Artist:Grant Geissman
Song:Cuba Libre
Album:Take Another Look
Jazz guitarist Grant Geissman first came to the public's attention when he played the guitar solo on Chuck Mangione's 1977 hit single Feels So Good. Since then he has recorded as a leader, sideman and studio musician. He plays acoustic guitar which is popular with guitar geeks. He was born Apr. 13, 1953 in Berkeley, CA and he grew up in San Jose. He started taking guitar lessons from local musicians and they all told him the same thing. Learn to play jazz and he will be able to play anything. So he learned jazz from guitarist Jerry Hahn who was in John Handy's band. After graduating from high school, Geissman attended De Anza College. Herb Patnoe was director of Stan Kenton's Jazz Clinics. He placed Geissman in that band. That's where he met his long time buddy drummer Peter Erskine. Geissman moved to Los Angeles to continue school. But he wanted to get into the Hollywood studio scene. Geissman played in big bands led by Gerald Wilson and Louie Bellson. Then he joined flugelhornist Chuck Mangione's band and that's when he played the solo on Feels So Good. Geissman recorded his first album as a leader in 1978. And he left Mangione's band in 1981. Since then he has recorded mostly for Bluemoon/Mesa Records. Geissman currently records for his own label distributed by Bluemoon. Cuba Libre is from the 1991 album Take Another Look. Geissman wrote most of the songs including Cuba Libre which he wrote with pianist Emil Palame who was in his 90s band. The rest of the band is Jimmy Johnson on bass, Tom Walsh on drums and Brad Dutz on percussion. There are horns and strings on a couple of tracks. Pianist David Benoit guests on one song. Geissman is a Los Angeles session musician. He composed the themes for the TV shows Monk and Two and a Half Men. His latest album Blooz was released in 2022. He doesn't appear to be on tour right now. He could be recording a new album. Here is Grant Geissman with Al Williams on sax, Emil Palame on piano, Stan Sarget on bass and Tom Walsh on drums performing Cuba Libre. It doesn't give a date or location. But I think this is Geisman's 90s band.
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