Home » Jazz Musicians » Tony Grey

Tony Grey

Tony Grey was born in Newcastle, England in 1975 where music was just another family member.

At the age of 18 Tony broke his back in a horrific car accident. It was during his recovery he started playing the bass and whilst under the watchful eye of legendary guitarist John McLaughlin, Tony successfully auditioned for a scholarship to the world-renowned Berklee College Of Music in Boston

Whilst at Berklee, Tony took time out to join the newly formed pop band Bliss. The group had signed a major record deal with the legendary record producer Terry Ellis who in the past discovered Billy Idol, Jethro Tull, Blondie, Huey Lewis & The News, Pat Benitar to name a few. Tony spent the next 18 months touring with the group throughout Asia. After appearing on several TV shows in Asia, recording three hit singles, filming music video's which were featured on MTV, and achieving a top ten CD, Tony left the group in order to return to the USA to complete his studies at Berklee. During his time at Berklee, Tony studied with some of the greatest teachers--Kenwood Dennard, Larry Watson, Bruce Gertz and Rich Appleman. During his remaining four semesters Tony won the prestigious Outstanding Performer Award.

Since graduating, Tony has led many clinics and master classes at Berklee and has appeared in many of the college's showcase events, including a tribute concert to U.S. Pop Legends Steely Dan, hosted by the president of Berklee and attended by Donald Fagen and Walter Becker of Steely Dan.

Tony graduated from Berklee with high honors in May 2001. He has gone on to perform with some of the world's greatest musicians, including John McLaughlin, Herbie Hancock, Wayne Shorter, Gavin DeGraw, Dennis Chambers, Zakir Hussain, Gary Husband, Brian Blade, Mike Stern, Wayne Krantz, Steve Lukather (Toto) Branford Marsalis, Hiromi, Toby Lightman, Simon Philips (Toto), Dave Holland, Kenwood Dennard (Sting, Miles Davis), Russell Ferrante (Yellowjackets), David Fiuczynski (Screaming Headless Torsos, Meshell NdegeOcello), Larry Watson, Ava Rovatti, Jetro Da Silva (Whitney Houston, Patti Austin), David Garfield, Frank McComb, David Nichtern, Gene Lake (David Sanborn), Dave DiCenso, Chris Dave, Oliver Rockberger, Falguni, Deantoni Parks and Lionel Loueke (Wayne Shorter, Charlie Haden).

Earlier in 2004, Tony had the great honor of performing at New York's Lincoln Centre with David Nichtern's band Drala, for His Holiness the Dali Lama.

Tags

1,076
Interview

Tony Grey: Stepping out of the Shadows

Read "Tony Grey: Stepping out of the Shadows" reviewed by Ian Patterson


Since graduating from Berklee with honors in 2001, Tony Grey has earned a reputation as one of the most exciting bassists of his generation. His debut solo recording ...Moving (Self Produced, 2004) won enthusiastic reviews and revealed a musician gifted with a very strong sense of melody, and songwriting skills which drew from influences far beyond the parameters of jazz.

As one third of pianist Hiromi Uehara's electrifying trio, Grey has played all over the world to great ...

303
Album Review

Tony Grey: Chasing Shadows

Read "Chasing Shadows" reviewed by Ian Patterson


The opening fifty seconds of unaccompanied bass-playing on “Chasing Shadows," the title track, demonstrate beyond a doubt that Tony Grey is an exceptional talent, finely balancing technical prowess with musical creativity. It comes as no surprise, therefore, to learn that one of his early teachers was guitarist John McLaughlin. Grey has played with an impressive list of jazz musicians and gained international success as part of pianist Hiromi Uehara's electrifying trio. Chasing Shadows, his second solo project, helps cement his ...

706
Extended Analysis

Tony Grey: Chasing Shadows

Read "Tony Grey: Chasing Shadows" reviewed by Phil DiPietro


Tony Grey Chasing Shadows Abstract Logix 2008

It seems much less than four years ago that electric bassist Tony Grey released his scintillating debut, ...Moving, which excelled most in the way the writing highlighted the talents of each colorist the leader added to his expansive palette, however formidable the player's individual chops factor.

Grey applies the same tenets to an almost brand new cast, further indulging his propensity for working with gifted ...

835
Extended Analysis

Tony Grey: ...Moving

Read "Tony Grey: ...Moving" reviewed by Phil DiPietro


Tony Grey ...MovingSelf Produced2004 With the release of ...Moving England's Tony Grey has gone from displaying the most potential to living up to it as fast as any musician that's swung though Berklee's doors. Actually, the exception would be his current employer, Japan's prodigy/goddess of piano, Hiromi , who is spearheading a small but significant movement to put some electricity, both literally and figuratively, back into jazz. Tony's the cat responsible for ...

Read more articles

Festival

Jazz this week: Brand X, Tony Grey, Old Webster Jazz and Blues Festival, and more

Jazz this week: Brand X, Tony Grey, Old Webster Jazz and Blues Festival, and more

Source: St. Louis Jazz Notes by Dean Minderman

This week's calendar of live jazz and creative music in St. Louis features a bit of a British invasion, with two shows featuring headliners with roots in England's homegrown jazz-rock movement, plus several other noteworthy performances. Let's go to the highlights... Wednesday, September 13 The reunited British fusion band Brand X, touring in support of a live album recorded on tour last year, will perform at the Old Rock House. Also on Wednesday, the “Grand Center Jazz Crawl" will feature ...

Recording

Dynamic Bassist Tony Grey's New Album Elevation Features John Mclaughlin, Mike Stern, Whitesnake's Reb Beach, Tomoyasu Hotei, David Fiuczynski And Others

Dynamic Bassist Tony Grey's New Album Elevation Features John Mclaughlin, Mike Stern, Whitesnake's Reb Beach, Tomoyasu Hotei, David Fiuczynski  And Others

Source: Abstract Logix

Los Angeles, CA: Besides being some of the greatest musicians ever known, Herbie Hancock, Wayne Shorter, Hiromi, John McLaughlin, Branford Marsalis, Zakir Hussain, Mike Stern and Steve Lukather all have something else in common. At one time or another, these legendary artists have counted on the supportive, melodic and propulsive bass playing of the amazing Tony Grey. Artists of such stature and virtuosity do not trust just anybody to hold down the foundations of their music. They seek out the ...

374

Interview

Bassist Tony Grey Interviewed at AAJ

Bassist Tony Grey Interviewed at AAJ

Source: Abstract Logix

Since graduating from Berklee with honors in 2001, Tony Grey has earned a reputation as one of the most exciting bassists of his generation. His debut solo recording ...Moving (Self Produced, 2004) won enthusiastic reviews and revealed a musician gifted with a very strong sense of melody, and songwriting skills which drew from influences far beyond the parameters of jazz.

As one third of pianist Hiromi Uehara's electrifying trio, Grey has played all over the world to great critical acclaim, ...

108

Recording

Bassist Tony Grey to Release His Sophomore Record on Abstract Logix

Bassist Tony Grey to Release His Sophomore Record on Abstract Logix

Source: All About Jazz

Surrounding himself with a stellar cast of improvisers and fellow virtuosos, including drummers Ronald Bruner Jr and Chris Dave, harmonica ace Gregoire Maret, guitarist Lionel Loueke, bass trumpeter and trombonist Elliot Mason, current collaborator and former Berklee classmate Oli Rockberger, the astounding Holdsworthian guitarist Tim Miller and pianist Hiromi, Grey acquits himself as a remarkably fluent player with a strong melodic penchant on pieces like the beautiful ballad “Don't Look For Love," the breezy “Walking In Walking Out" and the ...

Photos

Music

Recordings: As Leader | As Sideperson

Tony Grey: Chasing...

Abstract Logix
2008

buy

Chasing Shadows

Abstract Logix
2008

buy

Tony Grey: ...Moving

Self Produced
2004

buy

Videos

Similar

Get more of a good thing!

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