Tom Grant and Valerie Day – Side by Side

Timeless melodies, smooth delivery, a musical conversation…This is what Side By Side is all about. This first album by Tom Grant and Valerie Day is a special collaboration. The two create new takes on classic tunes, with Grant’s seamless piano playing and Day’s crystal clear voice. They are honest interpretations of the originals. Nothing fancy, just a pure representation of the melody done beautifully by two consummate performers.
Tom Grant and Valerie Day both have rich musical histories. Between them they have produced over 25 recordings, garnering success in both the contemporary jazz and pop worlds, respectively.
Valerie Day found fame with the Grammy nominated group Nu Shooz. Her ringing vocals on the hit, “I Can’t Wait” breathed new life into ’80s pop music. She has since gone on to success as a jazz singer, fronting a big band called the Knights of Swing, as well as several jazz combos. She has a voice that’s evocative of another time, yet refreshingly modern, with an impressive range and effortless delivery.
Tom Grant is a fixture on the Northwest music scene. He was a pioneer of jazz fusion and adult contemporary jazz. His longtime group, the Tom Grant Band, was one of the biggest drawing bands of the ’80s and ’90s. Tom’s numerous recordings consistently landed at the top of the New Adult Contemporary and Smooth Jazz charts, a genre Tom helped pioneer in the mid-80s. Over the years he has played with numerous jazz icons, including Jim Pepper, Woody Shaw, Tony Williams and Joe Henderson. He plays jazz piano with the harmonic sophistication and deep sense of swing that comes from more than three decades on the bandstand, and his smooth crooning voice blends perfectly with Day’s clear-cut interpretations of the classics. Grant was recognized for his lifetime of work by the Jazz Society of Oregon, being its inductee to the Hall of Fame for 2004.
On Side By Side, Day and Grant combine their talents in a unique setting – that of the intimate jazz duo. The album is a collection of piano and vocal duets that explores a wide range of material, from Tin Pan Alley favorites, like the title track, to modern standards, such as “Up On The Roof”, and “Alone Together.” With Grant’s superbly fluid piano playing and Day’s exquisitely pure voice, the two literally make beautiful music together.
With its classic melodies and superb musicianship, Side By Side is a sure bet to be on every jazz listener’s heavy rotation list.