Home » Jazz Musicians » Devin Gray

Devin Gray

An artist interested in multiple musical directions and one who strives for quality and sincerity in his work. His exciting energy has compelled him towards many different musical directions and projects. Considered by his contemporaries as cutting edge, Gray shows promise as an artist that will not only move the music forward, but one who will share his unique musical vision with the world of music.

Devin Gray’s fresh approach to modern drumming has enabled him to play with many of the worlds great jazz musicians. He has performed and recorded with innovative musicians of contrasting styles and backgrounds such as: David Liebman, Tony Malaby, Gary Thomas, Ingrid Jensen, Dave Burrell, Dave Ballou, Michael Formanek, Nate Wooley, Stephan Crump, George Garzone, Chris Speed, Drew Gress, Sam Rivers, Ralph Alessi, John O’Gallagher, Ellery Eskelin, Kris Davis, Ted Rosenthal, Matt Mitchell, Satoko Fujii, Uri Caine, Andrew D’Angelo, Vardan Ovsepian, Angelica Sanchez, as well as many others.

Devin has been fortunate to perform in many places around the globe. He is a top call young drummer in many modern jazz circles in New York City. Current leader projects include two quartets: “Dirigo Rataplan” featuring Ellery Eskelin, Dave Ballou, and Michael Formanek, and “RelativE ResonancE” featuring Chris Speed, Kris Davis, and Chris Tordini. He is currently living, playing, and composing in Brooklyn, New York.

Gear

Devin Gray plays Zildjian Cymbals and Sticks, Canopus Drums, and Remo Drum Heads.


Tags

5
Album Review

Eva Novoa: Novoa / Gress / Gray Trio, Vol. 1

Read "Novoa / Gress / Gray Trio, Vol. 1" reviewed by Mike Jurkovic


A vivid sense of drama and its intrinsic, minute shadings of light upon dark places animate pianistEva Novoa's work. Barcelona bred and keening with Brooklyn bravura, Novoa swaps the fore and backgrounds with uncompromised glee. Expressionistic, Impressionistic, and forthright, she aligns and upsets the edges to her liking. That, along with the crackling, crosstown chi of bassist/modular synthesist ((Drew Gress}} and drummer Devin Gray makes music like “Miss Celebrity," “Sushi at 6," in fact the whole of Novoa/Gress/Gray Trio, Vol. ...

Album Review

Devin Gray: Most Definitely

Read "Most Definitely" reviewed by Alberto Bazzurro


Un intero album di sole percussioni (peraltro con periodiche intromissioni elettroniche) di oltre settanta minuti (23 brani, 19 brevissimi e due attorno ai venti minuti, con svariate dediche, più o meno esplicite) non è proprio ciò che ci capita di ascoltare tutti i giorni. La sfida è di quelle da far tremare i polsi, come si dice, anche se ormai da tempo operazioni del genere non sono più una novità, sfida che il quarantenne Devin Gray, nativo del Maine, supera ...

4
Radio & Podcasts

Devin Gray, Benoit Delbecq and Oh! Canada

Read "Devin Gray, Benoit Delbecq and Oh! Canada" reviewed by Maurice Hogue


With this show's air date falling on July 1st, Canada Day, I decided I best get all patriotic, eh, and program a wide variety of Canadian artists in the second half to celebrate Canadian jazz. In the first part there are tunes from new releases by Benoit Delbecq, the trio of Devin Gray, Ralph Alessi and Angelica Sanchez, Ireland's freewheeling trio of saxophonist Adam Nolan, and two guitarists--Poland's Grzegorz Lesiak and his band Tatvamasi and New York's Alex Levine.

Album Review

Devin Gray: Dirigo Rataplan II

Read "Dirigo Rataplan II" reviewed by Vincenzo Roggero


A sei anni di distanza dall'ottimo esordio, ecco il secondo capitolo del Devin Gray's Dirigo Rataplan, una delle formazioni che l'ancor giovane batterista di stanza a New York utilizza per veicolare la sua eclettica visione musicale. E che quartetto, perché oltre al leader troviamo Dave Ballou (trombettista assai considerato dai colleghi e attivo anche nell'ambito della musica classica e barocca), Ellery Eskelin (sassofonista che sfugge a qualsiasi categorizzazione ed è riferimento imprescindibile della scena creativa statunitense), Michael Formanek, un gigante ...

2
Radio & Podcasts

Devin Gray, Jakob Bro Trio and More

Read "Devin Gray, Jakob Bro Trio and More" reviewed by Maurice Hogue


This episode of One Man's Jazz is in its usual global mode with new releases from Portugal's José Lencastre and his Nau Quartet, the Jakob Bro Trio, Medeski Martin & Wood, Devin Gray, France's Stéphane Kerecki Quartet and Bruno Tocanne, Norway's Anders Lønne Grønseth, Earthflow and the Gondwana Orchestra (with Dwight Trible) from England, and the Walking Distance Quartet. Plus a small tribute to the great pianist, Randy Weston, who passed away in September. Playlist Adam Hopkins ...

3
Album Review

Devin Gray: Dirigo Rataplan II

Read "Dirigo Rataplan II" reviewed by Jerome Wilson


Dirigo Rataplan is a group led by drummer Devin Gray that contains three outstanding musicians with Baltimore ties, saxophonist Ellery Eskelin, trumpeter Dave Ballou and bassist Michael Formanek. They first recorded in 2012, and six years later they have released a followup CD, Dirigo Rataplan II, with a rambunctious inside-outside style that is based on strong melodies and rhythms but still allows plenty of room for fiery improvisation. Several of the tracks are built around heavy rumbling bass ...

Take Five With...

Devin Gray e il Questionario di Proust

Read "Devin Gray e il Questionario di Proust" reviewed by Paolo Peviani


All About Jazz: Il tratto principale della mia musica. Devin Gray: L'improvvisazione. AAJ: La qualità che desidero nei musicisti che suonano con me. D.G.: La consapevolezza. AAJ: Come musicista, il momento in cui sono stato più felice. D.G.: Quando sento che il pubblico sta ascoltando. AAJ: Come musicista, il mio principale difetto. D.G.: Cercare di fare tutto, ogni volta. AAJ: ...

Read more articles
2

Recording

Most Definitely - The First Solo Recording From Drummer-Composer Devin Gray, Due June 9th From Rataplan Records

Most Definitely - The First Solo Recording From Drummer-Composer Devin Gray, Due June 9th From Rataplan Records

Source: Devin Gray

Brooklyn-Berlin based drummer-composer Devin Gray made his widely lauded leader debut in 2012 with the release Dirigo Rataplan, which included a crew of heavyweight veterans Ellery Eskelin, Michael Formanek and Dave Ballou. JazzTimes said that Gray’s debut represented “the work of a young artist who knows who he is.” Free Jazz blog encapsulated the album this way: “...one of the best debut albums in years.” In 2015 Gray released Relative Resonance, a band of close New York associates: Chris Speed, ...

26

Recording

Drummer-composer Devin Gray Leads A Band Of Master Musicians On His Career-Priming Debut Album, "Dirigo Rataplan," Due From Skirl Records April 10

Drummer-composer Devin Gray Leads A Band Of Master Musicians On His Career-Priming Debut Album, "Dirigo Rataplan," Due From Skirl Records April 10

Source: Braithwaite & Katz Communications

This striking set of original Devin Gray compositions features the young drummer alongside saxophonist Ellery Eskelin, trumpeter Dave Ballou and bassist Michael Formanek. Drummer-composer Devin Gray, one of the most promising musicians on the New York scene, makes a dream of a debut as a leader with the album Dirigo Rataplan, to be released by Skirl Records on April 10. Gray’s gifts as a creative composer and soulful player can be judged by the company he keeps; the studio set ...

140

Performance / Tour

Ellery Eskelin / John Hebert / Devin Gray at the Tea Lounge on July 30th

Ellery Eskelin / John Hebert / Devin Gray at the Tea Lounge on July 30th

Source: Michael Ricci


147

Performance / Tour

Devin Gray + Gerald Cleaver Duet at KORZO (Brooklyn) on April 13th

Devin Gray + Gerald Cleaver Duet at KORZO (Brooklyn) on April 13th

Source: Michael Ricci

Tuesday April 13th, 11PM Devin Gray + Gerald Cleaver DUET Two Drums + Improvised music Konceptions @ KORZO 667 5th Avenue [bet. 19th + 20th streets] Brooklyn, NYC 11215 718.285.9425 korzorestaurant.com Subway: R or M train to Prospect Avenue There is a $7 cover charge per set. Korzo features amazing Eastern European cuisine and an impressive array of wine, bourbon, scotch and beers on tap. “The long-running progressive-jazz series Konceptions ...

“The drummer Devin Gray possesses an ear for unusual and beautiful sounds, as well as the facility, musicality and groove to convey these sounds to his very fortunate bandmates and audiences.” - NYC pianist Jon Ballantyne (www.jonballantyne.com) “Devin Gray is amazing with his commanding mastery of the drums. He pushes his cymbals softly and splashes fire from his sticks.” - Dr. Ana Isabel Ordonez, Jazzreview.com “It’s also worth noting that Gray and Grip get right inside these grooves, giving them a convincing heaviness. Gray’s drumming, in particular, is both driving and mercurial, providing just enough lift to keep things interesting.” - Daniel Spicer, One Final Note ”Devin Gray is a swinging, sensitive, and interactive drummer who plays with a lot of spirit.” - NYC pianist Ted Rosenthal (tedrosenthal.com)
 
“And I promise, you will get touched by Devin Gray’s fast flowing cymbal-runs…” - Frédéric Benreguia, Jazz critic in Paris (originally in French) “Devin Gray is as fine a young drummer and composer as one is likely to encounter in the coming years.” - NYC pianist Jon Ballantyne (www.jonballantyne.com)

Primary Instrument

Drums

Location

New York City

Credentials/Background


Devin Gray teaches drums in the styles of rock, jazz and latin.
 
You can take lessons with Devin (jazz/rock drum set and mallets) at his private studio in Crown Heights, Brooklyn (hours/rates are flexible - accepts a wide range of students from beginner to advanced).
 
Contact Devin directly at

Clinic/Workshop Information


Devin Gray offers clinics and master classes in several areas of modern music practice.
 
General Master class topics can include:
 
Listening, solo improvisation, free improvisation, sound production, rhythm (metric and organic), rhythmic phrasing, rhythm section playing and interaction concepts, dynamics, time, improvisation concepts, group sound, basic to advance repertoire, and historical approaches to improvisational composition.
 
General to Specific Drum Master class topics can include:
 
Warm ups, stick control, rudiments (SD and creative applications) brush techniques, control and use of dynamics, basic jazz beats (or advanced tony williams studies) singing rhythms, sight reading, rock and jazz independence, basic foundation of core drum set grooves, playing with a metronome, playing with click tracks, odd meter playing, creative approaches to improvising over odd meters, interpreting challenging music, techniques and tips, and approaches to soloing.
 
Listening Analysis Clinics:
 
Says Devin, “Over the years I have found myself repeatedly mentioning to almost every student, ‘please listen to more music’ or ‘what have you been listening to?’

Read more

Photos

Concerts

Apr 11 Thu
Devin Gray - Most Definitely
Academy Records
Brooklyn
Apr 12 Fri
Apr 14 Sun

Music

Recordings: As Leader | As Sideperson

Most Definitely

Rataplan Records NYC
2023

buy

Melt All the Guns

Self Produced
2021

buy

27 Licks

Rataplan Records NYC
2020

buy

Dirigo Rataplan II

Self Produced
2018

buy

RelativE ResonancE

Skirl Records
2015

buy

Pull To Refresh

From: Most Definitely
By Devin Gray

Bad WIFI

From: Most Definitely
By Devin Gray

27 Licks

From: 27 Licks
By Devin Gray

Congruently

From: Dirigo Rataplan II
By Devin Gray

City Nothing City

From: RelativE ResonancE
By Devin Gray

Dirigo Highlights

From: Dirigo Rataplan
By Devin Gray

Videos

Get more of a good thing!

Our weekly newsletter highlights our top stories, our special offers, and upcoming jazz events near you.