Sabian - Because Sound Matters

Greg Grainger with Acoustic Alchemy, U.K.

Mar 06, 2008

Greg Grainger is one of the hidden gems on the session scene. Passionate for the instrument from the age of 19, and together with brother Gary Grainger, they partnered to form a rhythm section kicking out some major sessions.

Greg also took the drumseat on the 1988 tour with Whitney Houston and has worked on projects with Lonnie Liston Smith and Kim Waters. Today he continues his contagious smooth jazz grooves with British based Acoustic Alchemy. RHYTHM magazine has christened his work as 'solid and tasteful' and dubbed him 'a rhythm master'.

His collaboration with Greg Carmichael (Acoustic Alchemy) in 1985 has given him commitment to this acoustic smooth jazz guitar group. Caught at the Pizza Express Jazz Club in London's Soho his performance was commanding, expressive and a commitment for playing for the song - a great example of discipline and musicality.

His brand of smooth jazz drumming leads him to a combination of cymbals across the SABIAN range. Always sensitive to tone and volume Greg chooses 21" HHX Groove Ride for its retro sound for the blended tones and crash qualities. 14" HHX X-Cellerator Hats with its controllable dark projection gives it the cutting edge in this set-up.  His crashes are smaller and compact than conventional set-ups - 15" AAX Studio Crash and 16" HH Thin Crash - contrasting tones giving tight and the short explosions of sound with a short decay giving more control to express the music. A combination of splash sizes 12" AAX Splash and 10" AAX Splash for those quick accents and tonal nuances. For his effects cymbal Greg chooses 16" HH Thin Chinese ? short, sweet and musically trashy.

Cymbal Set-up
21" HHX Groove Ride
14" HHX X-Cellerator Hats
15" AAX Studio Crash
10" AAX Splash
12" AAX Splash
16" HH Chinese
 

Check out video clips from this event in the Multimedia section!!

For more information:
Greg Grainger: www.gregorygrainger.com


Report & Photography: Jerome Marcus