| | 
BiographyAt just 18 years of age, Grant Richards is one of the premier young jazz musicians in the Pacific Northwest. Since being introduced to the piano and the world of jazz at the age of 8, Grant is already playing professionally and has released his first album, Extra Step. Born and raised in Portland, Oregon, he has received praise from the Jazz Society of Oregon and many of the area's top musicians. In 2004, Downbeat Magazine, the nationally renowned jazz publication, awarded him the 27th Annual Student Award for Solo Instrumentalist in the Junior High Division. He won yet again in 2005, this time for the 28th Annual Student Award for Best Jazz Arrangement. Grant was awarded his third Downbeat Student Award in 2006 for Best Jazz Arrangement in the high school division. He also won an Outstanding Performance Award for composition in the high school division. Grant also participated in the Metropolitan Youth Symphony Jazz Orchestra, for which he was presented with the Most Outstanding Musician Award in 2004. He is the pianist for the Portland Youth Jazz Orchestra, which is composed of many of the best high school students in the area and also has played with the Beaverton Arts & Communications Magnet Academy Jazz Ensemble, which under the direction of Dr. Thara Memory, has won several prestigious competitions. Together, they performed at the Cheonan/Beaverton Sister City Festival in South Korea to help promote relations between the two countries. Grant's own band, The Grant Richards Trio, plays regularly around Portland and also performed at the 2005 Portland Jazz Festival. With performances ranging from the Schnitzer Performing Arts Center and Jimmy Mak's to Cheonan, South Korea, Grant is an up and coming talent in both the local and worldwide jazz scenes. Awards & Highlights
|
Information
|