Jan 2023)
:: Peter Sprague Plays The Beatles (Sep 2022)
:: Peter Sprague Plays Pat Metheny, Vol. 1 & 2 (Mar 2022)
:: River (Feb 2022)
Brad Steinwehe Jazz Orchestra
:: On A Clear Day (2022)
:: Wgasa Jam (2013)
:: Nutville (2007)
Bill Yeager Jazz Orchestra
:: BYJO Plays the Music of Wayne Shorter (Jan 2025)
