Damon Grant Sonidos Nuevos (New Sounds) CD

As the Afro-Cuban music tree stretches ever higher and farther, its roots creep in all directions searching for new resources to grow, for new talent. Damon Grant represents a generation of players that may just be the wellspring of new ideas that the genre is looking for. The music on Sonidos Nuevos presents a truly unique perspective, at times ponderous, at others aggressive and funky. With plenty of creative compositional ideas flying around, including dark mysterious harmony and polyrhythmic fun, there's no mistake about the creative potential in this band of young jazzers. The question that will occasionally creep up is, "Where is Damon Grant?" Taking turns behind the congas and mallets, the two instruments that are consistently the hardest to hear, and almost never taking a solo on either, Grant seems a little shy of the spotlight. Similarly, the only occasions when the Latin time feels really come together is when they are in the hands of guests Horacio Hernández and Richie Flores, Grant's regular rhythm section seeming to limp a little with the highly idiomatic Afro-Cuban styles. Grant is certainly an artist to watch, though Sonidos Nuevos offers more promise for the future than it delivers today. ~ Evan C. Gutierrez

Damon Grant: Percussionist Damon Grant performs original and traditional jazz compositions on vibraphone, marimba and a variety of other percussion instruments with Afro-Caribbean flair in his own group, The Damon Grant Project. He and his group have been recognized for their work in 'Modern Drummer' and 'Latin Beat' Magazines. Damon has also been recognized as a performer with the University of Massachusetts Jazz Ensembles by 'Downbeat Magazine', and has received four awards. Damon, a native of Norwalk, Connecticut, has played with many ensembles, including some of the top Salsa, Orchestral, Dance, Jazz, and Funk groups in the United States. He has performed on stage with many world class musicians, including: Richie Flores, Horacio "El Negro" Hernandez, John Benitez, Robby Ameen, The Original Parliament Funkadelic, Fred Wesley, George Porter Jr.

, and Stefon Harris. Damon currently performs with the Funk/Rock group, The Bomb Squad, which won an American Music Award in 2003. Damon was also an original member of the Broadway show, Blast!, which won both a Tony and an Emmy award. He, and the groups he has performed in, have opened for acts such as: Isaac Hayes, David Sanborn, the Dirty Dozen Brass Band, and George Clinton. Damon performed as a member of the Cadets Drum Corps for several years, in which he participated in the 1996 Closing Ceremonies of the Olympics in Atlanta, Georgia. Damon has performed at numerous venues, including: The Kennedy Center, The Montreal International Jazz Festival, The Rich Forum, The Palace Theater, The Milford and Norwalk Oyster Festivals, The Berkshire Jazz Festival, The Hammersmith Apollo of London, Harper's Ferry, The Downtown, The Iron Horse Music Hall, Tribeca Rock Club, The Funk Box, The Iridium Jazz Club, The Gathering of the Vibes, The New Jersey Performing Arts Center, The New Hampshire Funk and Blues Festival, The Percussive Arts Society International Conference, Toad's Place, and The Soul Cafe restaurant. Damon received a Bachelor of Music degree in jazz performance from the University of Massachusetts in February 2001. He has studied with musical legend Yusef Lateef, as well as master percussionist; Giovanni Hidalgo Damon has just as much teaching experience as he has playing experience. He started by teaching at the high school he graduated from Norwalk High School in Norwalk, CT. He has taught their award winning marching and jazz ensembles in addition to being a guest performer and clinician. From there he started teaching at Boston College. Damon currently teaches at his alma mater, the University of Massachusetts at Amherst with Thom Hannum. He continues to do so today while also teaching privately in Norwalk and Greenwich, CT, consulting at Stamford High