Jim Grantham Jazz Quartet

If you like fine jazz, brimming with spirit, creativity, energy, taste, and exceptional musicianship, you'll definitely enjoy the Jim Grantham Jazz Quartet. This group, comprised of top San Francisco Bay Area veteran musicians, plays contemporary jazz in a wide variety of styles and moods. The group features many original compositions as well as great jazz standards from composers such as John Coltrane, Keith Jarrett, Chick Corea, Russ Ferrante. While the band is best heard in concert type venues, they are also available for clubs and parties.

Jim Grantham, saxophone stylist, bandleader and composer, plays tenor, soprano saxes and flute. Jim's music springs from the tradition of melodic lyricism--;Lester Young, Dexter Gordon, Stan Getz, Miles Davis, Wayne Shorter. He has performed with many fine musicians including Bobby McFerrin, George Cables, Eddie Moore, Mark Isham, Ed Kelly, Frank Tusa. He has recorded with Jessica Williams and Eddie Henderson. He is also a well-known jazz educator, and has authored a popular, in-depth text on jazz improvisation.

Paul Nagle, jazz pianist, brings a special sensitivity to the group. His playing, reminiscent of Keith Jarrett, is soulful and creative. A true jazz musician who plays in the moment and listens! He has performed with Bobby Hutcherson, Dave Liebman, Sonny Stitt, Hadley Caliman, Eddie Harris, Eddie Moore, Robben Ford, Richie Cole, Manny Boyd, and Eddie Marshall among many others. He has been a mainstay with Bobby McFerrin since 1982. He can be heard on many albums and has performed at various festivals including, S.F. Monterey, North Sea, Istanbul, Madrid, and Vienna.

David Rokeach, drummer extraordinaire, is a talent of many dimensions. He is known for his excellent time feel and insightful interpretations of many styles of music. His unbelievable list of credits include performances wth Ray Charles, Aaron Neville, Patti Labelle, Lou Rawls, Maria Muldar, Doc Severinson, Joe Henderson, Mark Murphy, Charles Brown, Bud Shank, and many, many others including most of the Bay Area's top jazz artists.

John Shifflett, jazz bassist, is in demand by many of the best Bay Area musicians. With a great sound and inventive, grooving basslines, he contributes a unique and powerful inner structure to the ensemble. While he has toured with Frankie Avalon, Barnum and Bailey Circus, and the San Jose Civic Light Opera, his first love is jazz. He has played with Bobby Hutcherson, Harold Land, Tom Harrell, Red Holloway, saxist Bill Evans among many others. He is heard on many albums including Peter Apfelbaum, Ann Dyer, Full Faith and Credit, Daniel Zinn.

For information on and booking the Jim Grantham Jazz Quartet call NIGHTBIRD MUSIC at (510) 271-7904.