TONYGREY | GALACTIC DUO

ELECTRONIC PRESS KIT

ABOUT THE PROJECT

Tony Grey is a multi-instrumentalist, master bassist, composer and producer who stumbled upon the inspiration to develop electronica compositions while exploring creative new sounds for his bass using Ableton Live. He began using the technology as a canvas for layering dimensions of new sound, and thus was born, Tony Grey | Galactic Duo.

This project features the original compositions and melodic playing of bass virtuoso, Tony Grey who has created a multi-dimensional universe of cosmic sound, combining his signature live looping, melodic improvisations with the rhythmic fusion of layered electronica tracks, collectively propelled through space and time by the intuitive groove and high energy brilliance of drummer, Ian Maciak. Be prepared to experience the flawless performance of this ethereal, drum and bass, jazz-fusion masterpiece!

PROMO VIDEO

TONYGREY  |  BIOGRAPHY

Born March 25, 1975 in Newcastle, England. Tony is a multi-instrumentalist, master bassist, composer, producer, published author and award-winning music educator; he studied at the world-renowned Berklee College of Music and graduated in 2001, receiving the prestigious 'Outstanding Performer' award. Tony is known for his 6-string electric bass technique, his blend of jazz/world-fusion compositions, and his groundbreaking music education curriculum and teaching Philosophy.

EARLY YEARS
Tony was raised in a family where music was just another family member. His path toward becoming a musician was born out of an accident that nearly took his life. At the age of 18 after breaking his back, Tony picked up his first bass guitar. During his recovery he started playing under the watchful eye of legendary guitarist, John McLaughlin.

EDUCATION
Tony successfully auditioned for a scholarship to the world-renowned Berklee College of Music in Boston. During his years at Berklee, Tony joined 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 and the News and Pat Benatar, to name a few. Tony spent 18 months touring with the group throughout Asia, appearing on several TV shows, recording three hit singles, filming MTV music videos, 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 last years at Berklee, Tony studied with some of the greatest teachers – Kenwood Dennard, Larry Watson, Bruce Gertz and Rich Appleman. Tony graduated from Berklee in 2001 with 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 to US pop legends Steely Dan, hosted by the President of Berklee, and attended by Donald Fagen and Walter Becker of Steely Dan.

COLLABORATIONS
Tony has gone on to collaborate and perform with some of the world’s greatest musicians, such as: John McLaughlin, Hiromi, Herbie Hancock, Wayne Shorter, Gavin DeGraw, Hotei Tomoyasu, Dennis Chambers, Bill Evans, Zach Alford (David Bowie/B52's), Reeves Gabrels & Jason Cooper (The Cure), Zakir Hussain, Gregorie Maret, Gary Husband, Mino Cinelu, Brian Blade, Mike Stern, Karsh Kale, Wayne Krantz, Steve Lukather (Toto), Branford Marsalis, Shaggy, Ice-T, M-1 (Dead Prez), Melanie Fiona, Toby Lightman, Simon Philips (Hiromi/Toto), Dave Holland, Mark Guiliana, Kenwood Dennard (Sting/Miles Davis), Russell Ferrante (The YellowJackets), David Fiuczynski (Screaming Headless Torsos/Meshell Ndegeocello), Larry Watson, Fabrizio Sotti, Ada Rovatti, Jetro Da Silva (Whitney Houston/Patti Austin), David Garfield, Frank Mccomb, David Nichtern, Res, Raymond Angry, Gene Lake (David Sanborn), Dave Dicenso, Chris Dave, Oliver Rockberger, Falguni, Reb Beach (Whitesnake), Deantoni Parks, Lionel Loueke (Wayne Shorter/Charlie Haden), Naveen Kumar, and Christian Scott.

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.

SOLO CAREER
Tony produced and released his first solo album, Moving, in 2004.  In 2008 he released his second album, Chasing Shadows under the Abstract Logix label.  In 2010 he released Unknown Angels under the ObliqSound label. In 2013 he produced and released Elevation, featuring John McLaughlin, Tomoyasu Hotei, Mike Stern, Mino Cinelu, Reb Beach, and David Fiuczynski. His most recent CD, The Way Home will be released in 2016... STAY TUNED!

TONY GREY BASS ACADEMY
In 2012 Tony set forth on his journey as a music educator and unveiled the Tony Grey Bass Academy, the first documented online Academy in Bass Education. The Bass Academy was initially intended to be a companion to his book 'Tony Grey Bass Academy: Jazz Bass Method'; however, the Academy exceeded its initial vision and stands today as a complete and structured online music curriculum, designed to take players from the beginning of their journey through music, all the way to the very end and beyond, learning music creatively rather than mechanically. A groundbreaking philosophy developed by Grey, which now leads thousands of students to becoming the next generation of bass virtuosos. www.tonygreybassacademy.com

"Let nothing restrict you but the limitation of your own imagination."   - Tony Grey

SELECTED DISCOGRAPHY

CD's

  • Tony Grey - Moving (2004)
  • Tony Grey - Chasing Shadows (2008)
  • Tony Grey - Unknown Angels (2010 - US Grammy Ballot)
  • Tony Grey - Elevation (2014 - US Grammy Ballot)
  • John McLaughlin – Industrial Zen
  • John McLaughlin – Essential John McLaughlin
  • Hiromi – Brain
  • Hiromi – Spiral
  • Hiromi – Time Control
  • Hiromi – Beyond Standard
  • Fabrizio Sotti – Right Now
  • John Shannon Trio –Time Was A Lie
  • Oli Rockberger – Hush Now
  • Oli Rockberger – The Oli Rockberger Trio
  • Naveen Kumar - Silence Is Bliss (2016 - US Grammy Ballot)
  • Kelly Buchanan – The Match
  • Gustavo Assis Brasil - Chromatic Dialogues (2016 - Latin Grammy Ballot)
  • Karsh Kale - UP (2016)

DVD's

  • Bliss - BLISStory
  • Hiromi - Trio
  • Hiromi - Sonic Bloom
  • Hiromi - First Five Years
  • Hotei Tomoyasu - Live In London: Electric Samurai
  • Hotei Tomoyasu - Hotei Jazz Trio: Live at Blue Note Tokyo
  • Hotei Tomoyasu - Japan Tour 2014: Into The Light

BOOKS

  • Tony Grey 6 String Bass Method – Yamaha
  • Tony Grey Jazz Bass Method – Music Sales/Hal Leonard

AWARDS

  • Outstanding Performer Award – Berklee College Of Music
  • Outstanding Contribution To Jazz Education - International Association of Jazz Education
  • Voted Jazz Album of the Year for “Unknown Angels” - Independent Music Awards

VENUE HIGHLIGHTS

Vancouver International Jazz Festival (Vancouver, Canada)

Brecon Jazz Festival (Brecon-Wales, UK)

Playboy Jazz Festival (Los Angeles, CA)

Montreaux Jazz Festival (London, UK)

Montreal Jazz Festival (Montral, Canada)

Tokyo Jazz Festival (Tokyo, Japan)

Umbria Jazz Festival (Perugia, Italy)

Shanghai Jazz Festival (Shanghai, China)

Java Jazz Festival (Jakarta, Indonesia)

Blue Note (Tokyo, Japan)

Ronnie Scott's Jazz Club (London, UK)

San Francisco Jazz Festival (San Francisco, CA)

Hollywood Bowl (Los Angeles, CA)

Shepherds Bush Empire (London, UK)

RootWire Arts Festival (Athens, OH)

Earth Dance Festival (SanFrancisco, CA)

UCLA (Los Angeles, CA)

Highline Ballroom (NYC, NY)

Tokyo International Forum (Tokyo, Japan)

Blue Note (NYC, NY)

GIG HISTORY

1998-2000

SE Asia/India Tours with the pop-band, Bliss

2001-2002

US Tour with David Fiuczynki

2004-Present

US/Japan/UK/Slovakia/Mexico Tours with the Tony Grey Project

2004

Performed for the Dalai Lama with David Nichtern's project, Drala.

2004-2012

7 World Tours with Hiromi

2007

Peruvian Tour with Oli Rockberger

2010-Present

US Tour with Karsh Kale

2013

Spanish Tour with Bill Evans

2014-2015

Japanese & UK Tours with Tomoyasu Hotei

2016-Present

Touring the US with the Galactic Duo

ENDORSEMENTS

Tony Grey, Hiromi, David "Fuze" Fiuczynski and Mauricio Zottarelli

Tony Grey is an innovator of the bass. He has the musicality, facility, and sound to take the instrument to places it hasn't been before. A joy to play with and listen to.

Bill Evans, www.billevanssax.com

Tony Grey is a natural and will develop into one of the great and innovative musicians of our time. He and the bass were made for each other.

John McLaughlin, www.johnmclaughlin.com

Tony Grey is one of the most melodic bass players in the world. He has an amazing technique and the combination of his warm and dark tone is truly beautiful.  It is such a wonderful opportunity to get to understand his unique concept and approach to music-making.

Hiromi, www.hiromimusic.com

Wonderful composer, fantastic bass player. Anybody at any level can learn from Tony. He is smokin'!

Mike Stern, www.mikestern.org

Hiromi, Simon Phillips, Anthony Jackson, John McLaughlin & Tony Grey

PHOTO GALLERY

DISCOGRAPHY

TONYGREY  |  ELEVATION

TONYGREY  |  UNKNOWN ANGELS

TONYGREY  |  CHASING SHADOWS

TONYGREY  |  MOVING

IN THE MEDIA