Extra Step

At just 15 years of age, Grant Richards is one of the premier young jazz musicians in the Pacific Northwest. Since being introduced to the piano and the world of jazz at the age of 8, Grant is already playing professionally and released his first album January of 2006. Born and raised in Portland, Oregon, he has received praise from numerous sources including the Jazz Society of Oregon and many of the area's top musicians. In 2004, Downbeat Magazine, the nationally renowned jazz publication, awarded him the 27th Annual Student Award for Solo Instrumentalist in the Junior High Division. He won yet again in 2005, this time for the 28th Annual Student Award for Best Jazz Arrangement, making him one of only two people to win an award in both years. Grant was a member of the Metropolitan Youth Symphony Jazz Orchestra, for which he was presented with the Most Outstanding Musician Award in 2004. He is the pianist for the Portland Youth Jazz Orchestra, which is composed of many of the best high school students in the area He also has played with the Beaverton Arts & Communications Magnet Academy Jazz Ensemble, which under the direction of Dr. Thara Memory, has won several prestigious competitions. Together, they performed at the Cheonan/Beaverton Sister City Festival in South Korea to help promote relations between the two countries. The Grant Richards Trio,played at the 2005 Portland Jazz Festival.