Jerry Granelli

Born in San Francisco, California on December 30, 1940, jazz drummer Jerry Granelli was best known for his work with the Vince Guaraldi Trio. He can also be heard on numerous session recordings by other artists including the groups Alive and Well and Four Drummers Drumming. Originally studying the violin as a child, he followed in his father’s and uncle’s footsteps and switched to the drums. A witness to the developing hard bop scene, in 1948, he met Gene Krupa, who advised him to study with Joe Morello, drummer of the Dave Brubeck Quartet. After a stint with the Johnny Hamlin Quartet, Jerry Granelli joined pianist Vince Guaraldi’s trio. Guaraldi has already achieved great success with the album and the title Cast Your Fate to the Wind (1962). Jerry Granelli took part in sessions for five of the trio’s albums including Jazz Impressions of a Boy Named Charlie Brown (1964) and A Charlie Brown Christmas (1965), which became one of the most popular holiday albums and soundtracks in music history. Attracted by free jazz, he left Guaraldi’s trio and collaborated with Denny Zeitlin, Carmen McRae, Jimmy Witherspoon, Lou Rawls, Mose Allison, The Ensemble and folk rock group We Five. Jerry Granelli released Visions, his first album as a leader, in 1978. Further albums as a leader include One Day at a Time (1990), A Song I Thought I Heard Buddy Sing (1992), Another Place (1993), 1313 (2010), What I Hear Now (2015) and Dance Hall (2017). He was also a sideman on albums by Ralph Towner, Jon Hendricks, Gary Peacock, Julian Priester, Robben Ford, Charlie Mariano, and Lee Konitz. Jerry Granelli died on July 20, 2021, at the age of 80. Just two days before, he had led a workshop at the Halifax Jazz Festival.

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