Grant's Tomb

Grants Tomb, hailing from Greenwich Village is powered by many of the young lions on the New York jazz scene. They combine elements of rock, jazz, blues, they add a taste of funk and a slice of americana to create a vibrant sound, new and fresh while still paying homage to past musical traditions. Their blazing horns, dueling keys and rock solid rhythm section is created a a buzz on Bleecker St, not seen in years when they jammed every Wednesday night at the legendary club Kenny's Castaways recently closed.They perform 5 hour shows reglularly at Lucille's Grill at BB King Blues at Times Square and have recently headlined a very succesful show at the Brooklyn Bowl.

Grant's Tomb is comprised of conservatory trained jazz musicians most from the prestigious Manhattan School of Music, and got their name from Grant's Tomb Park a block away a favorite band hangout. The band ranges in size from 6 to 10 players depending on the venue and is capable of drawing it's set lists from all genres of music always feeding off it's audience for energy and direction. Because they're playing the music they love their sound is an incedible mix of high level musicianship played with garage band passion. In addiditon to an ever growing list of originals, Grant's Tomb jams on many of the classic songs from the Dead, Phish, the Beatles, Bob Dylan and the Band and Jimmy Cliff.

Grant's Tomb is led by Michael Bafundo, originally of Newington, CT, on trumpet and vocals. Mike Bafundo is graduate of the Manhattan School of Music, where he appeared with the Latin Grammy-nominated Afro-Cuban Jazz Orchestra under the direction of renowned percussionist Bobby Sanabria. A gifted soloist, composer and bandleader, Bafundo studied and performed for 6 years at Hartford's renowned Artist Collective under the guidance of founder and jazz legend Jackie McLean. Mike has studies privately with trumpeters Cecil Bridgewater, Laco Deczi, Josh Evans and renowned jazz educator Gary Dial and has performed alongside and for jazz greats including Jimmy Greene, Paul Brown, Candido Camero, and Tony Bennett.


Grants Tombs horn section also includes trombonist Isaac Kaplan, who recently earned a Bachelors in Jazz Trombone from Manhattan School of Music. Kaplan, now pursing a Masters from his alma mater, played with the NFAA and the Grammy bands and is a graduate of Long Beach Polytechnic High School, in California. Kaplan is joined by baritone saxophonist Leo Pelligrino, who is currently studying at the Manhattan School of Music, appears on ocean liners throughout the Atlantic Ocean and the Caribbean and performed with the Grammy Band. Kevin Supina a recent Manhattan School of Music grad is an outstanding Tenor Sax player originally from State College. PA.

Guitarist Sean Richey, originally of Fresno, CA, also attended the Manhattan School of Music where he earned a Bachelors degree in Jazz Performance. Richey plays alongside guitarist Kevin Barry-Dutro, a SUNY Purchase College graduate who often performs at sea with the Princess Cruises Orchestra. The band also features vocalist and backup keyboardist James Sheppard, who is currently persuing a masters in composition at the Manhattan School of Music in New York City after earning his Bachelors degree there. The rhythm section also includes keyboardist and organist Adrian Untermyer, who attended New York University and frequently appears both as a solo artist and as a bandleader throughout New York City and the Northeast.

Also from the Manhattan school of music Drummer Coleman Bartels, a native of Hanover and Long Island native Ray Cetta on bass are highly accomplished in demand players throughout New York.