Grant Dermody (DER-muh-dee) is a harmonica player, singer, songwriter, and teacher from Seattle, Washington. Described as "an understated harmonica virtuoso and a vocalist of subtlety and warmth" by Don McLeese of No Depression magazine, Grant is a highly versatile musician.
Grant’s primary focus is acoustic blues. Currently playing in a trio with Orville Johnson and John Miller, (watch for their debut recording Deceiving Blues, in March 2006), Grant has also performed with blues legends Honeyboy Edwards, Robert Lowery, Big Joe Duskin, John Dee Holeman, and Cephas & Wiggins. Grant also tours periodically with New Jersey guitar maestro Frank Fotusky. Another of Grant's passions is old-time music. As a member of The Improbabillies, whose 1998 self-titled CD made quite a splash in the old-time world, Grant brought a unique blues sensibility and an innovative harmonica style to that genre.
An excellent accompanist, Grant uses his instrument to add just the right shade, feel or energy to a player, piece or project. He has played on several of Seattle based singer/songwriter Jim Page's recordings, and was a guest artist on Dan Crary's, Rennaissance of the Steel String Guitar. Dan described Grant’s playing on “Reedy’s Blues,” as "powerful and beautiful,” and referred to him as "One of the best studio musicians I have ever worked with."
When other harmonica players are asked to describe Grant's playing, they all mention his big, warm, wide-open tone, his ability to bring his own voice to a wide variety of musical styles, and his subtle, un-hurried style. Though Grant spends most of his musical time playing acoustic music, he greatly enjoys plugging in and laying down some Chicago Blues.
Grant has been a teacher of the harmonica for many years in both private and group settings all over the country to students of all ages. He has taught at Blues Week at The Augusta Heritage Center in Elkins West Virginia, The Country Blues Workshop in Port Townsend, Washington, and the Telluride Acoustic Blues Camp in Telluride, Colorado. He was recently hired to teach at Blues Week through Euro Blues Productions Limited at The University of Northhampton in the United Kingdom. Grant has taught hundreds of kids in several elementary schools in the Seattle area how to play the harmonica.
In performances, recordings, and teaching engagements, Grant’s soulful sound shines through, inspiring listeners and fellow musicians. As Don McLeese put it, Grant “not only renews an acoustic legacy, but extends it.”
site: Deepwood Studio
