Alex de Grassi
Encyclopedia
Alex de Grassi is an American
Grammy Award
-nominated fingerstyle guitarist.
, de Grassi grew up in San Francisco, California
, where his grandfather played violin
for the San Francisco Symphony
and his father was a classical pianist
. At age thirteen he learned to play the trumpet
but soon taught himself the guitar
, the instrument for which he is now famous. De Grassi has since learned jazz piano with Mark Levine
and also studied music under W. A. Mathieu
and Bill Thrasher.
from the University of California, Berkeley
, de Grassi performed as a street musician in London
before learning the carpentry
trade from his cousin Will Ackerman who later founded the innovative instrumental record label Windham Hill. De Grassi's first album, Turning: Turning Back, was released by Windham Hill Records in 1978. De Grassi also recorded under RCA/Novus, EarthBeat!, and 33rd Street recordings. In addition, de Grassi started his own label, Tropo Records, which he now records under. He performs solo concerts worldwide, holds various guitar workshops and master classes throughout the year, and performs with the de Mania Trio, alongside bassist Michael Manring
and percussionist Christopher Garcia. Fellow guitar players consider de Grassi to be among the most virtuosic living guitarists. Tom Wheeler wrote in Guitar Player magazine that his technique is "the kind that shoves fellow pickers to the cliff of decision: should I practice like a madman or chuck it altogether?"
F35c maple with a European spruce top and a custom Traugott R model Brazilian Rosewood with German spruce top. Other favorites are a custom Carlson sympitar (twelve sympathetic strings) maple with spruce top and a custom McCollum baritone (28" scale) paduk with Italian spruce top.http://degrassi.com/faq.html
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
Grammy Award
Grammy Award
A Grammy Award — or Grammy — is an accolade by the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences of the United States to recognize outstanding achievement in the music industry...
-nominated fingerstyle guitarist.
Early life and influences
Though born in Yokosuka, JapanJapan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
, de Grassi grew up in San Francisco, California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
, where his grandfather played violin
Violin
The violin is a string instrument, usually with four strings tuned in perfect fifths. It is the smallest, highest-pitched member of the violin family of string instruments, which includes the viola and cello....
for the San Francisco Symphony
San Francisco Symphony
The San Francisco Symphony is an orchestra based in San Francisco, California. Since 1980, the orchestra has performed at the Louise M. Davies Symphony Hall. The San Francisco Symphony Youth Orchestra and the San Francisco Symphony Chorus are part of the organization...
and his father was a classical pianist
Pianist
A pianist is a musician who plays the piano. A professional pianist can perform solo pieces, play with an ensemble or orchestra, or accompany one or more singers, solo instrumentalists, or other performers.-Choice of genres:...
. At age thirteen he learned to play the trumpet
Trumpet
The trumpet is the musical instrument with the highest register in the brass family. Trumpets are among the oldest musical instruments, dating back to at least 1500 BCE. They are played by blowing air through closed lips, producing a "buzzing" sound which starts a standing wave vibration in the air...
but soon taught himself the guitar
Guitar
The guitar is a plucked string instrument, usually played with fingers or a pick. The guitar consists of a body with a rigid neck to which the strings, generally six in number, are attached. Guitars are traditionally constructed of various woods and strung with animal gut or, more recently, with...
, the instrument for which he is now famous. De Grassi has since learned jazz piano with Mark Levine
Mark Levine
Mark Levine is the name of:* Mark Levine , jazz musician* Mark Levine , host of Mark Levine's Inside Scoop radio show, and The American Dream television show on Press TV*Mark Levine , American poet...
and also studied music under W. A. Mathieu
W. A. Mathieu
William Allaudin Mathieu is a composer, pianist, choir director, music teacher, and author. He studied with William Russo and Easley Blackwood, with North Indian vocalist Pandit Pran Nath for 25 years, and collaborated with Nubian master musician Hamza El Din Hamza El Din.In the 1960s, he spent...
and Bill Thrasher.
Recording career
After earning a degree in Economic GeographyEconomic geography
Economic geography is the study of the location, distribution and spatial organization of economic activities across the world. The subject matter investigated is strongly influenced by the researcher's methodological approach. Neoclassical location theorists, following in the tradition of Alfred...
from the University of California, Berkeley
University of California, Berkeley
The University of California, Berkeley , is a teaching and research university established in 1868 and located in Berkeley, California, USA...
, de Grassi performed as a street musician in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
before learning the carpentry
Carpentry
A carpenter is a skilled craftsperson who works with timber to construct, install and maintain buildings, furniture, and other objects. The work, known as carpentry, may involve manual labor and work outdoors....
trade from his cousin Will Ackerman who later founded the innovative instrumental record label Windham Hill. De Grassi's first album, Turning: Turning Back, was released by Windham Hill Records in 1978. De Grassi also recorded under RCA/Novus, EarthBeat!, and 33rd Street recordings. In addition, de Grassi started his own label, Tropo Records, which he now records under. He performs solo concerts worldwide, holds various guitar workshops and master classes throughout the year, and performs with the de Mania Trio, alongside bassist Michael Manring
Michael Manring
Michael Manring is an American electric bassist from the San Francisco Bay Area, .-Biography:...
and percussionist Christopher Garcia. Fellow guitar players consider de Grassi to be among the most virtuosic living guitarists. Tom Wheeler wrote in Guitar Player magazine that his technique is "the kind that shoves fellow pickers to the cliff of decision: should I practice like a madman or chuck it altogether?"
Guitars
Alex uses various guitars. Currently his primary touring/recording guitars are a custom LowdenGeorge Lowden
George Lowden is a guitar maker, luthier, based in Downpatrick, County Down, Northern Ireland. He constructs acoustic guitars, steel and nylon strung.-Company:...
F35c maple with a European spruce top and a custom Traugott R model Brazilian Rosewood with German spruce top. Other favorites are a custom Carlson sympitar (twelve sympathetic strings) maple with spruce top and a custom McCollum baritone (28" scale) paduk with Italian spruce top.http://degrassi.com/faq.html
Discography
- Turning: Turning Back; Windham Hill, 1978
- Slow Circle; Windham Hill, 1979
- Clockwork; Windham Hill, 1981
- Southern Exposure; Windham Hill, 1984
- Altiplano; RCA/Novus, 1987
- Deep at Night; Windham Hill, 1991
- A Windham Hill Retrospective; Windham Hill, 1992 - Valley EntertainmentValley EntertainmentValley Entertainment is a United States music distributor and independent record label based in New York City. The company was founded in 1996 by Barney Cohen, president and CEO. In 2001, they acquired the prestigious back catalogue of space, ambient, and New Age music from Hearts of Space Records...
reissue, 2010 - The World's Getting Loud; Windham Hill, 1993
- Beyond the Night Sky: Lullabies for Guitar; EarthBeat!, 1996
- Alex de Grassi's Interpretation of Simon & Garfunkel; NorthSound, 1997
- Alex de Grassi's Interpretation of James Taylor; NorthSound, 1998
- The Water Garden; Tropo Records, 1998
- Bolivian Blues Bar; Narada, 1999
- Tatamonk (with Quique Cruz); Tropo Records, 2000
- Shortwave Postcard (with g.e. stinson); Auditorium, 2001
- Now & Then: Folk Songs for the 21st Century; 33rd Street, 2003
- Pure Alex de Grassi; Windham Hill, 2006