JUSTIN GRINNELL is a San Diego-based freelance jazz bassist and music educator.

Justin is currently performing for several jazz-influenced groups. His own group, the Justin Grinnell Quartet, recently released their debut album, Without You. The album features Justin performing his original compositions and arrangements with Los Angeles-based tenor saxophonist Robby Marshall, pianist Josh Nelson, and drummer Dan Schnelle.

Justin is also a member of the Danny Green Trio, a piano-bass-drums trio featuring Green’s original compositions and his creative combination of Modern Jazz, Brazilian Jazz, and Classical influences. Since its inception in 2008, the trio has released three albums. The first album, With You In Mind (2009), won the 2009 San Diego Music Award (SDMA) for “Best Jazz Album.” The second release, A Thousand Ways Home (2012) reached #17 on the Jazz Week Charts for national radio airplay and remained on the charts for 15 weeks. The third release, After The Calm (2014) won the 2015 SDMA for “Best Jazz Album.”

Although Justin is usually performing in familiar San Diego jazz hotspots, he is also no stranger to San Diego’s best-known theaters: the Civic Theatre, the Old Globe, Spreckels, and the La Jolla Playhouse. Justin has spent a lot of time at these venues as a pit orchestra member for a number of Tony Award-winning musicals, such as A Chorus Line, Avenue Q, The Drowsy Chaperone, Spamalot, Grease, and The Color Purple.

In addition to performing, Justin maintains an active teaching schedule as adjunct faculty at Grossmont College, Miracosta College, and University of San Diego, and as faculty for the Jazz 88.3-House of Blues-Francis Parker Annual Summer Jazz Workshop. He also frequently serves as an adjudicator and clinician at local jazz festivals.

Justin received his Bachelor’s and Master’s Degrees in Jazz Performance from San Diego State University and is near completion of his doctoral studies at the University of Southern California. Besides studying privately with Los Angeles’ first-call jazz bassist, Darek Oles, Justin’s enrollment at USC has given him the opportunity to study with internationally-recognized jazz artists Peter Erskine, Russ Ferrante, Bob Mintzer, and Alan Pasqua.

Justin Grinnell is a member of the San Diego Music Union, American Federation of Musicians, Local 325.