Steve Grismore is a recently retired Instructor of Jazz Studies at the University of Iowa. A prolific performer, Grismore has been playing guitar for over 55 years and has degrees from G.I.T. (now called M.I.) and The University of Iowa (B.M. and M.A.). He has recorded three nationally distributed CDs for the Accurate label (Boston) with the “Grismore/Scea Group”, 8 cd’s with Iowa’s very own salsa band, “Orquesta Alto Maiz”, and 3 cd’s with the group “Oddbar” and numerous other recording with friends around the country. Steve released a cd in 2012 “Besame Mucho” with the Steve Grismore Trio (featuring Sam Salamone and John Kizilarmut) and the Gizmojazz cd “Me and My Machine” released 2018.He also released “The Grismore Family Album in 2019, Better Time (Are a Comin’) in 2021, and One for Hairy in 2022. His most recent release was “Dig it” with 3 Dawgs and a Bone. Currently Steve is performing with variations of his own trio with various organ, bassists, and drummers, a classic rock band the Beaker Brothers, and the funk fusion band Big Fun.

Additionally, he has recorded and/or performed with such jazz greats as, David Sanborn, Charlie Haden, Matt Wilson, Tim Hagans, Robin Eubanks, Bobby Shew, Steve Swallow, Carla Bley, Paul Smoker, Sex Mob, Vinny Golia, Kenny Wheeler, Corey Christiansen, Mike Lee, Jeff Coffin, Ben Allison, Damon Short, Ryan Shultz, Kim Richmond, John Daniel, Dane Richeson, John Carlson, Johnny Rabb, Victor Mendoza, Tom Davis, John Rapson, Damani Phillips, and many more. He is a co-founder and former Musical Director of the nationally recognized Iowa City Jazz Festival. Steve was named to the Iowa Jazz Educators Hall of Fame in 2025. Learn more at www.gizmojazz.com.