Composer & Bass Clarinetist

Griffin Woodard is a composer, bass clarinetist, and bandleader who believes in the transformative power of music.

As an instrumentalist, Woodard’s primary focus is playing the bass clarinet in a jazz context. He has dedicated years of study to acquiring an in-depth understanding of the rich historical lineage of jazz clarinetists and bass clarinetists from Johnny Dodds to Eric Dolphy.

He hopes to honor the profound contributions of the masters by pushing his instrument to new frontiers of personal expression.

Woodard’s compositions have been performed by a variety of esteemed ensembles and soloists, including the New England Conservatory Jazz Composers’ Workshop Orchestra, the Bach Festival Orchestra of Bethlehem, the Allentown Symphony Orchestra, concert pianist Michelle Cann, and organist Stephen Williams.

In 2022, Woodard was awarded the ASCAP Foundation Herb Alpert Young Jazz Composer Award for his piece, “Kyrie”.

 

Bandleader

Woodard released three albums and an EP.  Live at the Deer Head Inn is set to release on July 7, 2023.

Woodard’s second album Precious One released March 24, 2023 and his debut album Completion released on Oct.14, 2022. His EP, Kyrie released on September 9, 2021. 

His quartet and quintets have performed at the Deer Head Inn, Wandering Barman, Jazz On Main, Maureen’s Jazz Cellar, The Lafayette Bar, The Bookstore Speakeasy, Oberlin College, and Lehigh Valley Charter High School for the Arts.



 
 

Film Scoring

In 2021, Woodard composed the soundtrack for Air Drawn Dagger, a short film written and directed by Jada Reid, Savannah College of Art and Design alumna. The film score makes inventive use of sample libraries mixed in with live sounds.

The film has received official selection for the 2022 Seattle Black Film Festival, the 2022 San Diego Black Film Festival, and the 2021 Queen City Film Festival.

 

Sonny Rollins Ensemble

During his senior year at Oberlin, Woodard was selected to be the arranger/composer and clarinetist of the Oberlin Sonny Rollins Jazz Ensemble. This ensemble was established by Sonny Rollins to instill the importance of service and generosity in young musicians. The ensemble interacted directly with Mr. Rollins, and embarked on a San Francisco tour in January 2020.

The group performed several high school outreach concerts and masterclasses, volunteered at the Glide Memorial Church Daily Free Meals program, and headlined at the Joe Henderson Lab at SFJazz, where one of Woodard’s original compositions and four of his arrangements were performed.

 

Oberlin & New England Conservatory

Woodard graduated from Oberlin Conservatory in 2020 with a B.M. in Jazz Studies with a Composition Concentration and earned the equivalent of a minor in Africana Studies from Oberlin College. He studied with illustrious artists and highly esteemed instructors Gary Bartz, Jay Ashby, Dan Wall, Meeko Israel, Fredara Hadley, Johnny Coleman, Caroline Jackson Smith, and Dr. Willis Okech Oyugi. 

He earned his M.M. in Jazz Composition at the New England Conservatory in May, 2022. During his two years at NEC, he had the honor to study with acclaimed artists such as Bert Seager, Brian Levy, Jason Moran, Jerry Bergonzi, Mal Barsamian, and Frank Carlberg.

Griffin is filled with profound gratitude for the privilege of learning from such inspirational mentors.


 

Origins & Influences

Hailing from Bethlehem, PA, Woodard’s formative years were spent studying at the Lehigh Valley Charter High School for the Arts. Charter Arts routinely offered Woodard the opportunity to attend masterclasses with prolific artists such as Albert "Tootie" Heath and Dave Liebman, and study and work with professional musicians such as John Arnold, David Macbeth, Dr. Larry Lipkis, and Greg Funfgeld.

His highly esteemed mentors, Greg Eicher and Mike Lorenz helped Woodard develop a strong work ethic and deep respect for the historical significance of the Blues Tradition.

Frank Zappa’s music inspired him to pick up the pen and compose; J.S. Bach’s music laid the foundation for him to research, study, and practice all aspects of composition; John Coltrane’s music inspired him to pursue instrumental mastery with a burning fervor and to become a lifelong student of Black American Music.

Mission

Above all else, his goal as a musician is to earnestly praise God through music and in so doing, uplift and inspire all who hear his musical offerings.