Grant Geissman and The Cool Man Cool Band-PRESS, AIRPLAY and MORE!

Reminder! Grant Geissman LIVE at Spaghettini. Be there or be square, man!

2011-07-08T18:47:00.000-07:00

Grant Geissman - Cool Man Cool Newsletter -October 18, 2010

2010-10-20T09:20:00.000-07:00

Grant Geissman Rocks the ASCAP Film and TV Music Awards!

2010-06-25T16:04:00.000-07:00

GRANT GEISSMAN and the COOL MAN COOL Band rocked the 25th annual ASCAP FILM and TV Music Awards last night at the Beverly Hilton in Los Angeles. Asked by ASCAP to open the show, they performed their 12-and-a-half minute medley of 21 classic, vintage TV themes, arranged especially for the occasion by Grant.

Grant also was presented an ASCAP FILM and TV Music Award last night, for having co-written the theme to the CBS-TV sitcom "Two and a Half Men," one of the top-rated TV series of 2009.

http://www.ascap.com/press/2010/0624_filmtvawards.aspx

Grant Geissman - Cool Man Cool Letter -MAY 26, 2010

2010-05-26T07:24:00.000-07:00

Grant Geissman Newsletter - March 27, 2010

2010-03-29T12:49:00.000-07:00

Grant Geissman's Cool Man Cool makes the Top-25 of the Jazz Week Top-100 CD's of 2009!

2010-01-06T17:05:00.000-08:00

Happy Holidays from Grant Geissman, Chuck Mangione and Chick Corea!

2009-12-03T17:25:00.000-08:00

Get your FREE download of the song "Chuck and Chick" featuring Chuck Mangione and Chick Corea! Spread the cheer!

Grant Geissman, Chuck Mangione, Chick Corea
"Chuck and Chick" (mp3)
from "Cool Man Cool"
(Futurism Records)

Buy at iTunes Music Store
Buy at Rhapsody
Buy at Napster
Stream from Rhapsody
Buy at Amazon MP3
More On This Album

PR- REVIEW - Downbeat November Issue

2009-09-29T10:03:00.000-07:00

PR - REVIEW City Newspaper

2009-09-28T17:09:00.000-07:00

Grant Geissman

"Cool Man Cool"

Futurism Records

By Ron Netsky on September 28, 2009

Ever since I heard his superhuman guitar solo on Chuck Mangione's "Feels So Good" in 1977, I've been waiting for a great album from Grant Geissman. It's here. "Cool Man Cool" contains 14 of the breeziest, catchiest, and yet most intricate original tunes you are ever likely to hear. It also boasts superb musicianship, top-notch guests, and the hippest cover art (by Miles Thompson) that I've seen in years. Geissman's ex-boss Mangione contributes some of the most beautiful playing of his recent career on three cuts; Chick Corea adds his touch to one. Elsewhere, Patrice Rushen, Russell Ferrante, Tom Scott, and others join the fun. Geissman writes tunes with great heads and challenging chord progressions. He is still every bit as stunning on acoustic and electric guitar in a range of styles that includes Flamenco-flavored, Django-inflected, and impossibly complicated straight-ahead jazz. It's been a long time, but "Cool Man Cool" is worth the wait.

City Newspaper Cool Man Cool Review

Grant Geissman Newsletter and Live Show Announcement

2009-09-24T08:06:00.000-07:00

PR- Review - Jazz Weekly

2009-08-30T11:25:00.000-07:00

Grant Geissman

Cool Man Cool

Futurism Records 2054
By George W. Harris

OK, you know a guy like Geissman is a serious guitar player when he lists not only the musicians and their instruments for each song, but exactly WHAT KIND of guitar is on each song. Do you like the 1965 Epiphone Casino electric guitar, the 1964 Fender Strat, the Gibson ES-335 or the 1966 Martin 000-18 acoustic? Then you're in the right place. Gotta love this guy!

Geissman is one of the first call session guys in LA. His 2006 release, "Say That!," had Geissman return to his jazz roots with some swinging small group jazz, and this followup does the same, but even more so. He's got a bucketful of big-named sidemen like Chuck Mangione, Chick Corea, Russell Ferrante, Tom Scott, Van Dyke Parks, and Alex Acuna, not to mention the Trey Henry/Ray Brinker combo (who are with Tierney Sutton), and Emilio Palame, who played with Peggy Lee for years. The music is as varied as your local jazz station, ranging from the straightahead blowing of the title track and "Dig Some Sides?" to funky B3 blues on "Chicken Shack Jack." Geissman, who became famous for his solo on the billion seller "Feels So Good," includes his ex-employer Mangione (and Chick Corea) for a beautiful streamlined tune. Fun on the frets abound with "Minnie Lights Out" and "Tiki Time" before the climaxing 3-way guitar battle (with guests Chuck Lorre and Dennis C. Brown), closing the album with a rib sticking "Cool Blooz." This disc covers everything except sports and fashion--you're gonna love it!

PR - WEBCAST REVIEW!!

2009-08-19T12:14:00.000-07:00

Grant Geissman COOL MAN COOL live Internet concert August 17 Featuring special guests Van Dyke Parks & Jerry Hahn

2009-08-16T10:59:00.000-07:00

Click Here to go to
Network Concerts

PR - REVIEW The Davis Enterprise

2009-08-10T22:54:00.000-07:00

Those hot August nights, days and jazz By Ric Bang | Enterprise music columnist | August 06, 2009
Grant Geissman
'Cool Man Cool'
Futurism Records
http://www.grantgeissman.com

Guitarist Grant Geissman has been affiliated with many jazz genres; he is described as 'a straight-ahead, crossover, New Age and contemporary artist.' He's also an Emmy Award-nominated composer and arranger for TV series and movies.

He's a true West Coast musician, born in 1953 in Berkeley. He grew up in San Jose, attended high school and college in that area, worked with numerous local bands and finally relocated to Los Angeles in 1973. While attending Cal State Northridge, he played with Gerald Wilson and Louie Bellson.

Geissman met Chuck Mangione and became a member of his band; their 1977 release of 'Feels So Good' remains one of the top-selling instrumental albums to this day.

Geissman has been a featured sideman on numerous albums since then, and has released more than a dozen as a leader.

This CD utilizes a stellar group of artists: Corea, Mangione, Tom Scott, Russell Ferrante and many others. The 14 tracks provide a veritable smorgasbord of styles, and utilize an equivalent array of instruments: acoustic and electric keyboards, guitars and bases; Hammond B3 organ; saxes; flute; flugelhorn; violin; accordion; drums and bongos.

The instrumentation combinations vary for each tune, as does the musical style. The common thread, however, is that everything swings nicely.

This is a fun album with something for every taste.

Monday, August 17th -Network Concerts Presents Grant Geissman LIVE!

2009-08-05T09:11:00.001-07:00

Countdown Creator Progreat free widgetsWidgetbox

PR - REVIEW Scoop Comics Newsletter

2009-07-14T09:08:00.001-07:00

http://scoop.diamondgalleries.com/public/

PR - REVIEW - Icon Magazine

2009-07-14T08:56:00.000-07:00

http://icondv.com/

GRANT GEISSMAN

COOL MAN COOL (Futurism Records)

Nearly everyone has heard Grant Geissman play guitar - that's his solo on Chuck Mangione's "Feel So Good"," a tune that was inescapable in 1977. Coming off a long term solo relationship with smooth jazz, guitarist Geissman darts in another direction on "Cool Man Cool," an eclectic all-star set (Chick Corea, Chuck Mangione, Tom Scott, Patrice Rushen and the Yellowjacket's Russell Ferrante) of lounge-like tracks ("Tiki Time") and bachelor pad music ("Chicken Shack Jack," "Too Cool For School" and "One For Jerry").

Nestled in among the party tracks are tunes like "Chuck and Chick," a Latin inflected waltz number that's beautiful in it's simplicity and lyricism, as well as "Even If," a gentle ballad highlighted by pianist Ferrante and a Michael Brecker-like solo by regular Geissman band mate, Brian Scanlon. Mostly, the album flows with an infectious vitality and Geissman plays his pants off on his axe of choice, a Gibson ES-335 electric guitar -- lovingly recorded in all its sonic glory.

The packaging for this disc is nearly as fun as the music -- from its beatnik-style cartoon cover art to its multi-fold credit sheet and liner notes. Geissman even throws in a set a temporary tattoos. Cool man, cool! (14 tracks; 79:13 minutes) 3 stars

PR - REVIEW -City of the Angels Music

2009-07-14T08:52:00.000-07:00

http://www.cityoftheangelsmusic.com/

"Cool Man Cool" Grant Geissman

"Cool Man Cool" is a new recording by Grant Geissman with the guitarist playing 14 original compositions. Geissman is known for his work as a studio musician, jazz guitarist and co-writer of the theme to the sitcom "Two and Half Men". This album showcases a variety of different styles and ensemble settings.

The introductory track "Cool Man Cool" begins with finger snaps and bongos that lead into a swinging minor blues. The mood is very beatnik hipster and climaxes with an angular unison shout chorus. "Chicken Shack Jack" is a blues tune featuring Jim Cox on organ and Tom Scott on tenor sax. Geissman plays some George Benson like single note lines before going into some bluesy bends and octave work.

"Chuck and Chick" is a notable because it captures trumpeter Chuck Mangione's reunion with pianist Chick Corea, who used to play in Mangione's quintet in 1965. Corea's lush voicings beautifully accompany Mangione's warm tone on this contemporary Latin number. Geissman switches to a nylon string guitar for this tune and takes a passionate solo.

Other styles are explored on this album as well. "Nawlins" uses a New Orleans style street beat feel. In "Minnie Lights Out," Geissman plays in 1930's swing style showing off some Django Reinhardt-like guitar playing. "Dig Some Sides" is a straight ahead, burning, up-tempo bebop tune while "Cool Blooz" is a Chicago style blues shuffle. This final track features Geissman playing distorted electric guitar and some nice dobro slide guitar work by Dennis Brown.

Throughout this recording Geissman focuses on mood and feel over virtuosic playing or special effects. The writing is idiomatic to the musical styles and the production is excellent.--- JARVIS RAYMOND

RADIO - "Cool Man Cool" #11 STILL STRONG AT JAZZ RADIO!!

2009-07-07T18:37:00.000-07:00

Radio - Cool Man Cool Airplay for week ending 7/3

2009-07-07T16:12:00.000-07:00

STATION	MARKET	STATE
KEUL	Anchorage	AK
WQNR	Auburn	AL
WVSU	Birmingham	AL
WJAB	Huntsville	AL
WZEW	Mobile	AL
WVAS	Montgomery	AL
KUAF	Fayetteville	AR
KXUA	Fayetteville	AR
KABF	Little Rock	AR
KABF	Little Rock	AR
KASU	State University	AR
KOKY	Little Rock	AZ
KJZZ	Pheonix	AZ
KYOT	Phoenix	AZ
KAMP	Tucson	AZ
KUAZ	Tucson	AZ
KXCI	Tucson	AZ
CFUV	Victoria	BC
Bob Parlocha	Alameda	CA
KHSU	Arcata	CA
KPFA	Berkeley	CA
KRML	Carmel	CA
KCHO	Chico	CA
KSPC	Cleremont	CA
KDVS	Davis	CA
KFCF	Fresno	CA
KFSR	Fresno	CA
KUCI	Irvine	CA
KFJC	Los Altos Hills	CA
KABC	Los Angeles	CA
KKJZ	Los Angeles	CA
KPFK	Los Angeles	CA
KTWV	Los Angeles	CA
KXLU	Los Angeles	CA
KMFB	Mendocino	CA
KRVR	Modesto	CA
KVMR	Nevada City	CA
KSBR	Orange County	CA
KZYX	Philo	CA
KMUD	Redway	CA
KRCB	Roenhert Park	CA
KXJZ	Sacramento	CA
KIFM	San Diego	CA
KSDS	San Diego	CA
KCSM	San Francisco	CA
KPOO	San Francisco	CA
KUSF	San Francisco	CA
KSJS	San Jose	CA
KCBX	Santa Barbara	CA
KCSB	Santa Barbara	CA
KUSP	Santa Cruz	CA
KZSC	Santa Cruz	CA
KCRW	Santa Monica	CA
KJZY	Santa Rosa	CA
KZSU	Stanford	CA
KCLU	Thousand Oaks	CA
Music Choice Smooth Jazz	Cable Radio	CABLE
DMX Jazz Vocal Blend	Cable/Satellite	CABLE/SATELLITE
DMX Smooth Jazz	Cable/Satellite	CABLE/SATELLITE
Café Jazz	Syndicated	CANADA
KAJX	Aspen	CO
KGNU	Boulder	CO
KDNK	Carbondale	CO
KCME	Colorado Springs	CO
KKHI	Colorado Springs	CO
KRCC	Colorado Springs	CO
KBUT	Crested Butte	CO
KUVO	Denver	CO
KDUR	Durango	CO
KRFC	Ft. Collins	CO
KAFM	Grand Junction	CO
JZEXC	Greenwood	CO
KSUT	Ignacio	CO
KSJD	Mancos	CO
KVNF	Paonia	CO
Broadcast Architecture	Consultant	Consultant
WPKN	BRIDGEPORT	CT
WVOF	Fairfield	CT
WQTQ	Hartford	CT
WRTC	Hartford	CT
WHUS	Storrs	CT
WWUH	W. Hartford	CT
WNHU	WEST HAVEN	CT
WECS	Willimantic	CT
WPFW	Washington	DC
WVUD	Newark	DE
WUFT	Gainesville	FL
WXJZ	Gainesville	FL
RadioIO	Jacksonville	FL
WJCT	Jacksonville	FL
WFIT	Melbourne	FL
WDNA	Miami	FL
WLRN	Miami	FL
WLVE	Miami	FL
WUCF	Orlando	FL
WMNF	Tampa	FL
WUSF	Tampa	FL
WCLK	Atlanta	GA
WRAS	Atlanta	GA
WRFG	Atlanta	GA
WHCJ	Savannah	GA
KIPO	Honolulu	HI
KTUH	Honolulu	HI
KSHK	Kauai	HI
WOI	Ames	IA
KCCK	Cedar Rapids	IA
KALA	Davenport	IA
KMXG	Davenport	IA
KWLC	Decorah	IA
KWIT	Sioux City	IA
WEFT	Champaign	IL
LISHR	Chicago	IL
WBEZ	Chicago	IL
WDCB	Chicago	IL
WIIT	Chicago	IL
WXRT	Chicago	IL
WNUR	Evanston	IL
WIUM	Macomb	IL
WGLT	Peoria	IL
WFHB	Bloomington	IN
WFIU	Bloomington	IN
WICR	Indianapolis	IN
AOL Smooth Jazz	Internet Radio	INTERNET
BoomerRadio	Internet Radio	INTERNET
City Sounds Radio	Internet Radio	INTERNET
JazzNet 24/7	Internet Radio	INTERNET
RadioIO Smooth Jazz	Internet Radio	INTERNET
KJHK	Lawrence	KS
KANU	Lawrence/KC	KS
KMUW	Wichita	KS
KRBB	Wichita	KS
WRFL	Lexington	KY
WFPK	Louisville	KY
WBRH	Baton Rouge	LA
WTUL	New Orleans	LA
WWNO	New Orleans	LA
WWOZ	New Orleans	LA
WFCR	Amherst	MA
WMUA	Amherst	MA
WRNX	Amherst	MA
WRSI	Amherst	MA
WERS	Boston	MA
WFNX	Boston	MA
WGBH	Boston	MA
WHRB	Boston	MA
WMFO	Boston	MA
WRBB	Boston	MA
WMBR	Cambridge	MA
WSMU	Dartmouth	MA
WUMD	N. Dartmouth	MA
JZVAR	Northfeild	MA
WMWM	Salem	MA
WEIB	Springfield	MA
WTCC	Springfield	MA
WICN	Worcester	MA
CKUW	Winnepeg	MB
WEAA	Baltimore	MD
WYPR	Baltimore	MD
WFWM	Frostburg	MD
WESM	Princess Ann	MD
WBOR	Brunswick	ME
WERU	E. Orland	ME
WRBC	Lewiston	ME
WMEB	Orono	ME
WMPG	Portland	ME
WCBN	Ann Arbor	MI
CJAM	Detroit	MI
WDET	Detroit	MI
WHFR	Detroit	MI
WVMV	Detroit	MI
WGVU	Grand Rapids	MI
WLNZ	Lansing	MI
WCMU	Mt. Pleasent	MI
WNMC	Traverse City	MI
WBLU	Twin Lake	MI
WEMU	Ypsilanti	MI
KBEM	Minneapolis	MN
KFAI	Minneapolis	MN
KSJN	Minneapolis	MN
KVSC	St. Cloud	MN
KCOZ	Branson	MO
KJLU	Jefferson City	MO
KCUR	Kansas City	MO
KSMU	Springfield	MO
KDHX	St. Louis	MO
KFUO	St. Louis	MO
WSIE	St. Louis	MO
WUSM	Hattiesburg	MS
WJSU	Jackson	MS
KEMC	Billings	MT
KGLT	Bozeman	MT
KBGA	Missoula	MT
WNCW	Asheville	NC
WPVM	Asheville	NC
WXYC	Chapel Hill	NC
WFSS	Fayetteville	NC
WTEB/WKNS	Greenville	NC
WVOD	Manteo	NC
WNCU	Raleigh	NC
WSHA	Raleigh	NC
WSNC	Winston-Salem	NC
KIOS	Omaha	NE
WUNH	Durham	NH
WFMU	Hoboken	NJ
WBZC	Pemberton	NJ
WFDU	Teaneck	NJ
WPRB	Trenton	NJ
KUNM	Albuquerque	NM
KRZA	Santa Fe	NM
KSFR	Santa Fe	NM
KTAO	Taos	NM
KNPR	Las Vegas	NV
KOAS	Las Vegas	NV
KUNV	Las Vegas	NV
KXPT	Las Vegas	NV
WAMC	Albany	NY
WVCR	Albany	NY
WSKG	Binghampton	NY
WBFO	Buffalo	NY
WRHU	Hempstead	NY
WICB	Ithaca	NY
M3	New York	NY
MCRAD	New York	NY
SSR	New York	NY
VOA	New York	NY
WBAI	New York	NY
WBGO	New York	NY
WFUV	New York	NY
WKCR	New York	NY
WNYC	New York	NY
WOR	New York	NY
XM	New York	NY
WGMC	Rochester	NY
WUSB	Stonybrook	NY
WAER	Syracuse	NY
WBGU	Bowling Green	OH
WVXU	Cincinnati	OH
WCLV	Cleveland	OH
WCPN	Cleveland	OH
WRUW	Cleveland	OH
WCBE	Columbus	OH
WJZA	Columbus	OH
WDPS	Dayton	OH
WMUB	Oxford	OH
WGTE	Toledo	OH
WXUT	Toledo	OH
CJRT	Toronto	ONT
KSMF	Ashland/Medford	OR
KLCC	Eugene	OR
KWVA	Eugene	OR
KEOL	La Grande	OR
KBOO	Portland	OR
KMHD	Portland	OR
WDIY	Allentown	PA
WESS	E. Straudsburg	PA
WQLN	Erie	PA
WSJW	Harrisburg	PA
WKDU	Philadelphia	PA
WRTI	Philadelphia	PA
WXPN	Philadelphia	PA
WDUQ	Pittsburgh	PA
WRCT	Pittsburgh	PA
WSYC	Shippensburg	PA
WUSR	Wilkes-Barre	PA
WVIA	Wilkes-Barre	PA
CKUT	Montreal	QC
CHYZ	Quebec City	QC
WRIU	Kingston/Providence	RI
WFHC	Henderson	TN
WUOT	Knoxville	TN
WUMR	Memphis	TN
WFSK	Nashville	TN
WMOT	Nashville	TN
WRVU	Nashville	TN
KGSR	Austin	TX
KUT	Austin	TX
KVRX	Austin	TX
KETR	Commerce	TX
KNON	Dallas	TX
KNTU	Dallas	TX
KTEP	El Paso	TX
KTCU	Ft. Worth	TX
KPVU	Houston	TX
KTSU	Houston	TX
KHID	McAllen/Brownsville	TX
KSAU	Nacogdoches	TX
KQXT	San Antonio	TX
KRTU	San Antonio	TX
KZMU	Moab	UT
KRCL	Salt Lake City	UT
KUER	Salt Lake City	UT
WUVT	Blacksburg	VA
WTJU	Charlottesville	VA
WCHG	Hot Springs	VA
WHOV	Norfolk	VA
WHRV	Norfolk	VA
WVST	Petersburg	VA
WCVE	Richmond	VA
WDCE	Richmond	VA
WRIR	Richmond	VA
WVTF	Roanoke	VA
WTSA	Brattleboro	VT
WRUV	Burlington	VT
WWPV	Burlington	VT
WVPS	Colchester	VT
WEQX	Mancester	VT
WGDR	Plainfield	VT
KUGS	Bellingham	WA
KBCS	Bellvue/Seattle	WA
KSVR	Mt. Vernon	WA
KAOS	OLYMPIA	WA
JAH	Seattle	WA
KEXP	Seattle	WA
KPLU	Seattle	WA
KEWU	Spokane	WA
KWCW	Walla Walla	WA
WLFM	Appleton	WI
WBSD	Burlignton	WI
WORT	Madison	WI
WMSE	Milwaukee	WI
WWSP	Stevens Point	WI

PR - Jazz Improv May Issue Review

2009-06-17T15:23:00.000-07:00

PR- Ken Frankling Jazz Notes Review

2009-06-16T12:52:00.000-07:00

Monday, June 15, 2009

CDs of Note...

Grant Geissman, Cool Man Cool (Futurism Records)

With the fun-filled spirit, wide stylistic range of original material and plethora of guest artists who have touched guitarist Grant Geissman's musical life, this feels like a house party. Cool Man Cool is a party to which he invited old friends, colleagues, bosses and even the teacher (guitarist Jerry Hahn) who had the most indelible impact on his versatile style.

The guest list includes a lot of household names from the music world, his first high-profile boss, Chuck Mangione; pianist Chick Corea, who worked in Mangione's jazz quintet in the mid-1960s; saxophonist Tom Scott; pianists Patrice Rushen and Russell Ferrante; saxophonist Tom Scott; and percussionist Alex Acuna among many.

It is great to hear Corea and Mangione collaborating on what Geissman calls the sound that likely would have resulted on a recording they planned but never got around to (though they have sat in with each other at jazz festivals on occasion).

My favorite tracks include the funky shuffle-beat sound of "Nawlins," featuring Geissman with Mangione, Rushen, B-3 player Emilio Palame and drummer Ray Brinker among others; the leader's "One for Jerry" interplay with Hahn (who provided two years of weekly lessons that required a 180-mile round-trip drive for Geissman as a high school senior and college freshman); and the bop changes of "Dig Some Sides?" Brinker, bassist Trey Henry and saxophonist Brian Scanlon are making return appearances from Geissman's Say That! session in 2006.

http://kenfrancklingjazznotes.blogspot.com/

RADIO - "Cool Man Cool" TOP 10 AT JAZZ RADIO!!

2009-06-02T16:51:00.000-07:00

Futurism Newsletter-May/June 2009

2009-06-01T12:52:00.000-07:00

PR- Music Web Express 3000 SPRING 2009 RECORD LABEL SPOTLIGHT

2009-06-01T10:04:00.000-07:00

Music Web Express 3000 mwe3.com

SPRING 2009 RECORD LABEL SPOTLIGHT

Grant Geissman "Cool Man Cool"

FUTURISM RECORDS - Guitarist Grant Geissman always puts a ton of effort into his CD releases—from the top names backing him up in the studio all the way down to the fantastic graphics and artwork accompanying his music. Case in point is Geissman’s 2009 CD, Cool Man Cool. Sure enough, the 14 track, all instrumental Cool Man Cool finds Geissman working out on his Gibson 335 in the studio backed up by jazz giants such as Chick Corea, Chuck Mangione, Patrice Rushen, Jerry Hahn, Mike Finnigan and rock legend Van Dyke Parks. From the colorful booklet containing track by track credits and liner notes and pics, Geissman adds, ‘The original idea was to try and write in different jazz or jazzy styles that I thought were cool. Then as the project developed it also became about inviting some old friends of mine that I’ve always thought were cool to come play. So that became the dual concept of the project—cool music I like to play, cool people that I like to play with.’ An established recording artist and session guitarist with a track record that includes backing up Quincy Jones, Mangione, Ringo Starr and Burt Bacharach to name a few, Geissman sets a new standard of guitar excellence with Cool Man Cool. www.GrantGeissman.com

PR - All About Jazz Review -Woodrow Wilkins

2009-05-19T12:25:00.000-07:00

Cool Man Cool
Grant Geissman | Futurism Records

By Woodrow Wilkins

There are throwbacks, and then there are throwbacks. Guitarist Grant Geissman takes us back to the era of cool--a visual image of nightclubs patronized by people wearing long shirts, dark glasses and berets.

Geissman may be best known for his solo on "Feels So Good," the pioneering smooth jazz song that brought Chuck Mangione's flugelhorn into the mainstream. In addition to a successful solo career, Geissman has been active in film and television, co-writing the underscore to the series Two and a Half Men as well as contributing to numerous other projects. On Cool Man Cool, Geissman is supported by saxophonist Brian Scanlon, bassist Trey Henry, drummer Ray Brinker and an all-star lineup of cool musicians Geissman has worked with, including Mangione, Tom Scott and Patrice Rushen.

The title song says it all; with finger snaps, Brian Kilgore's bongos and Brian Scanlon's flute, "Cool Man Cool" captures the essence of those beatnik days. Geissman's electric guitar lead is in a groove. After solos by Scanlon and pianist Emilio Palame, Geissman and Scanlon pair up for some engaging, high-speed riffs that build in intensity until the song settles back into the main melody.

Mangione joins Geissman for "Chuck and Chick." This piece is an all-in jam with Chick Corea on piano, the Yellowjackets' Russell Ferrante on Fender Rhodes electric piano, and Alex Acuna joining Kilgore on percussion. Geissman plays classical and steel string acoustic guitars, and Mangione leads early on what at first appears to be an easygoing piece. Scanlon then comes in on soprano saxophone, Mangione's middle solo sets up Corea and the pace takes on the feel of a stroll through a Mexican marketplace. Throughout, Henry and Brinker are subtle yet effective.

"Minnie Lights Out" goes back even further than the 1950s-'60s cool scene. With Henry switching to tuba, and Brinker shedding the drums for pie pans, this playful piece ponders what would happen if Minnie Mouse walked out on Mickey. Van Dyke Parks adds the accordion, and Charlie Bisharat brings a wailing violin while Geissman plays acoustic guitar, as does guest Dennis C. Brown. Guitar and violin then enjoy a sassy call-and-response late in the piece.

Although the entire set is built around the idea of cool, no two pieces are alike. Elements of several styles, including blues and bop, are mixed in here and there. Geissman wrote and arranged all 14 tracks.

PR - Audiophile Audition review

2009-05-15T01:13:00.000-07:00

Audiophile Audition

RADIO - "Cool Man Cool" #14 AT JAZZ RADIO!!

2009-05-14T14:10:00.000-07:00

PR - Guitar Player Magazine Review

2009-05-14T06:54:00.000-07:00

PR - All About Jazz Review -John Kelman

2009-05-13T08:36:00.000-07:00

Cool Man Cool
Grant Geissman | Futurism Records

By John Kelman

Guitarist Grant Geissman returns after his stellar comeback disc, Say That! (Futurism, 2006), with an album that capitalizes on its predecessor's strengths while at the same time, recruiting an even larger cast of characters. Cool Man Cool is a west coast mainstream jazz affair, celebrating Cool, but with some twists and turns thrown in to make it an eclectic mix that not only highlights Geissman's undervalued talent, but those of his sidemen as well. And with guests including original employer from the '70s, flugelhornist Chuck Mangione, piano icon Chick Corea, guitarist Jerry Hahn and saxophonist Tom Scott, there's enough star power to draw those sadly unfamiliar with Geissman himself.

Geissman largely aims for a warm, hollow body sound, although he does break out a bright-toned acoustic steel string for the manouche throwback of “Minnie Lights Out,” complete with accordionist Van Dyke Parks, violinist Charlie Bisharat and Trey Henry (back from Say That!) putting down his bass for one song, instead picking up a tuba to provide a distinctive Nawlins vibe. “Nawlins” also features Geissman on acoustic guitar, but this time it's a Second Line rhythm from drummer Ray Brinker (another Say That! alum), with Mangione, keyboardist Emilio Palame (also returning from Say That!) on Hammond and Geissman himself providing some impressive, feel-good solos. Geissman's strength is his ability to morph into any context, bending the notes here with bluesy intent, even as he keeps things more linear on classical guitar for the Spanish/Latin-tinged “Chuck and Chick,” which features Corea alongside Mangione navigating the changes with cool aplomb.

It's undeniably a blowing session, but Geissman has a keen ear for melody and an astute ability to create appealing instrumental contexts on this all-original set. On the opening title track, it's literally a finger-snapping cool vibe; a modal blues with a melody that with its slightly off-kilter ending, is hard to forget. Brinker, Henry and pianist Palame make a formidable rhythm team, ambling along with a relaxed, confident swing that perfectly sets up woodwind multi-instrumentalist Brian Scanlon's fluid flute solo and Geissman's equally lithe feature.

Eclectic is the word here, from the sweet funk and Geissman's Wes Montgomery-esque octave lines of “Chicken Shack Jack” and fierier bop of “Too Cool for School,” featuring one of Geissman's hottest solos of the set, to the softly balladic “Even If...,” where Geissman's command of harmony is front and center during the solo guitar intro, and the knotty-themed, up-tempo blues of “Dig Some Sides?,” where Geissman rivals his solo on “Too Cool” with another that's in even greater command of the tune's rapid changes--fast arpeggios finely winding their way through like thread through a needle.

Geissman is a generous leader, providing plenty of solo space, not only to his high profile guests, but his regular band mates as well. But at the end of the day, it's Geissman who shines the most on Cool Man Cool, an unassuming set that's in turns gritty, poignant, swinging...and always nothing less than thoroughly impressive.

Downbeat 75th Anniversary Issue Ad -July

2009-05-07T12:22:00.000-07:00

PR/RADIO - KCCK 88.3 FM Eastern Iowa

2009-05-02T09:59:00.000-07:00

CD of the Month - May 2009
The KCCK Featured CD for May is "Cool Man Cool" from guitarist Grant Geissman. After a long flirtation with smooth jazz, Geissman has returned to his jazz roots, revealing an eclectic streak featuring everything from scorching bebop and Latin jazz romps to poignant ballads and Gypsy swing, to soul jazz and second-line grooves. The stellar line-up of guests includes Chick Corea, Tom Scott, Russ Ferrante, Patrice Rushen, and his one-time boss Chuck Mangione. The disc is dedicated to the former band mates of Geissman and Mangione who perished in a recent plane crash in Buffalo. "Cool Man Cool" is on Futurism Records.

Hear KCCK at 88.3 FM in most of eastern Iowa, 106.9 FM in Johnson County, or click here to listen online.

PR - The Palo Alto Daily News 05/01/2009, Page A28

2009-05-02T09:57:00.000-07:00

BY PAUL FREEMAN
FOR THE DAILY NEWS
GRANT GEISSMAN - "COOL MAN COOL"
The Saratoga artist, an acclaimed fusion guitarist/composer/session player, takes listeners on an exhilarating musical journey that veers from bebop to Latin to Django to funk to exotica. Passengers include Chick Corea, Chuck Mangione, Tom Scott and Van Dyke Parks.

PR - Review - All Music Guide (and also appearing on iTunes)

2009-05-01T15:06:00.000-07:00

GRANT GEISSMAN : COOL MAN COOL
Review by Michael G. Nastos

Grant Geissman really stepped up his game with the release of his previous CD Say That, and on this excellent recording where his finely honed jazz sensibilities come fully to the forefront. There's nary a speck of commercial filler, as every track sports an authenticity and originality that belie the derivative music he had made a living on for years. This is a fine effort with little reason to spoil with wasted critique, as Geissman himself is on top of his game, and whether he's playing with his peer group or select all-stars, the music is at a high level from start to finish. While bop does prevail, contemporary and progressive neo-bop are heard without the predictable trappings, and Geissman changes up the band per track to keep things ever interesting in the best sense of the term. Most fans will gravitate toward the cuts featuring the all-stars, "Chuck & Chick" in particular, as Geissman's classical acoustic guitar sidles along with Chick Corea's cascading piano in a lilting waltz with Spanish overtones, Chuck Mangione's credible jazz flugelhorn, Russell Ferrante's Fender Rhodes, and the soprano sax of Brian Scanlon. Mangione and Ferrante also show up during the slinky, under the surface tune "Tiki Time," while pianist Patrice Rushen, Mangione, and Scanlon on tenor sax all team up on the tasty, chunky funky number "Nawlins." Tom Scott plays tenor sax, guesting on the basic "Chicken Shack Jack" next to Geissman's chordal Wes Montgomery-type musings, while "Mad Skillz" is another fundamental tune, in this case a blues swinger. Guitar legend Jerry Hahn, clearly a big influence on Geissman, joins the band on "One for Jerry," a good groover with two plectrists and two keyboardists including organist Mike Finnigan. The shuffle swinger "Cool Blooz" is derived from "All Blues," features the renowned jazz and rock Hammond B-3 veteran, and sports a steelier guitar tone. Then there's the appearance of Van Dyke Parks, never really a jazz player but astute on the accordion for "Minnie Lights Out," an old-ti me oom-pah-pah tune punctuated by the tuba playing of Trey Henry. Despite the immense star power, it is Geissman and Scanlon who stand tall next to the well-known names. Geissman is notable for the comfortable flexibility he displays throughout, while Scanlon can hold his own with any post-Michael Brecker saxophonist, and proves it in every one of his nine appearances on the CD, even playing flute on the soulful title track. There's no slick or smooth material here, it all displays the epitome of California cool, and the selections have a thoughtful approach that reflect what Geissman has now evolved into. This album is clearly the best effort for the guitarist, and comes highly recommended for fans of Geissman's instrument, and all contemporary jazz listeners.
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All Music Guide Review Link

PR - Democrat and Chronicle Review

2009-05-01T08:04:00.001-07:00

GRANT GEISSMAN: COOL MAN COOL. This is a wonderful album by the guitarist who was part of some of Chuck Mangione's more memorable recordings, including Feels So Good. Since the Mangione days, he's established a solid solo career on the West Coast. Cool Man Cool has a lot going for it, especially his clean, melodic and enticing playing throughout. But it also offers a very rare meeting of flugelhornist Mangione with pianist Chick Corea for "Chuck and Chick," a rousing, Spanish-tinged track. Mangione plays on two other tracks. Still, it's Geissman's album, and he plays beautifully on acoustic and electric guitars through the set.
— Jack Garner
Democrat and Chronicle link

PR-Folk & Acoustic Music Exchange Review

2009-04-20T11:37:00.000-07:00

http://www.acousticmusic.com/fame/p05542.htm

Cool Man Cool

Grant Geissman

Futurism Records - FR-2054

Available from Amazon.com

A review written for the Folk & Acoustic Music Exchange
by Mark S. Tucker
(progdawg@hotmail.com).

Uh-oh, you may be thinking: "Grant Geissman! Wasn't he the cat who put out all those weenie elevator jazz slabs? The guy who, along with Phil Upchurch and God only knows how many other string twanglers, made syrup soup an annoying household buzz?" Well, yes indeed he was, but I'm exceedingly happy to announce the boy's changed his erstwhile ways…and, yow, what a change!

The Miles Thompson liner art alone tips you off to just how uber-cool this CD is: a canvas of the 50s tiki art the painter Shag has made so hep again in the 20th/21st century, in this case crammed with cultural references (Maynard G. Krebs, Alfred E. Neuman, caricatures of some of the sessioneers, etc.). Probably most ironic is the fact that Geissman took on board a boatload of other musicians who similarly wussed out on the mostly regrettable elevator jazz craze—Patrice Rushen, Chick Corea (blame Scientology here, not "smooth jazz"), Tom Scott, and others—and all seem to be solidly locked back in the old tru-jazz groove along with him...at least as far as this excellent release indicates.

Geissman was always a talented player who I and many felt was wasting his gifts on glossy radio crapola, and this CD makes up for lost time with a vengeance. Crit muckamuck Bill Milkowski called the past wont a "flirtation" and, well, okay, to soft soap the scenario, we'll go along with it. With Cool Man Cool, however, all is forgiven. This swings, bops, chills, and trots out a menagerie of chops in the old West Coast Cool vein with considerable updates. In many ways, though, especially in cuts like Even If…", there's a strong Desmond feel to Geissman's guitar playing, that calculated steps-ahead form of thinking Anthony Braxton was so enamored of in Paul.

Besides the above-noted, Van Dyke Parks, Russ Ferrante, Mike Finnegan, Jerry Hahn, Charlie Bisharat, Alex Acuna, and others make appearances. I mean, this thing is star studded, loaded to the gills with top shelf playing, engineered like a diamond necklace, and packaged in a very sturdy heavy-duty gatefold LP-type jacket replete with extensive liner notes on one broadsheet, credits on another, an illustrated CD sleeve, and even a set of tatoo transfers!

Cool Man Cool is the sort of fare you always suspected Geissman could put out. The halcyon days of Benson, Wes, Kessell, Burrell, Green, and all those way-too-righteous axehandlers is once again showcased. Listen to the absolutely burning exchanges with Jerry Hahn on "One for Jerry", and I'm here and now certifying you ain't NEVER heard the guy play like this…er, unless, of course, you picked up the slab before this one, Say That!, another disc of the cat's pajamas and the CD that prefigured this one. Therefore, look out for both, not just this one, and 86 all the square fodder elsewhere. Break out the martini shaker, settle into the pad for a gone session, and get ready for a trip to hipsville, cats 'n kitties, 'cause Cool Man Cool is hot hot hot!

Track List:

Cool Man Cool Chicken Shack Jack Too Late for School Chuck and Chick Evan If… Dig Some Sides? One for Jerry	Minnie Lights Out Tiki Time Nawlins Crazy Talk Ya Think? Mad Skillz Cool Blooz
All songs written by Grant Geissman.

Edited by: David N. Pyles
(dnpyles@acousticmusic.com)

PR-Midwest Record Review!!

2009-04-18T17:20:00.001-07:00

MIDWEST RECORD
April 18, 2009
Filed under: Reviews

FUTURISM
GRANT GEISSMAN/Cool Man Cool: If you didn’t quit playing guitar because it was easier to listen to John McLaughlin than try to be as good as him, Geissman should convince you to quit because it’s easier to listen to him than try to be as good. The albums he’s been making on his own nickel the last few years just keep getting more and more compelling. This time around, he spreads it around with a guest list including Van Dyke Parks, Chick Corea, Tom Scott, his old Boss Chuck Mangione, Jerry Hahn, Russ Ferrante and Patrice Rushen. If you think biz jazz and smooth jazz is all this MAD Magazine expert is all about, you really need to get your head out of the sand so you can enjoy a guitar man that is really a renaissance cat with a jazz vocabulary that will take you places you’ve only seen in dreams. An indescribably fantastic sonic journey that’s better heard than discussed, do yourself a favor and put this in your Amazon gold box and start dropping hints. Killer stuff!
2054

—CHRIS SPECTOR
www.midwestrecord.com
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PR Announcement!-Guitar Player Magazine

2009-04-17T12:30:00.000-07:00

GUITAR PLAYER magazine will be reviewing COOL MAN COOL in the July issue (with Pix!).

Hi-Res Promo Photos

2009-04-16T15:53:00.000-07:00

Short One Sheet

2009-04-13T12:21:00.001-07:00

Downbeat ad for COOL MAN COOL

2009-04-13T11:15:00.000-07:00

Downbeat ad for COOL MAN COOL. June issue, on sale in mid-May.

Current Retail Programs for Cool Man Cool

2009-04-13T10:37:00.000-07:00

Current Retail Programs for Cool Man Cool...

Super D "On The Radar" promotion (One Stop) RUN DATES:?
Edge Entertainment Distribution Stargazer weekly Ad (They are the top seller to libraries and college music stores around the country). RUN DATES:?
Amazon New Product Promotion RUN DATES: MAY
Amazon Jazz Sale RUN DATES: APRIL 30 - MAY 20