Concurrent with those academic studies, he served a lengthy apprenticeship in jazz and blues, playing nightclubs such as the old Blue Note in North Minneapolis, the Extraordinaire, and the Downtowner. In addition to his own ensembles and solo work, Dean has performed with, The Whole Earth Rainbow Band, Yvonne Rainer Grand Union Dance Company, the Nancy Hauser Dance Company, Dave Dudley, Lee Konitz, Richie Cole, Lapis, Wingless Transportation Trio, Les Thimic, Anthony Cox (Siamese Fighting Fish, Starry Eyed Lovelies), Gao Hung, Vinnie Golia, Eric Gravatt and Kamanari, the Guthrie Theater company, Happy Apple, F*K*G, the Brad Bellows Duo, Carie Thomas, the Joe Smith Quartet, Ira Sullivan, Billy Holloman, "How Birds Work"', and George Cartwright’s “Curlew” and "Gloryland Ponycat".ĭean Granros attended the University of Minnesota for music theory and composition 1970-1972, and studied composition with John Gessner at Macphail Center in 1973. to Jimi Hendrix, John Lee Hooker, and Mississippi Fred McDowell. His musical role models have ranged from Charles Ives and Messiaen, to Ornette Coleman, Monk, Steve Lacy, Anthony Braxton. ![]() Dean now lives in Wisconsin, not far from Eau Claire.Ī composer and improviser, since the mid-sixties Dean has been combining blues, classical, electro-acoustic, rock ‘n roll, country, western swing, and various world music influences, and mixing it all in a pot of new jazz broth. ![]() Born in Ft Monmouth, NJ in 1951, Dean Granros lived in Minnesota most of his life, and is one of Minnesota’s veteran jazz composers and guitarists, and a pioneer of progressive guitar improvisation.
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