Skip Grasso

skipgrasso.biz

Skip Grasso is a guitarist, composer, and educator based in Baltimore, Maryland. He has performed in a wide variety of musical settings, from solo guitar to big bands, throughout the Mid-Atlantic region. His 2021 release Jagged Spaces with the Grasso-Ravita Jazz Ensemble reached #31 on the JazzWeek chart. This recording of all original music featured four of his compositions including the title track. As a sideman, Skip recorded The Don Junker Big Band’s Junkyard Dog, and The Hank Levy Alumni Band’s An Odd-Time Was Had By All. He has performed with such artists as Randy Brecker and The Lakewood Jazz Ensemble Big Band, singer Ethel Ennis, and saxophonists Chris Vadala, and Claire Daley.

In 1986, Skip was awarded a B.S. in Jazz/Commercial Music from Towson State University and then received a Master of Music from the University of North Texas in 1997. He studied privately with guitarist Paul Bolleback and studied theory and ear training with Dr. Asher Zlotnik, whose teaching incorporated Joseph Schillinger’s compositional method. In 1996, at the suggestion of guitarist Mike Stern, Skip began studying with renowned jazz educator Charlie Banacos until his death in 2008. He has continued studying with pianist Garry Dial, the authorized teacher of the Banacos method.

Skip taught guitar as an adjunct professor at Mount Saint Mary’s University and has worked as a clinician for the Baltimore Jazz Education Project. He currently teaches privately. Skip also has two books of guitar transcriptions published, Vital Blues Guitar: Freddie King (2003) and Vital Blues Guitar: Gatemouth Brown (2000).

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