Biography

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Danny Grissett is a pianist and composer of rare elegance, known for combining technical brilliance with a deep, soulful touch. A Los Angeles native, he has been a defining presence on the international jazz scene for over two decades. During his years in New York, he quickly became a first-call sideman, performing with jazz luminaries such as Vincent Herring, Nicholas Payton, Jeremy Pelt, Benny Golson, Russell Malone, and Vanessa Rubin. His long-standing collaboration with legendary trumpeter Tom Harrell spanned more than fifteen years and included contributions to seven of Harrell’s last thirteen albums. Grissett’s collaborations and recordings have solidified his reputation as a masterful interpreter and improviser, effortlessly blending modern innovation with the depth of jazz tradition.
 

He launched his solo career in 2006 with Promise, his acclaimed debut on Criss Cross Jazz. Critics lauded the album, with All About Jazz calling it "one of the best maiden voyages that I have heard in years," and AllMusic praising his "effortless brilliance," recognizing him as "one of the top three young pianists on the contemporary scene."
 

Over the next decade, Grissett released six more recordings, balancing his trio projects with sideman work alongside jazz greats and contemporaries such as Louis Hayes, Lenny White, Buster Williams, Lage Lund, Marcus Strickland, and Jimmy Greene.
 

Now based in Vienna, Grissett continues to perform internationally while dedicating himself to jazz education. He has served as an adjunct faculty member at The New School in New York, a guest lecturer at the Eastman School of Music, and has led masterclasses worldwide, including in Japan, Italy, South Korea, Slovenia, the Netherlands, and Denmark. He is currently a professor at JAM Music Lab University in Vienna.
 

His 2017 album Remembrance, released on Savant Records, earned a 4-star review from DownBeat Magazine. His latest recording, Travelogue (Savant, 2025), has been hailed as a career highlight, praised by critics for its "melodic clarity," "impressionistic beauty," and "elegant balance of lyricism and precision." Across reviews from All About Jazz, The Jazz Word, and Jazz Weekly, Grissett’s trio is celebrated for its expressive interplay and refined compositional voice. With Travelogue, he reaffirms his standing as one of today’s most distinctive pianists and composers, bridging soulful warmth with sophisticated modern design.