Biography

Bassist Larry Gray demonstrates an impressive versatility and an uncommon musical curiosity. Originally a jazz guitarist, Larry switched to the double bass and quickly developed a reputation as a first-call sideman. Within a short time, he began to work at Chicago's premier jazz club, the Jazz Showcase, where he appeared with increasing frequency, often with drummer Wilbur Campbell and pianist Willie Pickens.

Throughout the years he has worked with such jazz legends as George Coleman, Lee Konitz, Bobby Hutcherson, McCoy Tyner, Sonny Fortune, Ira Sullivan, Junior Mance, David "Fathead" Newman, Charles McPherson, Antonio Hart, Benny Golson, Jackie McLean, Sonny Stitt, Eddie "Lockjaw" Davis, Al Cohn, Eddie Harris and Les McCann. In addition, he has collaborated with guitarists Kenny Burrell, Joe Pass, and Tal Farlow, as well as the drummers Ed Thigpen and Jack DeJohnette, and trumpeters Donald Byrd and Harry "Sweets" Edison, among others.

He tours extensively, performing at jazz festivals and clubs, including the Umbria Jazz Festival, the Montreal International Jazz Festival, The Montreaux Detroit Festival, the Chicago Jazz Festival, Monterey Jazz Festival, the Havana Jazz Festival, Rio Sao Paulo Festival, North Sea Jazz Festival, Carnegie Hall, Lincoln Center, the Hollywood Bowl, Village Vanguard, and the Ravinia Festival, with such jazz luminaries as Marian McPartland, Clark Terry, Nancy Wilson, Frank Morgan, James Moody, Larry Coryell, Louis Bellson, Barry Harris, Dorothy Donegan, Monty Alexander, Frank Wess, Joe Williams, Doc Severinsen and the Tonight Show Band, and Kenny Drew Jr. Larry continues to tour regularly with the Ramsey Lewis Trio.

Larry is an arranger and composer whose Discography include Solo + Quartet on Premonition Records, Gravity, a solo bass record on Graywater Records, the Ramsey Lewis and Nancy Wilson collaborations Meant to Be and Simple Pleasures, and the latest release by the Ramsey Lewis Trio, Time Flies, all on Narada/Virgin Records. Larry also arranged and produced the critically acclaimed CD, Django by Ferro. In addition, Larry's original composition for double bass and guitar, Five Movements, was commissioned and performed by the Chicago Symphony Orchestra Chamber Ensemble at Symphony Center in Chicago.

Larry has recorded with Ramsey Lewis, Nancy Wilson, Curtis Fuller, Ira Sullivan, Lin Halliday, Jodie Christian, Willie Pickens, Nicholas Payton, Randy Brecker, Bunky Green, Bob Moses, Irish flute-whistle virtuoso Laurence Nugent, pop sensations Linda Eder, Dennis DeYoung, and Peter Cetera, and songwriter Michael Smith, among others. In addition, Larry is a first-call studio musician, and his playing can be heard on many commercial radio and television jingles and studio projects.

Larry has been featured as a solo recitalist on both bass and cello at various universities and venues throughout the midwest. His recitals are unique in their eclecticism, combining jazz, modern improvised music, and European classical repertoire. He was also the featured bassist in Amistad, produced by the Lyric Opera of Chicago. In addition to his work with the Lyric Opera of Chicago, he was principal bass of Civic Orchestra of Chicago, and serves as a substitute with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra.
 
Larry is a dedicated teacher. He held the position of Professor of Double Bass at DePaul University for nineteen years, and also taught at Northern Illinois University and the American Conservatory of Music. Active as a clinician at high school and college jazz festivals, he also coaches double bassists, guitarists, pianists, and cellists in jazz techniques, and teaches improvisation, music theory, and sight-singing privately.

Larry has studied classical music extensively. His principal teachers were Joseph Guastafeste,
longtime principal bassist of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra and cellist Karl Fruh, a highly
regarded soloist and teacher. Under Mr. Fruh's guidance, he received Bachelors and Masters
degrees in Cello Performance from Chicago Musical College of Roosevelt University.