Sam Grisman, the son of mandolin icon David “Dawg” Grisman, brings his collective of musicians to The Big Room in Grand Rapids on Saturday. The Local Spins interview.
Sam Grisman: A ‘joyful and reverent’ tribute to the Grateful Dawg legacy. (Photo/Bob Minkin)
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Sam Grisman grew up in Mill Valley, California, surrounded by acoustic instruments and music made with them.
His father, David Grisman, a legendary mandolinist, composer and producer, constantly invited friends over to his home studio for recording sessions and rehearsals.
Those friends included music icons like Doc Watson, Jerry Garcia, John Hartford, Mike Seeger, and Tony Rice. The musical chemistry in the house, and the sounds that were created, inspired the younger Grisman to carry the torch, and chase his love of recording and performing.
Today, Sam Grisman leads his own band, the Sam Grisman Project, a collective he founded to preserve the musical stylings he grew up around.
On Stage: Sam Grisman Project (Photo/Susana Millman Photography)
“It’s an acoustic ensemble. We improvise every night. No two sets are the same, and it’s myself and a collective of my best friends who are incredible acoustic musicians. We play on condenser microphones, without stage monitors, and we present these instruments as true to their actual sonic qualities as we possibly can, says Grisman over the phone before the show.
The Sam Grisman Project performs at The Big Room at SILVA in Grand Rapids on Saturday. The show begins at 7 p.m. and tickets are $35 in advance, available online here.
Huddled around studio condenser microphones that pick up on the faintest pluck, Grisman helms the band on a towering upright bass. It’s a rotating cast of top tier players and close friends.
Relix Magazine calls the band “one of the most joyful and reverent tributes to the Grateful Dawg legacy you’ll ever witness.” (Grateful Dawg refers to the iconic collaborations between the late Jerry Garcie of the Grateful Dead and David Grisman, aka “Dawg,” who’s now 81 years old.)
Bassman: Grisman (Photo/Jean Frank Photography)
For Grisman, he hopes to create a space that is inclusive and inviting with his music, wherever that might be.
“I feel like it’s my duty on some level, or more of my best use here in the physical plane, to carry on playing music for people. I feel like it spreads joy, for self-reference, it makes me happy, but I see how people respond to music,” says Grisman.
“It’s a force for good in the world. It’s also a language that seemingly everybody can understand. Most humans can understand the language of music, and so I think it has some really powerful, untapped potential to connect people.”
VIDEO: Sam Grisman Project, Live in Portland
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