Album Release: David Borgo - Cycles
David Borgo (saxophones, compositions), Jason Shattil (piano), Justin Grinnell (bass), Tyler Kreutel (drums)
Released Apr. 5, 2025
[Listen to the album on Bandcamp]
San Diego Troubadour (CD Review)
"Peter Sprague: Estrada do Sol," by Jim Trageser
Published Apr. 1, 2025
:: [Sprague's] new recording ... is apparently Peter's first full album of straight-ahead Brazilian jazz - and every song but one is from the pen of Antonio Carlos Jobim. Joining Sprague is his brother Tripp, on reeds and flutes, and longtime cohorts Duncan Moore (drums), Danny Green (piano), and Justin Grinnell (bass). Beth Ross Buckley also contributes flute, while local vocalist Allison Adams Tucker fronts the project.
:: The band starts out with ... "Girl from Ipanema." ... It's a wonderfully original, swinging arrangement that presents an utterly fresh perspective on a classic tune.
:: "Agua De Beber" opens with Grinnell and Moore laying down the rhythm for a few bars before everyone else jumps in. Tucker scats a bar before jumping into the English lyrics. Green's extended solo halfway through the song is a stylish extrapolation of the theme, reworking it eight ways from Monday before he hands it off to Sprague on acoustic guitar - who takes that improvisation into even higher orbit before bringing it back to center. Grinnell and Tripp (tenor sax) then take equally imaginative solos before Tucker takes them all to the finish.
:: The album closes with an unlisted bonus Sprague original, "Saudade De Voce." ... the song begins with Sprague slowly picking out the lead while Green harmonizes behind him before they double on the theme with what sounds like Grinnell bowing the bass behind them. ... [the song] is just gorgeous. Which can also be said of the album as a whole.
Aubrey Johnson & Peter Sprague
L>R: Leonard Patton (voice, percussion), Danny Green (piano), Aubrey Johnson (voice),
Justin Grinnell (bass), Peter Sprague (guitar)
Mar. 11, 2025 @ The Jazz Lounge, San Diego, CA
Joshua White Trio
L>R: Justin Grinnell (bass), Joshua White (piano), Tyler Kreutel (drums)
Feb. 28, 2025 @ La Jolla Community Center, La Jolla, CA
[Photo by Lev Tsimring]
Grossmont College Faculty Jazz Quintet
L>R: Justin Grinnell (bass), Melonie Grinnell (piano), Tripp Sprague (tenor sax),
Derek Cannon (trumpet), Richard Sellers (drums)
Feb. 23, 2025 @ Tio Leo's Mexican Restaurant, San Diego, CA
16th Annual Brasil Jazz Festa
L>R: Danny Green (piano), Allison Adams Tucker (voice), Julien Cantelm (drums),
Claudia Villela (voice, piano), Mitchell Long (guitar), Justin Grinnell (bass)
Feb. 22, 2025 @ Dizzy's (Musicians Association), San Diego, CA
Album Release: Estrada Do Sol - Peter Sprague Plays Jobim
Featuring the music of Antonio Carlos Jobim with arrangements by Peter Sprague
Peter Sprague (guitar), Allison Adams Tucker (voice), Tripp Sprague (tenor sax, flute),
Beth Ross Buckley (flute), Danny Green (piano),
Justin Grinnell (bass), Duncan Moore (drums)
Released Feb. 19, 2025
[Listen to the album on Spotify]
Leonard Patton's Annual Valentine's Tribute To Louis & Ella
L>R: Ed Kornhauser (piano), Justin Grinnell (bass), Lia Booth (voice),
Duncan Moore (drums), Leonard Patton (voice), Clarence McDuffie III (trumpet)
Feb. 13, 2025 @ The Jazz Lounge, San Diego, CA
[Videos of concert on Facebook: La Vie En Rose, They Can't Take That Away From Me, They All Laughed, Cheek To Cheek, A Foggy Day]
Album Release: Hurricane Country - Peter Sprague Plays Grusin & Klugh
Featuring the music of Dave Grusin and Earl Klugh with arrangements by Peter Sprague
Peter Sprague (guitar), Tripp Sprague (tenor sax, flute), Danny Green (piano),
Justin Grinnell (bass), Duncan Moore (drums)
Released Feb. 9, 2025
[Recordings originally from Sep. 29, 2024 livestream concert - Live(ish) at SpragueLand Episode 37 Peter Sprague Plays Grusin & Klugh]
[Listen to the album on Spotify]
Jonathan Karrant Quartet
L>R: Joshua White (piano), Justin Grinnell (bass),
Jonathan Karrant (voice), Julien Cantelm (drums)
Jan. 31, 2025 @ Lou Lou's Jungle Room, San Diego, CA
[Photo by Judith Rose]
Video Releases: Bill Yeager Jazz Orchestra "Plays The Music Of Wayne Shorter"
Director - Bill Yeager; Saxophones - Chaz Cabrera, Christopher Hollyday, Brian Levy, Bradley Nash, Tim Nunnink, Dylan Soto; Trumpets - Jeff Beck, Derek Cannon, Billy Edwall, Karl Soukup, Brad Steinwehe; Trombones - Kevin Esposito, Matt Hall, Jordan Morita, Alex Panos; Rhythm Section - Louis Valenzuela (guitar), Chris Potente (vibraphone), Melonie Grinnell (piano), Justin Grinnell (bass), David Whitman (drums)
Released on YouTube Jan. 27, 2025
[Performance from Oct. 21, 2023 concert at San Diego State University, San Diego, CA]
Joshua White Quintet "Tribute to John Coltrane's A Love Supreme"
L>R: Joshua White (piano), Justin Grinnell (bass), David Borgo (tenor sax),
Brian Levy (tenor sax); not visible: Tyler Kreutel (drums)
Jan. 16, 2025 @ The Jazz Lounge, San Diego, CA
[Facebook Video by Reuven Rubinson - Joshua White Quintet "Moment's Notice"]
Video Release: Peter Sprague Plays "Spain"
Peter Sprague (guitar), Tripp Sprague (flute), Danny Green (piano),
Justin Grinnell (bass), Duncan Moore (drums)
Released on YouTube Jan. 16, 2025
[Performance from Dec. 21, 2021 livestream concert - Live(ish) at SpragueLand Episode 25 Peter Sprague Plays The Holidays]
LP And The Vinyl
L>R: Danny Green (piano), Leonard Patton (voice), Justin Grinnell (bass), Julien Cantelm (drums)
Jan. 15, 2025 @ Rancho Mirage Library, Rancho Mirage, CA
[View full concert livestream on YouTube]
Video Release: Peter Sprague Plays "Pillow"
Peter Sprague (guitar), Tripp Sprague (flute), Danny Green (piano),
Justin Grinnell (bass), Duncan Moore (drums)
Released on YouTube Jan. 6, 2025
[Performance from Jan. 28, 2022 livestream concert - Live(ish) at SpragueLand Episode 26 Peter Sprague Plays Songs of Home]
:: some 2024 highlights
Shunzo Ohno Sextet
L>R: Zo Shah (guitar), David Borgo (tenor sax), Alan Eicher (piano),
Shunzo Ohno (trumpet), Yako Eicher (voice, special guest),
Julien Cantelm (drums), Justin Grinnell (bass)
Oct. 20, 2024 @ Lou Lou's, San Diego, CA
[Watch the first set on YouTube]
Joshua White Quartet Performs "Let's Cool One"
Daniel Rotem (tenor sax), Joshua White (piano),
Justin Grinnell (bass), Tina Raymond (drums)
July 18, 2024 @ The Jazz Lounge, San Diego, CA
[Video by Reuven Rubinson]
Leonard Patton Group Featuring Curtis Taylor Perform "Ocean"
Leonard Patton (voice), Curtis Taylor (trumpet), Melonie Grinnell (piano),
Justin Grinnell (bass), Tyler Kreutel (drums)
July 5, 2024 @ The Jazz Lounge, San Diego, CA
[Video by Reuven Rubinson]
[More videos on Facebook by Reuven Rubinson: "Moment of Truth" and "After The Rain"]
San Diego Jazz Piano All-Stars, Presented by La Jolla Music Society
L>R: Mike Wofford (piano), Bobby Cressey (piano), Kat Shoemaker (piano),
Melonie Grinnell (piano), Justin Grinnell (bass), Julien Cantelm (drums)
Apr. 17, 2024 @ The Conrad, La Jolla, CA
[Photo by Bao Ho Photography]
[Listen to Melonie Grinnell's three-song set on YouTube]
Jazz at Tio Leo's: San Diego Jazz Artists Celebrate The Life & Music Of Guitarist Bob Boss
Video above features Gilbert Castellanos (trumpet), Louis Valenzuela (guitar), Mikan Zlatkovich (piano), Justin Grinnell (bass), Jim Plank (drums)
March 24, 2024 @ Tio Leo's, San Diego, CA
[Video by Irina Shageryan]