Promise Personnel:Danny Grissett, Piano Vincent Archer, Bass Kendrick Scott, Drums Tracks:Moment's Notice (John Coltrane) Autumn Nocturne (J. Myrow) Promise (Danny Grissett) Where Do We Go From Here? (Danny Grissett) Cambridge Place (Danny Grissett) You Must Believe In Spring (Ivan Lins) On The Edge (Danny Grissett) Everything Happens To Me (Matt Dennis / Tom Adair) Eleventh Hour (Mulgrew Miller)

In his debut album, Promise, Danny Grisset is joined by Vicente Archer (bass), his frequent partner in Nick Payton's quartet, and drummer Kendrick Scott, who is best known for his work with Terence Blanchard in recent years. Danny Grissett presents a polished set of standards (Autumn Nocturne, Everything Happens To Me, Moment's Notice, You Must Believe in Spring) and well-crafted originals.

Many times the opening track of a disc is a showcase for an artist’s introduction to the listener. Danny starts the set with John Coltrane’s Moment’s Notice. Here he crafts a very thoughtful arrangement, and presents this in a convincing manner. He opens in rubato style, and then takes the listener through various time feels, hemiolas and metered change. If this tune is not hard enough as it is, the use of hemiola is especially convincing, as the three build absolute chemistry with the time and playing over one bar line, one bar after the other. It finally breaks out in a furious 4/4 metered swing that is absolutely breath taking.

Within this recording, I also love Grissett’s interesting use of harmony, especially when comping. It’s a sound that will be identified to him for years to come. Check out the chording on You Must Believe in Spring, Everything Happens To Me, and the opening of Promise, Grissett shows versatility and exquisite taste when changing mood and genre.

Another strength of Grissett’s, is his constant use of rhythmic variance throughout this disc. I had read he had studied and spent time with master drummers Billy Higgins (while in LA) and later Roy McCurdy and Carl Allen. The influence of working with these rhythmic masters, results in a refreshing approach to piano trio, one which brings excitement, constant groove changes, without ever losing a unique harmonic concept. This is combined with a beautiful pianistic touch, and what you have is a young man destined for great things.

Another nice quality of this disc is it’s listenable quality. It has a nice combination of originals and standard tunes. Grisset is a fine composer. His classical training is heard in spots. But make no mistake about it, he seems to have absorbed the lessons of playing with so many of New York and LA’s finest Jazz masters. He transcends category, to bring a holistic body of sound, where listeners will be able to hear the many possible links to his train of thought when trying to guess how a sound may have affected him.

Needless to say, I’m very happy to share my thoughts with the readers and listener’s of the JR247 audience about Danny’s music. Please support this great young artist by going to his web-site and purchasing Promise.

For information about Danny Grissett and his music, please visit: his website