Sam Grisman Project

Biography

The Sam Grisman Project is a rotating acoustic collective founded in early 2023 by Sam Grisman, a bass player and bandleader who grew up in Mill Valley, California, immersed in one of American music's most influential households. Sam's father, David "Dawg" Grisman, is a legendary mandolinist, composer, and producer who collaborated extensively with Jerry Garcia and other acoustic music pioneers. Growing up, Sam was surrounded by recording sessions and rehearsals featuring icons such as Doc Watson, Jerry Garcia, John Hartford, Mike Seeger, and Tony Rice—experiences that profoundly shaped his musical identity and artistic vision.

Sam spent his twenties touring as a sideman with various bands and artists, including the virtuoso band the Deadly Gentlemen and country star Lee Ann Womack, honing his craft before launching his own project. The Sam Grisman Project was created to honor and shed light on the acoustic music legacy of his father and Jerry Garcia, while showcasing how that heritage has influenced the collective's members and the broader music community. The project features a rotating cadre of accomplished musicians including guitarists Max Flansburg, Logan Ledger, Sam Leslie, Henry Moser, Jesse Harper, and Jefferson Hamer; mandolinists Dominick Leslie and Joe K.; and frequently collaborates with legendary bluegrass pioneer Peter Rowan, creating a direct link to the Old & In the Way legacy.

The Sam Grisman Project has quickly established itself as one of the most exciting young string bands on the contemporary scene, known for their deep grooves, telepathic musical interplay, and commitment to preserving and expanding great American acoustic music. The collective performs repertoire from the "Dawg & Jerry songbook" alongside original compositions, creating a safe space where audiences can experience the shared reverence for the music and musicians that continue to inspire them. The project's mission extends beyond performance to active participation in the community effort of preserving and appreciating acoustic roots music.

Fun Facts

• Sam grew up assuming everyone played music and viewed people's instruments as part of their personality, having been surrounded by world-class musicians from infancy in his father's Mill Valley home studio.
• Sam's sister Gillian directed the documentary 'Grateful Dawg,' which chronicles the relationship between David Grisman and Jerry Garcia, while his brother Monroe plays in Petty Theft, a Tom Petty tribute band—making the Grisman family a multi-generational artistic dynasty.
• Before founding the Sam Grisman Project, Sam and collaborators Dominick Leslie, Alex Hargreaves, and Nathaniel Smith formed a quartet called 'The Brotet' (a semi-joking name that became the title of their EP), which served as a precursor to his current rotating collective.
• Sam experienced Grateful Dead shows as a toddler with his older sister, giving him a unique perspective on the intersection of bluegrass and jam band music that directly informs the Sam Grisman Project's musical philosophy and repertoire.

Members

• Samson Grisman - eponymous
• Peter Rowan & Sam Grisman Project

Musical Connections

Mentors/Influences

• David "Dawg" Grisman - Father and primary musical influence; legendary mandolinist and composer who shaped Sam's early musical environment through constant exposure to recording sessions and rehearsals with acoustic music icons (Old & In the Way collaborations, Dawg music compositions including "Cedar Hill") [1990s-present]
• Jerry Garcia - Frequent collaborator with David Grisman; Sam experienced Grateful Dead shows as a toddler and was profoundly influenced by the Garcia-Grisman musical partnership (Old & In the Way, Grateful Dead repertoire) [1970s-1990s (Garcia's lifetime); ongoing influence]
• Doc Watson - Legendary guitarist and singer who visited David Grisman's home studio; left an impression on young Sam and inspired his pursuit of music (Acoustic roots music standards) [1980s-1990s]
• Tony Rice - Virtuoso guitarist who collaborated with David Grisman; influenced Sam's understanding of acoustic guitar mastery (Acoustic guitar compositions and collaborations) [1980s-1990s]
• Ric Robertson - Musical mentor and collaborator since Sam was 14 years old; instrumental in the formation and core chemistry of the Sam Grisman Project (Sam Grisman Project core iteration) [2000s-present]

Key Collaborators

• Peter Rowan - Legendary bluegrass pioneer and Old & In the Way co-founder; frequently performs with Sam Grisman Project, creating a deeply meaningful connection to the Grisman-Garcia legacy (Sam Grisman Project performances, Old & In the Way repertoire) [2023-present]
• Max Flansburg - Guitarist in the rotating Sam Grisman Project collective (Sam Grisman Project performances) [2023-present]
• Logan Ledger - Guitarist in the rotating Sam Grisman Project collective (Sam Grisman Project performances) [2023-present]
• Dominick Leslie - Mandolinist in the rotating Sam Grisman Project collective; previously performed with Sam in The Brotet quartet (Sam Grisman Project, The Brotet EP) [2015-present]
• Ric Robertson - Core member of Sam Grisman Project; seasoned multi-instrumentalist and songwriter with long-standing musical chemistry with Sam (Sam Grisman Project core iteration) [2023-present]
• Chris "Hollywood" English - Drummer and core member of Sam Grisman Project; described as an amazing musician and human being (Sam Grisman Project core iteration) [2023-present]
• Aaron Lipp - Core member of Sam Grisman Project; multi-instrumentalist and songwriter (Sam Grisman Project core iteration) [2023-present]
• David Grisman - Father and frequent performance partner; Sam and David perform together regularly (Joint performances including David Grisman's 80th birthday celebration) [2023-present]
• Billy Strings - Guest collaborator with Sam Grisman Project (Sam Grisman Project performances) [2023-present]
• Tim O'Brien - Guest collaborator with Sam Grisman Project (Sam Grisman Project performances) [2023-present]
• Margo Price - Guest collaborator with Sam Grisman Project (Sam Grisman Project performances) [2023-present]

Artists Influenced

• Contemporary acoustic and jam band musicians - Sam Grisman Project has carved out a unique place in the acoustic and jam band world, influencing the contemporary string band scene through their approach to honoring legacy while creating original music (Sam Grisman Project original compositions and performances) [2023-present]

External Links

• Spotify
• [Wikipedia](Not found in search results)
• MusicBrainz