Song:Udon Waltz
Album:Vancouver '08
Drummer Jerry Granelli started out in the 60s as a sideman best known as a member of Vince Guaraldi's group. In the 70s he turned to teaching and his music took an experimental turn. Today he tours with his quartet V16. He was born Dec. 30, 1940 in San Francisco and his interest in the drums began when he got to hang out with Gene Krupa when he was 8 years old. He learned to play from Joe Morello from Dave Brubeck's band and then joined Vince Guaraldi's band in the early 60s. That is Granelli playing drums on A Charlie Brown Christmas. He left in 1965 to join Denny Zeitlin's trio along with bassist Charlie Haden. He also played sessions and toured Europe with The Grateful Dead in 1971. In the 70s Granelli turned to teaching first at the Naropa Institute in Boulder, CO and then at the Cornish in Seattle in the 80s. He was also part of guitarist Ralph Towner's trio along with bassist Gary Peacock. He started recording as a leader in the mid-80s and then moved to Halifax, NS to teach at the Halifax Conservatory. Since then Granelli has been part of the Halifax jazz scene and continues to tour with his band V16. Udon Waltz is from the CD Vancouver '08 and comes with a live DVD. You'll notice that Granelli doesn't actually play drums on this song but it does give you an idea of his style of jazz. Udon Waltz was written by guitarist Christian Kogel and the song features Kogel and Granelli's son J. Anthony Granelli on bass. Guitarist David Tronzo is the fourth member of the group. At 70 years of age, Jerry Granelli is still experimenting with the boundaries of jazz and doesn't seem to be slowing down at all. Here's Jerry Granelli V16 performing Udon Waltz in Vancouver 2008.
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