The Grassy Knoll

The Grassy Knoll project essentially revolves around a single individual, Bob Green, whose work has spanned experimental genres such as ambient techno, acid jazz, and dub, all shaped by his deep-rooted passion for jazz fusion. Raised in the Dallas region, Green initially absorbed standard rock influences from the 1960s and 1970s, ranging from the British Invasion through early heavy metal, before developing a strong fixation on fusion, especially Miles Davis' output from the middle of the 1970s. He pursued photography studies at the San Francisco Art Institute, and by 1990 he had moved back to his hometown, where he started producing tracks using a computer and sampler. Green later headed back to the Bay Area in search of like-minded players, eventually connecting with drummer David Revelli, trumpeter Chris Grady, and reed player Jonathan Byerly. Following the circulation of his demos, the Grassy Knoll secured a deal with Nettwerk and issued its self-titled debut album in 1995, aided in production by Jaime Lagueruela. Six months after that release, Polygram acquired the record via the Antilles imprint, which then put out the ensemble's follow-up, Positive, in 1996.