David Grisman

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David Grisman
David-Grisman.jpg
Grisman in 2006
Background information
Also known as"Dawg"
Born (1945-03-23) March 23, 1945 (age 79)
Hackensack, New Jersey, U.S.
Genres
Occupation(s)Musician, composer, record producer, label owner
Instrument(s) Mandolin, Mandola, Mandocello, Piano, Saxophone, Vocals
Years active1963–present
LabelsKaleidoscope, Horizon, Warner Bros., Rounder, Acoustic Disc
Website dawgnet.com

David Jay Grisman [1] (born March 23, 1945) is an American mandolinist. His music combines bluegrass, folk, and jazz in a genre he calls "Dawg music". He founded the record label Acoustic Disc, which issues his recordings and those of other acoustic musicians. He was inducted into the International Bluegrass Music Hall of Fame in 2023. [2]

Contents

Biography

Grisman grew up in a Conservative Jewish household [3] in Passaic, New Jersey. [4] His father was a professional trombonist who gave him piano lessons when he was seven years old. As a teenager, he played piano, mandolin, and saxophone. [5]

In the early 1960s, he attended New York University. He belonged to the Even Dozen Jug Band with Maria Muldaur and John Sebastian. He played in the bluegrass band the Kentuckians led by Red Allen, then in the psychedelic rock band Earth Opera with Peter Rowan. He moved to San Francisco, met Jerry Garcia, and appeared on the Grateful Dead album American Beauty. [5] He played in Garcia's bluegrass band Old & In the Way with Peter Rowan and Vassar Clements. [5] [6] When Grisman was 17 years old, he was invited on stage by Doc Watson to join him on mandolin for a rendition of “In the Pines”. [7]

Garcia named him "Dawg" after a dog that was following him while they were driving in Stinson Beach, California. [8] "Dawg Music" is what Grisman calls his mixture of bluegrass and Django Reinhardt/Stéphane Grappelli-influenced jazz [9] as highlighted on his album Hot Dawg (recorded Oct. 1978, released 1979). [10] It was Grisman's combination of Reinhardt-era jazz, bluegrass, folk, Old World Mediterranean string band music, as well as modern jazz fusion that came to embody "Dawg" music. [11]

The David Grisman Bluegrass Experience performs at DelFest on May 30, 2010. DGBX Delfest 2010.jpg
The David Grisman Bluegrass Experience performs at DelFest on May 30, 2010.

In the 1970s, he started the David Grisman Quintet with Darol Anger, Joe Carroll, Todd Phillips, and Tony Rice. They released their eponymous first album in 1977 for Kaleidoscope Records and their second, Hot Dawg, two years later for Horizon Records, the jazz division of A&M Records. When the quintet recorded for Warner Bros. Records, the membership changed to include Mike Marshall, Mark O'Connor, and Rob Wasserman, with occasional guest appearances by jazz violinist Stéphane Grappelli. [5]

In the 1980s, Grisman formed the record label Acoustic Disc, which issued his recordings and those by other acoustic musicians. [12] The folk and bluegrass part of his personality emerged when he recorded with Mark O'Connor, Tony Rice, and Andy Statman. [5]

Family

Grisman is married to Tracy Bigelow and was married twice before. [13] He has three grown children: Samson, Gillian, and Monroe. Samson, a bassist and recording session musician living in Portland, often performs with his father. [14] [13] Gillian, a filmmaker living in Novato, California, directed Grateful Dawg and the music documentary, Village Music: Last of the Great Record Stores. [15]

Monroe Grisman, named for bluegrass music pioneer Bill Monroe, lives in Fairfax, California, and plays in the Tom Petty tribute band Petty Theft. [13]

Mandolin Symposium Aug 2004 Backstage with John Paul Jones, David Grisman, Monroe Grisman, Chris Thile, and Mike Marshall Mandolin Symposium Aug 2004 Backstage John Paul Jones David Grisman Monroe Grisman Chris Thile Mike Marshall.jpg
Mandolin Symposium Aug 2004 Backstage with John Paul Jones, David Grisman, Monroe Grisman, Chris Thile, and Mike Marshall

In media

David Grisman, Chris Thile and Enrique Coria at the Grey Fox Bluegrass Festival in 1998

Grisman's song "Dawggy Mountain Breakdown" was the opening theme song for Car Talk on NPR. [16]

Grisman sued YouTube in May 2007, asserting in federal court that YouTube should be required to prevent individuals from illegally uploading recordings of his music. [17] Grisman's attorneys requested voluntary dismissal of the suit. [18]

The documentary Grateful Dawg (October 14, 2001) chronicles the friendship between Jerry Garcia and David Grisman. [19]

Grisman was a judge for the 6th and 7th annual Independent Music Awards to support independent artists. [20]

He wrote much of the bluegrass music for the 1974 film Big Bad Mama directed by Roger Corman. It was played by the Great American Music Band, and they were recorded and mixed by Bill Wolf. [21]

Discography

Acoustic Disc

Acoustic Disc
Founded1990 (1990)
FounderDavid Grisman
Genre Jazz, folk, bluegrass
Country of originU.S.
LocationSan Rafael, California
Official website acousticdisc.com

Acoustic Disc is an independent record label founded by Grisman in 1990. [12] The label is based in San Rafael, California, and specializes in bluegrass, folk, jazz, and Dawg music.

Related Research Articles

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David Anthony Rice was an American bluegrass guitarist. He was an influential acoustic guitar player in bluegrass, progressive bluegrass, newgrass and acoustic jazz. He was inducted into the International Bluegrass Music Hall of Fame in 2013.

<i>The David Grisman Quintet</i> (album) 1977 studio album by David Grisman Quintet

The David Grisman Quintet is the debut album by the David Grisman Quintet, recorded in 1976 and released in 1977.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mike Marshall (musician)</span> Musical artist

Mike Marshall is a mandolinist who has collaborated with David Grisman and Darol Anger.

Rob Wasserman was an American composer and bass player. A Grammy Award and NEA grant winner, he played and recorded with a wide variety of musicians including Bob Weir, Bruce Cockburn, Elvis Costello, Ani di Franco, Jerry Garcia, David Grisman, Stéphane Grappelli, Rickie Lee Jones, Van Morrison, Steve Morse, Aaron Neville, Lou Reed, Pete Seeger, Jules Shear, Brian Wilson, Chris Whitley, Neil Young, Jackson Browne, Laurie Anderson, Stephen Perkins, Banyan, Mystic Knights of the Oingo Boingo, and Ratdog.

<i>The Pizza Tapes</i> 2000 studio album by Jerry Garcia, David Grisman, Tony Rice

The Pizza Tapes is an album by Jerry Garcia, David Grisman (mandolin), and Tony Rice. It was recorded at Grisman's studio on two evenings in 1993, and features unrehearsed performances of folk and bluegrass songs. It was released on the Acoustic Disc label on April 25, 2000.

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Joe Craven</span> American musician and educator

Joe Craven is an American freestyle folk, world and roots music multi-instrumentalist, singer and educator. He is the Director of RiverTunes Music Camp and a Co-Director of the Wintergrass Youth Academy. He plays a wide variety of string instruments, including fiddle, mandolin, ukulele, tres, cavaquinho, balalaika, as well as percussion, including a pickling jar, a credit card, or a jawbone. Craven is a well known sight at acoustic music festivals and, for many years, was violinist and percussionist for the David Grisman Quintet. Craven lists some of his influences being Jimi Hendrix, dumpster diving, Hermeto Pascoal, thrift stores, Frank Zappa, educator and aesthetician John Dewey, beachcombing, Carl Stalling, Eddie Palmieri, field recordings, Tiny Moore, Los Pleneros De Viente Uno, Darol Anger and The Horseflies.

<i>Jerry Garcia / David Grisman</i> 1991 studio album by Jerry Garcia and David Grisman

Jerry Garcia / David Grisman is an album of folk music by Jerry Garcia and David Grisman. It was the second album released under Grisman's record label Acoustic Disc.

<i>Grateful Dawg</i> (soundtrack) 2001 soundtrack album by Jerry Garcia and David Grisman

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Andy Statman</span> American musician

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">David Grisman discography</span>

David Grisman has issued albums with his groups the David Grisman Quintet and Old & In the Way, performed in duos with Jerry Garcia, Andy Statman, Martin Taylor, Hazel Dickens and Alice Gerrard, John Sebastian, Tony Rice, and played in the psychedelic band Earth Opera with Peter Rowan. He has produced solo albums and collaborated with musicians in many genres.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">David Grisman Quintet</span> American bluegrass/jazz band

The David Grisman Quintet is a self-styled alternative bluegrass/acoustic jazz band founded by David Grisman in 1975 in San Francisco, California, US. The quintet draws from genres including Bill Monroe's bluegrass legacy and Django Reinhard's 1930s swing. Since its formation, the Quintet's members have included guitarist Tony Rice and multiinstrumentalists Mark O'Connor, Mike Marshall, Darol Anger and Jon Sholle. The Quintet has performed and recorded with guests such as violinist Stephane Grapelli, and remains active. The National Public Radio program Car Talk uses the band's instrumental "Dawggy Mountain Breakdown" as its theme music.

<i>Dawg 90</i> 1990 studio album by David Grisman Quintet

Dawg '90 is an all-instrumental album by American musician David Grisman, recorded with his group David Grisman Quintet in 1990. It is the first album released by Grisman's own label, Acoustic Disc.

<i>Dawgwood</i> 1993 studio album by David Grisman Quintet

Dawgwood is a 1993 all-instrumental album by American musician David Grisman, recorded with his group David Grisman Quintet. It is the second album recorded under Grisman's own label, Acoustic Disc. Grisman's self-named "Dawg" music was well established when this album was recorded — it is influenced by traditional bluegrass, jazz, gypsy music, Latin and more. Most of the songs are composed by Grisman, the two covers being Django Reinhardt's "Bolero de Django" — a gypsy song which Matt Eakle's flute gives a more modern flavour and "Asanhado" by Jacob do Bandolim. The last piece on the album, "New Dawg´s Rag" is a song previously released on album The David Grisman Quintet, but with "updated" arrangement.

<i>DGQ-20</i> 1996 compilation album by David Grisman Quintet

DGQ-20 is a 1996 compilation album by American musician David Grisman, recorded with his group David Grisman Quintet. Spanning the period from 1976 to 1996, this triple-CD set offers 39 songs, 18 of which were not released by Grisman before. Musicians include Tony Rice, Béla Fleck, Sam Bush, Mark O'Connor, Stephane Grappelli and others.

<i>Live at the Boarding House: The Complete Shows</i> 2013 live album by Old & In the Way

Live at the Boarding House: The Complete Shows is a four-CD live album by the bluegrass band Old & In the Way. It was recorded on October 1 and October 8, 1973, at the Boarding House in San Francisco, and contains the complete concerts from those dates. It was released by Acoustic Disc and Acoustic Oasis on October 1, 2013. The album includes 55 tracks, 14 of which were previously unreleased.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jerry Garcia discography</span>

Jerry Garcia was an American musician. A guitarist, singer, and songwriter, he became famous as a member of the rock band the Grateful Dead, from 1965 to 1995. When not touring or recording with the Dead, Garcia was often playing music in other bands and with other musicians.

Grant Gordy is an American guitarist and educator based in New York City. He played in the David Grisman Quintet and he is currently a member of Mr Sun with Darol Anger, Joe K. Walsh and Aidan O’Donnell.

References

  1. ↑ "Bluegrass at the Beach". American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers. Retrieved April 26, 2023.
  2. ↑ "IBMA Announces 34th Annual Awards Nominees and Recipients". The Bluegrass Situation. July 19, 2023. Retrieved July 22, 2023.
  3. ↑ Berkofsky, Joseph (June 16, 1995). "Mandolin-Playing Duo Plucks Tunes from Jewish Past" Archived August 10, 2014, at the Wayback Machine , J. The Jewish News of Northern California ; retrieved March 31, 2012.
  4. ↑ "Andy Statman - National Heritage Fellow". www.nyfolklore.org. Archived from the original on January 18, 2018. Retrieved May 3, 2018.
  5. 1 2 3 4 5 Ginell, Richard S. "David Grisman". AllMusic. Retrieved May 3, 2018.
  6. ↑ Erlewine, Stephen Thomas. "Old & In the Way". AllMusic. Retrieved May 3, 2018.
  7. ↑ Hatfield, Stephen. ""Review: Doc & Dawg" (September–October 1997)". No Depression . Archived from the original on October 3, 2012.
  8. ↑ Hislop, Christopher (February 18, 2010). "The innovative David Grisman Quintet plays Portsmouth". SeacoastOnline. Dow Jones Local Media Group. Archived from the original on February 20, 2010. Retrieved February 18, 2010.
  9. ↑ Live in San Francisco Stephane Grapelli on YouTube, with special guest star David Grisman and his band (1982).
  10. ↑ Horizon SP-731 LP Jacket
  11. ↑ Quill, Greg, "Beyond the Pale, Creaking Trees build on common ground", Toronto Daily Star, February 10, 2005.
  12. 1 2 Hitchcock, Paul (August 13, 2020). "David Grisman". www.wmky.org. Retrieved May 3, 2021.
  13. 1 2 3 Dan Taylor (March 4, 2015). "Petaluma's David Grisman gets back on road". The Press Democrat. Petaluma. Archived from the original on March 7, 2015. Retrieved March 5, 2015.
  14. ↑ "String master David Grisman to perform with latest edition of his bluegrass-fusion quintet". The Mercury News. December 16, 2009. Retrieved May 3, 2021.
  15. ↑ Whiting, Sam (October 7, 2012). "Gillian Grisman's film 'Village Music'". SF Gate. Archived from the original on February 19, 2015. Retrieved February 19, 2015.
  16. ↑ "Car Talk: Music on the Show". cartalk.com. Archived from the original on March 26, 2016. Retrieved March 17, 2016.
  17. ↑ "YouTube hit with another lawsuit". Contra Costa Times. May 15, 2007. Archived from the original on May 17, 2007. Retrieved December 22, 2012.
  18. ↑ Steve Bryant (August 6, 2008). "YouTube Lawsuits: A Roundup — Online Video News". Gigaom.com. Archived from the original on June 4, 2012. Retrieved June 2, 2012.
  19. ↑ Sullivan, James (October 2, 2001). "Dawg days / David Grisman's daughter makes film about his bluegrass partnership with Garcia". SF Gate. Archived from the original on February 19, 2015. Retrieved February 19, 2015.
  20. ↑ "Past Judges". Independent Music Awards. Archived from the original on July 13, 2011. Retrieved June 6, 2012.
  21. ↑ Big Bad Mama entry in The Compleat Grateful Dead Discography Archived June 13, 2015, at the Wayback Machine
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