JUSTIN GRINNELL is a San Diego-based freelance jazz bassist and music educator.
Justin frequently performs with his own groups and as a sideman. He can be heard performing his compositions and arrangements on his 2013 album, Without You. The album features Justin alongside Los Angeles-based tenor saxophonist Robby Marshall, pianist Josh Nelson, and drummer Dan Schnelle.
Justin is also a member of the Danny Green Trio, a piano-bass-drums 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 four albums: With You In Mind (2009), A Thousand Ways Home (2012), After The Calm (2014), and Altered Narratives (2016). Altered Narratives remained in the top 50 on the Jazz Week radio charts for 14 weeks and has been nominated for “Best Jazz Album” at the 2017 San Diego Music Awards.
Although Justin is usually performing in familiar San Diego jazz hotspots, he is no stranger to San Diego's best-known theaters: the Civic Theatre, the Old Globe, Spreckels, and the La Jolla Playhouse. Justin has spent a lot of time at these venues as a pit orchestra member for a number of Tony Award-winning musicals, such as A Chorus Line, Avenue Q, The Drowsy Chaperone, Spamalot, Grease, and The Color Purple.
In addition to performing, Justin maintains an active teaching schedule as adjunct faculty at Grossmont College, University of San Diego, and as faculty for the Jazz 88.3-House of Blues-Francis Parker Annual Summer Jazz Workshop. He also frequently serves as an adjudicator and clinician at local jazz festivals.
Justin received his Bachelor's and Master's Degrees in Jazz Performance from San Diego State University and is near completion of his doctoral studies at the University of Southern California. Besides studying privately with Los Angeles' first-call jazz bassist, Darek Oles, Justin's enrollment at USC has given him the opportunity to study with internationally-recognized jazz artists Peter Erskine, Russ Ferrante, Bob Mintzer, and Alan Pasqua.
Justin Grinnell is a member of the San Diego Music Union, American Federation of Musicians, Local 325.