Charanga  Tropical

Bassist for Charanga Tropical, Graydon Peterson, is one of the area's top-call bassists for Twin Cities, performing nightly with a variety of small and large ensembles across a range of styles.  He has worked with such artists as Debbie Duncan, Twin Cities Latin Jazz Orchestra, Adam Meckler, Seven Steps To Havana, and toured regionally and nationally.  
Graydon was a crucial cofounder of the innovative piano-less quintet 'Snowblind,' which released two outstanding CDs.  More recently he has led and composed for his own group, the Graydon Peterson Quartet which released its debut CD on Shifting Paradigm Records.  which performs original instrumental music that features beautiful melodies with a swath of odd meters and devilish grooves. 
 
Graydon began both electric and acoustic bass as a youth.  He completed his bachelor's degree in music composition at the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire (UWEC).  While there studied classical bass with legendary teacher James Clute, former principal bass with the Minnesota Orchestra. As member of the award-winning UWEC Jazz Ensemble I (multiple Downbeat awards), Graydon performed major jazz artists as Lewis Nash, Ingrid Jensen, Jason Marsalis, and Chris Botti. 
 
In addition to his skill and accomplishments in music, Graydon is a fourth degree black belt in Kung Fu and teaches regularly at the School of Shaolin Kung.