Artist description For the most part, I'm my own one-man show. I play all of my own instruments(about 10 of them)and produce everything at home (unless, of course I can find some breathing, carbon-based life forms who are up for the task in a recording studio -- haha). I've been playing saxophone and writing music for most of my life. I am also fairly proficient on guitar, bass, keyboards, drums, harmonica and even trumpet. I consider myself primarily a jazz artist. However, my compositions seem to encompass both jazz and rock/pop formats equally at different times, depending on where my mind is at the time. My music reflects this wide variety of styles and I am interested in growth, personally and musically. I have been featured on local San Diego television playing my jazz originals, and have also been played on 88.3 jazz radio (KSDS) in San Diego. In October 2000, I moved to Los Angeles, CA. Since moving to Los Angeles I have been involved in a variety of projects including audio engineering, studio session work and playing with various bands in the L.A. area. And of course, more composing and recording!

Music Style Jazz, Rock and Pop

Musical Influences In no particular order: Steely Dan, Brecker Brothers, Todd Rundgren, Wayne Shorter, The Beatles, Allen Holdsworth, Radiohead, John Coltrane, Yes, Jaco Pastorius, XTC, Stevie Wonder, Joni Mitchell etc., although I believe I have my own unique style. . .

Similar Artists A variety of artists: Michael Brecker, Kenny Garrett, Rush, David Sanborn, Yes, Wayne Shorter, Steely Dan, Todd Rundgren

Artist History I wanted to be the first artist ever to put out 2 self-produced CD's within the same year in two totally different genres -jazz and rock. With the release of my rock CD "Re-sounding", I will have accomplished just that. I play all of the instruments on "Re-sounding" and nearly all on my first jazz release "Explorations." My latest jazz release is entitled "Hodgepode Jazz Garage" and contains a variety of original jazz compositions: some where I play all of the instruments, some recorded with friends at Berklee (college of music in Boston), and three tunes recorded with Army musicians at the Presidio of San Francisco. "HPG" was released April 2001. My latest CD is a release of some of my rock/pop songs from "back in the day." It is entitled, "The Early Rock Daze (1987-1993)." I am an artist that believes diversity equals strength. My musical career began in earnest when I tried out for and made the Army Band fresh out of high school. I spent a total of 7 years there, touring the world, even playing for Presidents Bush(Sr.) and Clinton. In between tours with the Army Band, I had the opportunity to attend Berklee College of Music in Boston on a scholarship. This was an exciting time for me because I studied arranging and composing and got the chance to play with great musicians from around the world. For the past 4 years, I have been living in San Diego, CA playing in various bands and doing recording studio work. In October 2000 I moved to Los Angeles, CA. Since moving to Los Angeles I have been involved in a variety of projects including audio engineering, studio session work and playing with various bands in the L.A. area. And of course, more composing and recording!

Group Members Brian Grace

Instruments Tenor and alto saxophones, guitar, keyboards, bass, vocals, drum programming, trumpet, harmonica, flute

Albums (1) Explorations, released 1999 - [Jazz CD], (2) Re-sounding, released 2000 - [Rock/pop CD], (3) Hodgepodge Jazz Garage, released 2001 - [Jazz CD], (4) The Early Rock Daze (1987-1993), released 2002 - [Rock/pop CD]

Press Reviews Press review for "Explorations" CD: Talent in Motion Magazine - New York City, Volume 2, Issue 4 -- "Jazz has found a son with Brian Grace, San Diego's own musician extraordinaire. Grace has found his niche, his groove in many spaces and treasures of jazz and its palatial moods. Grace's style is silky smooth and sophisticated in all the right areas. His talents allow him to employ eight different musical instruments, but it is the saxophone that gives him the edge and the fire to create rich echoes of sound. The saxophone in the right hands becomes more than an instrument. It is Brian Grace's second voice which fills the wind with dreamscapes for the imagination. "I would like all my songs to be able to take the listener places," says Grace. I think subtleties are a very important part of a listening experience...once you stumble upon it, it can be a joyful thing. I want to surprise the listener as well as create something that is listenable." Sit back and relax ... Brian Grace and that other cool cat, Jazz are here to take you there.

Additional Info Brian Grace street photos--courtesy of Sandra Castillo. Special thanks to Lisa Meier for the CD covers of Explorations and Hodgepodge Jazz Garage.

Location Los Angeles, CA - USA

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