Todd Grunder is a professional guitarist, electric bassist, and upright bassist. Raised in North Haven, Connecticut, he began his musical training with piano lessons at the age of six. At age 12 he began guitar lessons with an outstanding local guitar teacher, George Raccio. Todd spent his junior and senior years in high school attending an arts magnet high school in downtown New Haven, the Educational Center for the Arts (ECA). At ECA Todd learned music theory and performed with the ECA Jazz Ensemble.

After graduating from High School Todd moved to New York City to attend the Manhattan School of Music’s Jazz Program (MSM) At MSM Todd began to play the upright bass and studied with master bassist Larry Ridley as well as guitar great Rodney Jones. Todd received his bachelors degree in Jazz performance in 1997.

For the last two decades, Todd has been performing in New York City. From the renowned jazz club’s like the Blue Note, Small’s, and Smoke to concert halls like the Apollo Theater and Carnegie Hall it would be hard to find a venue in NYC in which Todd hasn’t performed. Todd has performed with many notable artist including Wynton Marsalis, Norah Jones, Philip Harper, Eric Lewis, Wayne Escoffery, and Jason Moran.

In 2009, Todd began working with New York street doo-wop/singing groups including Select Blendz, Spank, and Acapella Soul with whom he performed daily at the Metropolitan Museum of Art for five years. Currently, Todd is a member of the Cover Story Doo-Wop group and performs daily at the Bethesda Fountain in Central Park.

Todd began teaching private guitar and bass at Church Street School of Music and Art in 2006. He is comfortable in all styles including jazz, Blues, R&B, rock, and classical. Todd has a strong passion for teaching and continues to expand and refine his teaching techniques each year.