Grant Geissman

Grant Geissman (born April 13, 1953) is a crossover jazz, contemporary jazz and new-age guitarist and an Emmy-nominated composer for network TV series and TV movies. He has recorded extensively for several labels since 1976 and played guitar on the theme for Monk and other TV series.

Geissman was born in Berkeley, California. Growing up in San Jose, California, Geissman took guitar lessons from San Jose musicians, including Geoff Levin (of the pop group People!) and jazz musicians Bud Dimock, Don Cirallo and Terry Saunders. Encouraged by these teachers to learn jazz standards and to improvise, he began playing in rock bands on weekends and also with small jazz groups and big bands.

As a high school senior, he entered formal study with avant-garde guitarist Jerry Hahn, who introduced him to the music of Charlie Parker, Miles Davis, John Coltrane and Ornette Coleman. After graduating from Prospect High School, Geissman attended De Anza Junior College, where he played in both De Anza's jazz band and the Daddio Band (of older professionals). Both were led by jazz educator Dr. Herb Patnoe, who was the director of Stan Kenton's Jazz Clinics.

Since the Kenton band at that time had no guitar player, Patnoe recommended Geissman to teach at Kenton's summer clinics in both Sacramento and in Southern California. While teaching at these clinics for several summers, Geissman first met (and played with) drummer Peter Erskine and pianist Dan Haerle. Relocating to Los Angeles in 1973, Geissman attended one semester at Cal State Fullerton, where he played in the band led by pianist/clarinetist Tom Ranier.

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