An Empty Room, the original series that explores the connective tissue between 6 uniquely influential artists from the Atlanta music scene, continues with jazz guitarist and R&B legend Grant Green Jr. on Sunday December 4th.
In Grant Green Jr. fashion, he plays his music with fervor and passion as his intoxicating melodies and soulful vocals permeate the bounds of your screen. He sings his original hits, like “Not My America” and “Ball of Confusion,” as well as his covers of Bill Withers’ “Ain’t No Sunshine,” Willy Nelson’s “Crazy,” and Ray Charles’ “Hit the Road Jack.”
He tells the story of how he became enthralled with music and how he landed on the guitar.
He heard guitars being played all the time since his father is the great jazz musician Grant Green. At the age of 5 or six, when he was living with his Grandfather in St. Louis, He would watch and listen to an old blues player walk down the alley playing the harmonica and ask his Grandfather to buy him one. His Grandfather bought him a C harmonica and soon he was playing what he heard the blues Musician playing. He learned how to play and his grandfather knew that he was musically inclined.
He then wanted to learn the guitar because that’s what his father played, but it never really stuck at that age. He went onto the drums playing James Brown beats. When he turned 14 he got back into the guitar because of the freedom of writing riffs and rhymes that he couldn’t really do with the drums.
He shares the story of being Stevie Wonder’s parent’s neighbors and how they would get together and just jam. He credits the motown and R&B scenes in Detroit for his style today.
He has gone on to play with Leon Thomas, Jimmy McGriff, Gene Ludwig, Lou Donaldson, Dr Lonnie Smith, Red Holloway, Kevin Mahogany, Reuben Wilson, Bernard Purdie. His group, The Masters Of Groove, was formed with Reuben Wilson, Bernard Purdie and Grant Green Jr. among many others. For his performance with An Empty Room, he performs with Bernard Purdie and Reuben Wilson.
On Sunday, December 4th, you can attend the watch party for Grant’s previous performance and interact with him.
Grant Green Jr. Online Watch Party Details
Sunday December 4, 2022
9 PM EST
Reserve Free Tickets here.
Listen to the An Empty Room Podcast here.
Find Grant Online here.
About An Empty Room
Created and produced in the height of 2020 when touring artists had to pivot, the Empty Room series features quality documentary-style storytelling interspersed with musical performances where the up close viewer perspective serves as the sole audience member.
The Atlanta-based Kearns family created and produced the entire series when the music industry as it was once known had shuttered. The family captured intimate performances and never-before heard stories from musicians with deep Atlanta roots during a time when neither producers nor touring musicians had a clear trajectory for creation. “When the artists asked ‘What do you want me to play?’ I told them: Whatever you would play if you were sitting by yourself in your living room,” says Martin “Marty” Kearns.
About Volume
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Volume differentiates itself by connecting all viewers and performers with first-class sound and visual quality. Their multi-layered audio effects, plugins, and soundcheck create a unique and seamless experience for both performers and audience members. They celebrate all artistic expression, be that in music, podcasts, comedy, or even sports, and provide a fun, welcoming, and vibrant community for all.
