Alto and soprano saxophonist Carl Grubbs’ family connections brought him close to many history-making musicians of the 1950s and 1960s. His cousin, Naima, was married to John Coltrane and inspired one of the most beautiful jazz ballads named in her honor. And Coltrane shared his skillset with Grubbs providing him extensive early training.
In the early 70s, the Philadelphia native teamed with his late brother, tenor saxophonist Earl Grubbs, to form “The Visitors,” a quintet that recorded four albums for the Muse record label. He has written great songs and has played with some of the world’s greatest players—Julius Hemphill, Pharoah Sanders, Stanley Clarke, and Malachi Thompson—yet has remained in relative obscurity.
As a former member of the Julius Hemphill Saxophone Sextet, Grubbs collaborations and experimental output include the dance/theatre project with Bill T. Jones/Arne Zane Production: Last Supper at Uncle Tom’s Cabin: The Promised Land. There was also Hemphill’s celebrated Long Tongues: A Saxophone Opera. Both productions were enthusiastically received here and in Europe.
Grubbs has had a diverse career as a composer, performer, teacher, leader, recording artist, and presenter. The Carl Grubbs Ensemble performs his original compositions and jazz standards in cities in the U.S. and internationally at jazz festivals in Bogota and Medellin, Columbia, S.A., including a recent eight-city tour of Brazil.
Grubbs was a guest soloist at the Philadelphia performance of Reggie Workman’s selections of John Coltrane’s Africa/Brass tribute sessions. He has performed with Odean Pope’s Saxophone Choir at the Blue Note in New York City. The Philadelphia Jazz Project (The Painted Bride) commissioned a new arrangement of his composition, “In My Youth,” for jazz/string ensemble for inclusion in its annual “Frosty 2” event.
Currently, Grubbs is Artist in Residence at St. Paul School in Brooklandville, MD. Since 1997 he has served as Director of SAX: Summer Music and Dance Camp on Loyola College’s campus in Maryland.