Tony Bray

I am originally from Tennessee but have spent most of my years wandering the world and playing music in clubs, coffee houses, casinos and cruise ships. In 2000 I moved to Los Angeles to start a day gig with the Roland corporation so that I could settle down and focus on writing and playing the music that reflects the influence of a lifetime of traveling and studying. And take a break from night after night of cover tunes. Some of my former teachers include Jerry Coker, Billy Scarlett, Warne Marsh and Bennie Wallace. After I graduated with my music degree from the University of Tennessee, I taught classes in music production and performance for a couple of years in the Antelope Valley of California. I also used to teach some of the recording seminars that Roland used to have. These days I work from my home in Austin, answering product support questions and writing documents for Roland. Since 2000, I have recorded and performed with the Latin jazz group ‘‘Atria.” I also recorded with and played gigs with my childhood friend Girish Gambhira performing contemporary Kirtan music at Yoga studios and Ashrams. My most recent projects have been “Outside, Looking In” – a world fusion of jazz and eastern sounds. And also the Long Beach Jazz Quartet, whose 2007 CD release “ A Step Forward , In the Wrong Direction” is an homage to the straight ahead sounds of the late fifties and early sixties. I have also worked as the “Talent Recognition Recording Coordinator” for the International Association of Jazz Educators for a couple of years (2005-2006) and have produced several other projects including a rock group out of Johnson City, Tennessee that I hope will eventually get picked up.The next adventure will begin here in Austin.www.tonybraymusic.com