Indeed, Grillo is carving out his own identity with skilled improvisations, changing the phrasing and emphasizing different words as he expresses the lyrics. There are no formal arrangements. It is a wonderful experience to go out as a jazz performer because every evening is new, and it is a thrill to me to sing the song a different way each time. As a performer, Grillo exudes the inner excitement he feels. With confidence and cabaret charm, he finds the right groove, taking each song in the direction he wants it to go.
People go out to have a good time, and they want to swing.
So I might do 'My Funny Valentine' with high energy and a blues sound, like Etta James would do it. In 1997, Grillo retired after 30 years as a teacher with Milwaukee Public Schools, and now devotes full time to his singing. He credits his successful musical transformation to vocal lessons he took from Chicago songstress Jackie Allen and to frequent collaborations with guitarist Jack Grassel and pianist Barry Velleman. Each night is a jam session. Grassel and Grillo perform together as often as twice a week, and Grassel has encouraged Grillo to bring a high energy '90s approach to timeless tunes from the '30s, '40s and '50s.