New York-based composer, performer, and educator Grady Tesch is an artist driven by curiosity, exploration, and a deep passion for musical storytelling. Drawing from jazz, improvisation, and a wide range of contemporary influences, Tesch creates music that balances emotional depth, rhythmic complexity, and a distinctive compositional imagination. Whether performing on stage, composing for film, or developing new musical projects, his work reflects a commitment to pushing creative boundaries and connecting with audiences through sound.
As a performer, Tesch has appeared at internationally renowned festivals including the Montreux Jazz Festival, Umbria Jazz Festival, and Costa Rica International Jazz Festival. Throughout his career, he has shared the stage with acclaimed artists including Shunzo Ono, Ira Coleman, Jerome Jennings, David Berkman, and Huevito Lobaton.
Tesch is the bandleader of Momentum, a New York City-based jazz collective exploring the intersection of contemporary jazz, experimental sounds, and expressive songwriting. With a sound that embraces improvisation while remaining rooted in strong melodies and compelling compositions, Momentum has become an active part of New York's independent music community. The collective released its debut EP, Aséna, and has been featured at notable events and venues including the Clifford Brown Jazz Festival, NuBlu's Producer Mondays, and Sō Percussion's Brooklyn Bound Artist Series. Momentum was also selected as an official winner of the Time and Space Series at the renowned Dimension 70 Tecording Studio.
Beyond the stage, Tesch composes original music for film, bringing his distinctive musical perspective to visual storytelling. His recent scoring work includes All Riders, featured on PBS as part of its POV Documentary Series and an official selection of the BAFTA Shorts Festival, as well as Tripping, which was selected for numerous LGBTQ+ film festivals.
Equally passionate about music education, Tesch is an organizer and instructor of Stefon Harris's Art of Listening Summer Intensive, hosted at Express Newark. From 2019 to 2022, he also led the percussion program at WHIN Music Community Charter School, an institution dedicated to bringing the transformative music pedagogy of El Sistema to its local community. Through his work as both an educator and performer, Tesch is committed to fostering creativity, cultivating musical curiosity, and building meaningful connections through music.