Jazz Articles about Lou Grassi

Lou Grassi: Joining Two Worlds

by Rico Cleffi
February 11, 2005

Drummer Lou Grassi has appeared on over two dozen sessions in addition to serving up over a half dozen of his own CDs, many at the helm of his Po Band group which has featured such special guests as Sun Ra Arkestra saxophonist and bandleader Marshall Allen, the legendary Danish saxophonist John Tchicai and Art Ensemble of Chicagoan Joseph Jarman. A fixture on the New York jazz scene as one of the most reliable drummers whose flexibility naturally criss-crosses the ...

Lou Grassi Quartet: Avanti Galoppi

by Derek Taylor
November 23, 2004

Inspiration for album titles rarely conforms to any sort of conventional wisdom. Witness the curious phrase chosen by drummer Lou Grassi to christen his latest CIMP offering. The Italian expression translates to “gallop ahead," a directive that mirrors Grassi's tendency toward barely bridled energy behind his kit. Subtlety and passivity aren't his usual temperaments and he's vigorously stoked the rhythmic engines of many a free music ensemble. Still, his sensitive touch on the balladic opening piece here counters the argument ...

Lou Grassi's PoBand and John Tchicai: comPOsed

by Glenn Astarita
January 24, 2003

Seven years running amid a few personnel changes along the way, drummer Lou Grassi’s PoBand conglomerate is most assuredly founded upon richly formulated methodologies. With this effort, legendary modern jazz saxophonist/composer John Tchicai lends his expansive talents to this supercharged quintet. Yet sadly, this recording marks one of the final sessions of the great modern jazz bassist Wilber Morris, who passed away on August 8, 2002.

The title, comPOsed sets the paradigm for this outing. In the ...

Gunter Heinz & Lou Grassi: Live In Wuppertal

by Glenn Astarita
January 1, 2002

New York City-based drummer/percussionist, Lou Grassi has been interrogating the modern jazz genre for quite some time, largely due to his ongoing “PoBand” aggregation. Grassi’s often-ferocious polyrhythmic attack is prominently highlighted during this pared down set featuring trombonist, Gunter Heinz, and special guest, guitarist Peter A. Worringer.

Simply put, Grassi and Heinz, engage on a musical seek and destroy mission. On this live outing recorded at a German venue, the duo intertwines general playfulness with varying levels of intensity as ...

Lou Grassi's PoBand + Joseph Jarman: The Joy of Being

by Glenn Astarita
November 1, 2001

Venerable modern jazz drummer/group leader, Lou Grassi’s improvising “PoBand” aggregation, join forces with famed “Art Ensemble of Chicago” saxophonist, Joseph Jarman on this effervescent release titled, Joy of Being. The drummer’s compelling polyrhythmic attack provides the often steamy undercurrents for a production that is chock full of round robin type exchanges, and the soloists’ verbose proclamations. On the twenty-four minute opener “Rhythm Rules,” Jarman initiates various motifs for trumpeter, Paul Smoker, trombonist, Steve Swell and Perry Robinson, although the musicians ...

Lou Grassi, Tom Varner, Ron Horton, Tomas Ulrich: Neo Neo

by David Adler
January 1, 2001

Neo Neo is a collaborative project conceived by drummer Lou Grassi, with Tom Varner on French horn, Ron Horton on trumpet, and Tomas Ulrich on cello. The recording is extremely dry and acoustic in texture, with an unusually quiet recording level — all in keeping with the philosophy of Creative Improvised Music Projects, a label that insists on bringing us as realistic a reproduction of the live performances as possible. The overall feel of this quartet is not at all ...

Marshall Allen with Lou Grassi's PoBand: PoZest

by Glenn Astarita
July 1, 2000

Seventy-six year old alto saxophonist, flutist Marshall Allen is well known for his lengthy association with the late bandleader Sun Ra; yet his recorded legacy as a session musician/journeyman is rather sparse. However, on PoZest, Allen and New York area drummer Lou Grassi along with artists who represent multiple generations of technical acumen and jazz wisdom coalesce for this rather hearty set featuring trumpeter Paul Smoker, trombonist Steve Swell, veteran bassist Wilber Morris and clarinetist Perry Robinson. Here, Lou Grassi ...