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Gary Grainger

Dr. Cheese

Dr. Cheese

Supporting Member
Mar 3, 2004
57,341
120,731
Metro St. Louis
#1
Gary Grainger is not a bass superstar, but I'm sure that many of you are familiar with his playing with Pockets and John Scofield. I've had an album he made with his brother called Grainger, "Phase I" for a few years, but I've recently paid real attention to it. Simply put, I think he may be the best conventional slapper around. His technique is not ground breaking, but he is awfully tasty.
 
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#3
That makes sense because Pockets was a Baltimore band. I know his group with his brother, Grainger, has at least one other album out. I know I just love his slap tone on that first Grainger album. He has a very modern tone that reminds of a Ken Smith or some other nice high-end bass. His slapping is wonderfully smooth and groove conscious.
 
#5
Dr. Cheese said:
He has a very modern tone that reminds of a Ken Smith or some other nice high-end bass.
Click to expand...
Last time I saw hi('96?), Grainger was playing a 4-string Smith bass.
It was a pretty cool & informative clinic...with fellow Bawlmore-area guys Carl Filipiak & Larry Bright. The best part was when Bright & Grainger demonstrated 'displacement'-
1-Both "on"
2-Bass "on", Drums "off"
3-Bass "off", Drums "on"
4-Bass & Drums "off"

Filpipiak asked, "...guys, was I even close"?

I also like Sco's Pick Hits Live. I think I had Grainger sign it on that day.
 
#6
Gary a very talented Bassist still uses his Smith,and his Vintage MM .but for the last several years he's been using PRS Basses(he's been doing some R&D for them as well)





One of my Favorite performance memories is when me and Gary played together at a NAMM show(his pocket was as solid as solid itself)
 
#7
Dr. Cheese said:
Gary Grainger is not a bass superstar, but I'm sure that many of you are familiar with his playing with Pockets and John Scofield. I've had an album he made with his brother called Grainger, "Phase I" for a few years, but I've recently paid real attention to it. Simply put, I think he may be the best conventional slapper around. His technique is not ground breaking, but he is awfully tasty.
Click to expand...
Gary Grainger's work with John Scofield and particularly, Pick Hits Live, was a pretty big influence on me. I highly recommend that recording. I always wanted that sound, both audio and playing-wise. I'm not familiar with any of his other recordings but I should really check them out.

- Dave
 
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#8
Dave Grossman said:
Gary Grainger's work with John Scofield and particularly, Pick Hits Live, was a pretty big influence on me. I highly recommend that recording. I always wanted that sound, both audio and playing-wise. I'm not familiar with any of his other recordings but I should really check them out.

- Dave
Click to expand...

+1
Yep I love that album
Even watchin the drum video of Dennis Chambers "In the Pocket " where it features numbers from the album
Even a rhythm section duo between Gary & Dennis very groovy
 
#10
I've never had the pleasure of seeing/hearing Gary live but I completely agree about his technique and musicianship - if you can get a copy of either of John Scofield's instructional DVDs - I think they are roughly entitled Jazz Funk Guitar or something similar - the line up on there is stunning - Jim Beard (keys) Dennis Chambers - and Gary slaps this brilliant bass line with such a smooth, fluid groove and wonderful thumb/pop technique it beggers belief - the man is definitely a slapper par excellence - a real muso and very understated - get a look at those vids - they are very impressive.
 
#14
NJL said:
i think brad johnson may know him. he may be in the DC/Baltimore area.

i could be wrong, though...
Click to expand...

Didn't see this thread the first time around.

Gary is a Maryland bassist (a damn good one) and very good people too. He's using his set neck PRS 5 that was in development for quite a while. Nice bass. Before that he used Smiths and before that Musicman basses, not sure what else besides that. I recall him supposedly using an Ibanez bass on Larry Bright's solo cd.
 
#16
peteroberts said:
how about Loud Jazz? I thought the slapping was innovative (as was the sound) back in the day (1987)

now I gotta listen to Pick Hits Live.
edit:its good!
Click to expand...

+1 On this post. First time I read about Gary Grainger was in a copy of "Guitar Player" in the late '80's playing with Sco, & then caught him on a late night concert played in an outdoor venue in Denmark.

Great "in the pocket interplay on "On So You Say" (Loud Jazz) between Gary & Dennis Chambers. Really loved his slapping on his Stingray.

Slammin' Groove!
 
#17
Gary is a fantastic bassist and has a very extensive discography. His PRS Gary Grainger Signature bass seems to embody both a Music Man Stingray and a Ken Smith with regard to tone. This is most likely due to his many years playing both basses prior to hooking up with PRS. Here is a song from the Grainger Phase II CD that Gary absolutely kills on!



Here is a song from The Meritxell Project CD that I believe he helped produce that shows there's more to Gary than slapping.



I never get tired of Gary's tone and groove!
 
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#19
Dr. Cheese said:
That makes sense because Pockets was a Baltimore band. I know his group with his brother, Grainger, has at least one other album out. I know I just love his slap tone on that first Grainger album. He has a very modern tone that reminds of a Ken Smith or some other nice high-end bass. His slapping is wonderfully smooth and groove conscious.
Click to expand...
he currently plays a 5 string PRS bass
 

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