Grassology by Jason Keiser

I met Jason Keiser several years ago and found him to be a very enthusiastic, hard-working and dedicated guitarist with a wide range of musical influences. As a teenager, he had an interest in both jazz and bluegrass. This naturally led him to the “Dawg” music of David Grisman, the “Spacegrass” of Tony Rice and the jazz-based acoustic guitar music of John Carlini (who in the early years of the David Grisman Quintet served as the band’s musical director). From the time he was in his late teens, Jason has approached the genres of bluegrass and jazz with equal enthusiasm.

While in college, Jason began working with Tony Rice’s brother, Wyatt Rice, as his mentor. Through that work, Jason deepened his connection with the acoustic music lineage that Grisman, Rice and Carlini forged in the mid-1970s. Wyatt Rice recalls working with Keiser at East Tennessee State University, saying, “Jason had been bitten by the Spacegrass/Dawg music bug. He was a straight-A student in my class. I’m proud of what he is doing. He is a real go-getter. He doesn’t give up on anything. He knew exactly what he wanted to do, and he has done it.” Carlini (who has also given Jason lessons) said, “Jason is a very talented young up-and-coming guitar player. I’m proud that he is going in the direction that he is going.”

One of the examples of the direction that Jason is going is the CD you now hold in your hands. On this recording he not only gives a strong nod to each of his above-mentioned heroes by recording tunes that were written by them (“Sam-Bino” and “Opus 38” by Grisman, “Manzanita” by Rice, and “So It Goes” by Carlini), but the original title track “Grassology” is a tribute to the music of all three of these influences…and more!

In addition to his original jazz-influenced tunes—“Grassology” and “Val’s for Dawg,”— Jason has filled this recording with traditional bluegrass tunes (“Gold Rush,” “Bill Cheatham,” and “Prayer Bells From Heaven”) and songs from the American songbook (“You Are My Sunshine,” “Tennessee Waltz,” and “The Old Rugged Cross”). To round out the album, Jason includes three more modern numbers that have been written by a few of his other music influences. “Have You Ever Been To England” was written by guitarist David Grier. “Salt Spring” was written by mandolinist John Reischman and “Where Did the Morning Go” by mandolin and fiddle player Shawn Lane. Jason performs every tune on this album in his own innovative style.

While many of the tunes on this album may be familiar to fans of acoustic jazz and bluegrass, Jason’s unique approach will inspire you to listen to them with new ears and perhaps give you a new appreciation for the possibilities imbedded in these harmonies and melodies.

Jason Keiser is one of the few young musicians who is putting effort towards continuing the musical path that Grisman, Rice and Carlini blazed nearly fifty years ago and I applaud him for his efforts.

Dan Miller
Publisher Flatpicking Guitar Magazine
Editor Bluegrass Unlimited Magazine

Jason Keiser is a professional guitarist, OA2 & Adhyaropa Records Recording Artist, composer, and educator. Additionally, Keiser leads the Bay Area based bluegrass-jazz fusion string band The New Acoustic Collective. Keiser holds a Bachelors in Bluegrass, Old-Time, & Country Music Studies from East Tennessee State University and a Masters of Music in Jazz Studies from San Jose State University.

jasonkeisermusic.com