Highlight Reel
Nominated for Guitarist of the Year – 13th Annual LA Music Awards
Guitarist/composer Karl Grossman is available for session work, as producer and arranger, or as a composer. He takes influence from several styles and diciplines in his approach to musical arts. Playing music since early years starting on trumpet, Karl continues to push the envelope on repetoire and improvisational technique with his guitar. He is also able to satisfy an ever growing client list of professional musicians. Karl manages the facility Music Focus in Hermosa Beach, California.
E-mail is karlg@earthlink.net
“Jazz was my first love. I lived and breathed the jazz guitar tone. But I was always amused and intrigued by blues and distorted rock guitar. I’ll always regret that I didn’t accept and get into the finger style and classical guitar styles much earlier. But I love all styles of music the power of rock, the minimalism of new wave, the bravura of metal, soul of blues, harmonic challenge of classical and the ambiguousness and improvisational halo of jazz. Learning all you can about the different styles is the best way to grow. Every song I learn shows me or re-confirms some aspect of music theory or physical guitar ability.”
Karl is an active guitar instructor and has taught literally hundreds of students in the South Bay. Former students are now in the bands Easter, Centerfold, and Phantom Blue. (Add your name to Karl’s list if you want! Students)
Though Karl attended UCSB, UCLA, and Dominguez Hills, it was the work at El Camino with music theory professor Wallace Bower that bonded a fine understanding of music theory with ear training.
“Those years studying music theory were filled with revelations. I realized and was encouraged to explore the connection between emotional nature of sound and the technical names for it. I always encourage my students to seek their own definitions for actual sounds. Minor triads can be cold, dark, purple, sad, or scary while major triads can be bright, sunny, yellow, happy, hot or glowing. Theoretical musical definitions do not give any insight on what emotional response these musical elements may trigger in someone. But once there is a connection between the two, the bond is made!”
There is a combination of talents that Karl offers his students. One is to teach patiently and cohesively, and the other is to inspire students with the joy and humor of making good music. Thanks for jammin!’
ALBUM/CD CREDIT
Picture Tube – Music Focus Records, Karl Grossman producer
Christmas Karl – Music Focus Records, Karl Grossman producer
SOUNDTRACK COMPOSITION
Desert Racer – Native Son Production, Gerard Ravel producer
Sierra at Tahoe Ski Resort Promotional Video – Seen, Heard & Recognized Productions, Alan Scharf producer
STUDIO CREDITS
David Moore Project – Guitarist & music director.
Daniello DiLaurentiis – Guitarist, bassist, programming, producer.
Rod Rumsey – Guitarist, bassist, programming, producer
PRODUCTION & ENGINEERING CREDITS
FYP
War Called Peace
Mr. Bill
Prop. 13
Picture Tube
Cult Of The Wrong Note
Dying Breed
Hightower
Plaza Iguana
Big Jerks
Sugar Britches
Death & Taxes
Rhythm Trak
Reynolds Rapp
Pokin’ Fun
Sound Information – Over a dozen audio magazines. All editing, arranging and engineering for companies such as Lumiscope, Johnson & Johnson and other medical corporations.
BOOKS
Power Chords
The CAGED Guitarist
Music Affiliations
GERRY GIBBS
MIKE HOFFMAN
KEVIN O’NEAL
GARY FERGUSON
BRAD CUMMINGS
CHUCK TURNER
RAVI COLTRANE
RICHARD SCHWAGERL
JOTTY JOHNSON
FRANK FAKINOS
TERI HITT
JEAN ARNETT
JANICE GUERRERO
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PICTURE TUBE JAZZ QUARTET
AXIS JAZZ QUARTET
KASHMIR QUARTET
RHYTHM TRAK
BAND OF CLOUDS
BIG JERKS
BOZ OZ
MOONDANCE
FREEWAY FLYER
RED HOT RUBBER BALL
CO-INCIDENTAL JAZZ QUARTET
BAJA HARLEM BACKSTREET BOYS BAND