Refractions Nick Granville Group

• 1 Blues Suite 07:57
• 2 Shuffleupagus 05:01
• 3 Pinched Nerve 05:51
• 4 Blues for Les 07:20
• 5 Tossed Salad and Scrambled Eggs 05:36
• 6 Refractions 07:24
• 7 Ornette-Ology 03:48
• 8 Gloves Off 07:24
• 9 New Orleans On a Long Lead 09:31
• 10 Muddy Side Up 08:09
• Total Runtime 01:08:01

Info for Refractions

'Refractions' is the first outing on Rattle Jazz for Wellington-based guitarist Nick Granville, here joined by the Auckland dream-team of Roger, Oli and Ron.

All of the tunes for this album were the result of Nick’s study of (and respect for) the music of American jazz luminary, guitarist John Scofield – one of the most distinctive voices in jazz for more than 30-years. While the Scofield influence is evident throughout, the dominant voice on Refractions is unmistakably that of Nick and his exceptional sidemen.

But this album is far more than a mere homage. Nick pursues his personal artistic vision with a single-minded rigour that nods to the past, enriches the present, and produces a new combination of elements that look to the future.

'Jazz musicians walk a fine line between the past and the future. Behind them lie the myriad innovations of the collective development of jazz, dating from the early days of the 20th century. Ahead stretch the limitless possibilities afforded by creativity, improvisation and interaction. A jazz musician’s job, while living in the present, is to negotiate the two; to keep their feet grounded in tradition while letting their head and heart stretch to the clouds – creating something new while building on the music that has gone before. On Refractions, Nick Granville negotiates that path with great skill and aplomb.' (Nick Tipping)

Nick Granville, guitar
Roger Manins, sax
Olivier Holland, bass
Ron Samsom, drums

Produced by Nick Granville
Recorded by John Kim and David Rylands at the kenneth Myers Centre, Auckland, November 12, 2012
Mixed and mastered by Steve Garden, July 2013

Nick Granville
was born and raised in Wellington, NZ. Nick has had a very successful career as a professional musician. He has worked with the very best in many different genres of music and is very much in demand as an educator, teaching at the New Zealand School of Music, where he teaches big band rhythm section classes, guitar ensemble, fusion and individual guitar lessons. He teaches privately and has student travelling as far as south Australia for lessons. Known for his ability to get just the right guitar tone, Nick owns many top quality instruments including, solid bodyelectric, hollow-body jazz, 12 string electric, gypsy jazz grandbouce, Steel string acoustic, nylon string acoustic, Ukulele and a bass guitar. As strong sight reader, Nick is the first call for reading gigs. He is also known for his strong groove and rhythm playing.

This album contains no booklet.