Peter Murray is a Toronto bass player who has performed with a wide variety of recording acts, including Ron Sexsmith (Blue Boy world tour, 2001-2002), Damhnait Doyle , Honeymoon Suite , Sass Jordan , Suzie McNeil , Shaye , Andy Kim , Martina Sorbara , Jian Ghomeshi (Moxy Früvous), Rita Chiarelli, Simon Wilcox , Michael Holt (Mommyheads), Madviolet , Jerome Godboo, Morgan Finlay , David Celia , Snailhouse , Royal Wood , Pamela Brennan and many others.
Peter has played bass on CDs by Damhnait Doyle (EMI), The Cash Brothers (Rounder), Mia Sheard (Perimeter/EMI), Dayna Manning , Julie Doiron , Jian Ghomeshi, Michael Holt (Fang), Morgan Finlay , Don Kerr , Jory Nash , Stewart Agnew, Andy Carey and others. Peter sings backups on CDs by David Celia and Kevin Fox, and played drums on recordings by David Celia, Michael Holt, Morgan Finlay and Universal Honey.
1990-1998, Peter was the bassist, co-writer and backup vocalist for alternative rock band Surrender Dorothy (Universal Records, BMG Music Publishing). The CD was released internationally in 1997; the band toured Europe six times, performed on German TV to over 6 million viewers, and played concerts with Barenaked Ladies, Garbage, Chumbawumba and Fun Lovin' Criminals. Their four videos appeared on MuchMusic, Germany's VIVA and MTV Europe.
Currently Peter plays in a progressive rock band called Druckfarben (including Phil Naro from Talas on vocals, Troy Feener on drums, Ed Bernard guitar and Will Hare on keys) and an experimental improv band called Retainer (with Justin Abedin on guitar, Dafydd Hughes on keys and Chris Lamont on drums), and also performs with Naked Brunch, the Anita Rossi Band, Michael Holt and others.
Peter has performed live on stage with Carmine Appice (Vanilla Fudge, Rod Stewart, Jeff Beck), Seymour Duncan, Stevie Salas (Mick Jagger, Rod Stewart, George Clinton), Jeff Healey, Rob Affuso (Skid Row), Jeff Martin (The Tea Party), Richard Bell (Janis Joplin, The Band, Bob Dylan), Bobby Economou (Blood Sweat & Tears, Jaco Pastorius), Michel Cusson and Alain Caron (Uzeb), Brooks Wackerman (Infectious Grooves), Phillip Sayce (Melissa Etheridge), Jake Langley (Joey DeFrancesco), Ken Greer (Red Rider), Kevin Fox (Sarah Harmer), Vinnie Dombroski (Sponge), David Langguth (Nelly Furtado) and Aidan Mason (Anne Murray).
Peter's instructional book Essential Bass Technique was published by Mel Bay Publications in 1995. The second edition was released by Hal Leonard Corp. in 2001. The book earned an A+ review in Bass Player and endorsements from Michael Manring, Tom Hamilton (Aerosmith), Steve Bailey, Billy Sheehan (Mr. Big), Mark Egan, Alain Caron and Rich Appleman (Berklee).
Click here to order Peter's book.
Peter's been teaching privately since 1989, served on the bass faculty of Guitar Workshop Plus and taught at The Twelfth Fret and the Music Resource Centre in Toronto. He's conducted technique workshops in Canada and Ireland, and hosts a technique forum at his Thermidor Music website.
Peter has written many features for California's Bass Player magazine, including pieces on Don Thompson, Alain Caron, Colin Moulding (XTC), Mark King (Level 42) and Joel Quarrington. 1993-1996, he was the bass columnist for Canadian Musician magazine ( click here to read some of his columns ); he's interviewed over 25 world-renowned bassists including Les Claypool (Primus), Doug Pinnick (King's X), Jeff Berlin, Victor Wooten, John Patitucci, Gary Willis and Carol Kaye.
Peter uses and endorses Markbass bass amps; G. Gould basses; Seymour Duncan pickups; DR strings; Koch guitar amps; and Evidence Audio cables.
