Guitarist Grant Gardner is emerging as one of the more original voices on the New York guitar scene. Drawing inspiration from an array of guitarists including Jeff Beck, Wes Montgomery, Bill Frisell, John McLaughlin, and Pat Metheny, Grant’s music is firmly rooted in the jazz tradition, but draws on many outside influences.

Grant was blessed to study with many great guitarists over the years including Mimi Fox, Mick Goodrick, Steve Homan, Wayne Krantz, and Tim Miller. Most recently, Grant completed a Master’s degree studying with one of his all-time heroes, Vic Juris. Since moving to New York City Grant has had the privilege of performing with Johnathan Blake, Ralph Bowen, Chris Brown (Roy Hargrove), Jaimeo Brown, Stanley Cowell, Alex Hernandez (Bobby Sanabria), Conrad Herwig, Jerome Jennings, Rudy Royston (Bill Frisell), and Zen Zadravec (Gloria Gaynor), amongst others. Grant has performed at the Monterey Jazz Festival, Lincoln Center, and most recently, the Blue Note. He also plays regularly in a jazz duo with fellow guitarist Seth Johnson.

Besides jazz and guitar-based music, Grant also maintains an active interest in New Music and is excited to have performed Schnittke’s Requiem with the Riverside Choral Society, presented the music of Mary Poppins (with laptop and electronics), and collaborated with vocalist/composer Anne Hege (live electronic vocal processing), in the recent past.

Outside of the guitar, Grant has also begun commercial composing, starting with a project for Pearson Learning Solutions, as well as continuing to compose works for jazz orchestra, voice(s), and chamber jazz orchestrations. As an educator, Grant has taught for the National Guitar Workshop and the Great Books Summer Program. He has also extensively researched and written about the life and music of the late, great, Jimmy Giuffre.