Tony Grey Project

I have been playing my music live now for the last few years all over the world. Playing my own music has helped my development as a musician and leader considerably. I never realized how much I took for granted being a sideman, you basically learn the music, show up, complain about this and that, play, get fed and paid

As a leader you really have to take on everyone’s needs, from organizing gigs, rehearsing, making sure everyone is comfortable with the music, queuing sections, making

Sure everyone is paid, fed etc. It can be a tough job but you really learn a lot about yourself and your music very quickly. It’s a great challenge and a great thrill to lead a band on the road and I hope to do it more and more in the coming years.

I have 3 CD’s out now as a leader, …’Moving’, ‘Chasing Shadows’ and ‘Unknown Angels’,  which was voted best Jazz Album in the IMA’s. 
Some of the musicians that have appeared in my live band are Piano players Romain Collin, Oli Rockberger, Hiromi, Ruslan Sirota, Guitarists – John Shannon, David Fiuczynski, Nir Felder, Drummers – Obed Calvaire, Deantoni Parks, David Throckmorton, Martin Valihora, Horn players – Brad Mason, Elliot Mason, Dan Brantigan, Avishai Cohn and Harmonica ace Gregoire Maret.

My Label Obliq Sound has just re-released my latest CD Unknown Angels with 3 bonus tracks including a remix of Say What You Mean by the Electronica guru Karsh Kale:


http://itunes.apple.com/us/album/unknown-angels-deluxe-edition/id461409479

Hiromi

I played with Hiromi for 7 Years and I feel like I’ve learned so much with her and the band. Hiromi, with each recording finds ways to challenge herself as well as her band. We had been working for a long time as a trio and as soon as it became as she puts it ‘comfortable’, she broke it. She says she hates to be comfortable musically and needed the challenge to visit new territory.

As a trio, we traveled the world a few times over and every night I got to watch people blown away by her talent. She is unbelievable and full of energy and so there was no excuse for us to give any less than 100%. Martin Valihora for me is one of the most natural and honest musicians I have ever met. Playing with him has improved me musically so much. He really hears the whole point of where we are at any particular moment and goes there. He makes us face ourselves musically and spiritually every day. There is no hiding on and off stage with Martin.

After the Trio’s CD’s ‘Brain’ and ‘Spiral’, Hiromi decided to create a new environment by adding a great friend and mentor of mine, David (Fuze) Fiuczynski. Fuze is one of the most creative musicians on the planet today. His fascination for eastern music really comes through on Hiromi’s Sonic Bloom line up. Fuze is always forcing us to think differently, to listen to things and do things we never would normally do. He is truly amazing and every time we played, I was blown away by him.

Since Fuze joined the band we have recorded two CD’s The first being ‘Time Control’ and the second being the CD ‘Beyond Standard.’ We went into the studio in early January 2008 for a few days, to record an album consisting revamped arrangements of the Jazz Standards Caravan, ‘Softly As The Morning Sunrise’ and My Favorite Things, Jeff Becks Led Boots, Debussy’s Clair De Lune, A Japanese Folk Song and two new Arrangements of Hiromi songs XYZ and on the Japanese release a live version of Kung Fu World Champion.

There is also 2 DVD’s that feature me, the Trio featuring Hiromi, Myself and Martin Valihora and Sonic Bloom featuring the Trio with the addition of David Fiuczynski on Guitar.

Tony Grey – David (Fuze) Fiuczynski – David Throckmorton Trio

This is a new trio I have been playing with over this last year. Fuze and I have been playing for many years now in different settings, and we decided to co-lead a project featuring both of our compositions along with some revamped popular tunes and standards. I bumped into a great drummer up in Pittsburgh called David Throckmorton and got in Fuze’s ear about him. He is a very versatile drummer and has played with artists such as Maynard Ferguson, Shirlie Horn and Rock Bassist Billy Sheehan. Whilst on the road we decided to record a few gigs, which turned out to be a great idea. We took the project into the studio, recorded a few tracks and have ended up with a great CD with a mixture of live and studio tracks. We will be releasing this CD sometime next year and I’m very excited about it.

Karsh Kale

I have been a fan of Indian music for such a long time now and feel a deep connection with it. I grew up with the sounds of Shakti playing in my house and just love it. I’m lucky enough to have played with some amazing musicians from India, Zakier Hussain, Selvaganesh, U.Shrinivas, Shankar Mahadevan, Mahesh Vinayakram, Prasanna, U.Rajesh, Salim Merchant, Falguni and now Karsh Kale.

As much as I’m fascinated with Indian music, I’m also fascinated with Electronica and Dance Music. When I discovered Karsh’s music, I was totally blown away. I remember emailing him a lot, bugging him to listen to my music. Eventually he caved in and invited me to join his project for a show, we hit it off musically and have been playing ever since. Karsh is an amazing guy with a wide taste in music. He has great musical instincts and knows how to direct a band on stage. I’m learning a lot from him. I’m happy to announce we will be writing together for a new trio project along with guitarist Chris Buono, which we are starting in the coming year.

John Shannon – Wings Of Sound

Guitarist, vocalist and composer John Shannon is one of my favorite musicians alive. His sound and touch is very moving. I have known John now for many many years from our Berklee days to him subbing for Fuze in Hiromi’s band, Oli Rockberger’s band and now his own music. John is also a vital member of my band and sound; he just hears everything I write and play so well.
I had the great honor of being a part of his latest CD which we recorded in Brooklyn in late September. The music is very special and there will be shows to follow in the coming months.