Born: June 7, 1983 Primary Instrument: Drums
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 America’s great jazz musicians. He has performed and recorded with innovative musicians of contrasting styles and backgrounds such as: Tony Malaby, Gary Thomas, Ingrid Jensen, Dave Burrell, Dave Ballou, Michael Formanek, George Garzone, Chris Speed, Sam Rivers, John O’Gallagher, Ellery Eskelin, Kris Davis, Ted Rosenthal, Dave Liebman, Andrew D’Angelo, Vardan Ovsepian, Bill McHenry as well as many others.
Devin has been fortunate to perform in many places around the globe and continues to make peace with his audiences. He is a top call young drummer in many modern jazz circles in New York City as well as multiple cities on the East Coast of America. Current projects include a quartet recording (Dirigo Rataplan) and tour of compositions written for, Ellery Eskelin, Dave Ballou, and Michael Formanek. He is currently living, playing, and composing in Brooklyn, New York.
Formal Training:
Manhattan School of Music Masters of Music, jazz performance, 2008
Peabody Conservatory of Music (Johns Hopkins University) Bachelor of Music, jazz performance, 2006
Reviews about Devin Gray and Corpulent's Wolfwalk
All About Jazz Review by OLLIE BIVENS
All About Jazz Review by MARK CORROTO
One Final Note Review by DANIEL SPICER
- Dr. Ana Isabel Ordonez, Jazzreview.com
“…and Gray has yet to grow a third arm and bounce simultaneous snare rolls and high-hat chatter off Thomas’ serpentine runs and Grip’s quickened throb…”
- Bret McCabe, Baltimore City Paper
“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 Spicemer, 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)
“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)
"The debut leader recording from Brooklyn based drummer and composer Devin Gray offers a strong introduction to the future output of his artistic vision. Keep an eye on him as he will shockingly slip and slide through your preconceptions of style and genre."
The Musicians
Ellery Eskelin - tenor sax
Dave Ballou - trumpet
Michael Formanek - bass
Devin Gray - drums/composition
Tracks:
Quadraphonically
Cancel the Cancel
Down Time
Prospect Park in the Dark (For Charles Ives)
Talking with Hands
Otaku
Thickets (For Gerald Cleaver)
Katahdin
All Music by Devin Gray (Voner Music-BMI)
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Primary Instrument:
Drums
Location:
Brooklyn, NY
Credentials/Background:
Devin Gray teaches drums in the styles of rock, jazz and
latin.
You can take lessons with Devin either at Larchmont Music
Academy (jazz/rock drum set and mallet) or at his private
studio in Crown Heights, Brooklyn (hours/rates are flexible -
accepts a wide range of students from beginner to
advanced).
Larch Music
Academy Website
Contact Devin directly at devingraymusic@
gmail.com
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?’. Too often I
get the answer of, ‘I don't know’ or ‘Listening...what?’ I
believe that students need to be more informed of how to
listen more analytically as it will help awareness and focus in
their studies. Examples would be: listening to harmonic
sequences, counting odd measure forms, hearing/
studying individual instrument parts and their
relationship/contributions to the whole, each
student can provide their own examples, as well as mine with
discussion."
For more details please visit Devin's Website
or contact Devin directly
at devingraymusic@
gmail.com
