Post by Steven BornfeldPost by GerryPost by Steven BornfeldPost by GerryPost by James Seaberryhttp://youtu.be/twXfT3NT_lc
A lotta guitar players just said "wow!"
I seem to remember close to 50 years ago Kris Kristofferson, writing
about John Prine, said something like "He's so good, somebody ought to
break his fingers".
I kinda understand that sentiment. I LOVE Grasso's playing.
Me too.
Stuck in Austin (pre-cool) with a road band I found a used book store
with many years of old downbeat issues, I bought a packing box full and
read them all summer. One guitar-player issue had a group interview
with Jim Hall, Wes Montgomery and Toots Theielemans, then known as a
hot new jazz guitarist. Jim Hall's line was that he had spent the day
with Wes around town in and out of taxi's "trying to catch his thumb in
the car door".
Pasquale is such a kind and generous guy too.
LOL!
I haven't heard any cool Grasso stories; he just LOOKS like a nice,
studious kid. This video of him accompanying Benanti--beautiful,
amazing, but supportive and not trying to grab the spotlight (though of
course he does, as far as I am concerned.)
He is accompaniment is simply out of this world, particularly with
sidekick and bass clarinetist Stefano Doglioni. I know Pasquale's big
sell is his solo work on Sony Masterworks. And I think it will be
influential. But his comping and single line is profound and has really
had me reworking my own playing over the last few years.
We saw him in NYC in 2015, and I was totally floored by his skill. I
buttonholed him and Ari Roland on the way out, both top-tier players to
my tastes. Then, in 2016 at a local house-concert (in SoCal), Nancy and
I got a chance to have a drink and chat with him alone for half an
hour. He's simply a charming guy; outgoing, knowledgeable, engaged,
candid.
I made a point of seeing him when passing through NYC in 2018. He
played at the bar at the Pierre Hotel as part of a city-wide Italian
Jazz to-do. He sat down with us for the bulk of the break, we were the
only fans there. Nancy wants to adopt him.
You are within hailing distance, you owe it to yourself to see the guy,
especially when the Trumpandemic has passed. You will be glad you did!