Jonathon Grasse is a composer, ethnomusicologist, and electric guitarist based in Los Angeles.
Centaur Records releases his new CD "Chamber Music" in November, 2011, and includes "Flutations" for flute quartet, "Five Scenes from the Life of Edward de Vere" for double reeds, mandolin, and arpeggione,, "Rua Bambui" for solo guitar, "Letters from Brazil" for soprano saxophone and guitar, "Impossible Miniatures" (digital soundscapes), and "Temporary Walnut Sounds" for mixed improvisation ensemble.
Jonathon completed "Time Garden/Afternoon Polyphonies" in December, 2011. The work for oboe, viola, and piano will premiere in March, 2012 at California State University, Dominguez Hills.
His February 2011 faculty recital at CSU Dominguez Hills included the premiere of a work for American gamelan and two trombones "The Informal Sector" (performed in May at LA's MicroFest), and a new large scale site-specific piece called "Vaudeville".
Jonathon's fall 2011 schedule included recording portions of a new CD of improvisations featuring Emily Hay (flute/voice), Tom Steck (drums), Cristian Amigo (guitar), Gustavo Aguilar (drums). This will be released on Acoustic Levitation in 2012.
Los Angeles-based improvisation ensemble Surrealestate, for which Jonathon plays electric guitar, will release a companion CD to its 2010 Acoustic Levitation title "Lacunae". The new CD "Aporias" features Bruce Friedman (tr), Ken Luey (winds), Charles Sharp (winds/perc), and David Martinelli (drums).