Steve Grismore (http://www.gizmojazz.com) is a recently retired Instructor of Jazz Studies at the University of Iowa (from 2000-2022). A prolific performer, Grismore has been playing guitar since 1965 and has degrees from G.I.T. (now called M.I.) and The University of Iowa (B.M. and M.A.). Currently Steve is performing with variations of his own jazz trio, a classic rock band the Beaker Brothers, the Dawg Bone Jazz Trio, and the jazz-funk fusion band Big Fun.

Steve has a long history of jazz education throughout the state of Iowa. He has given workshops at high schools and colleges throughout the Midwest. He has adjudicated numerous high school jazz festivals including those for the Southeastern Iowa Bandmasters Association, the Northern Iowa Area Community College, U of Wisconsin Stevens Point, Central College, Indian Hills Community College, Hoover Jazz Festival, Truman State University, the Tall Corn Jazz Festival, the Jack Oatts Jazz Festival, Liberty Jazz Festival, SEIBA, NEIBA, and many others.

He has taught at several private colleges in Iowa including Coe, Cornell, Central Grinnell, and Iowa Wesleyan College. In addition, he taught at Kirkwood Community College in Cedar Rapids, IA, Blackhawk Community College in Moline, IL, Augustana College, Rock Island, IL, and at the University of Northern Iowa in Cedar Falls, IA. In 1991, Steve along with Mark Ginsberg co-founded the Iowa City Jazz Festival. It continues to be a popular summer music destination for jazz lovers of all kinds. He was the festival director from 1991 to 2010.

Steve is married to Virginia Armstrong and has a son, Alex.

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