The Dan Cray Trio is unique in that it relies on a collaborative effort rather than the singular vision that is more typically found in a piano trio. This in turn has allowed the group to rise above the pick-up band mentality that has come to dominate the jazz landscape. Because each musician is equally invested in the development of the music, the Trio is able to match the intensity and clarity of purpose that define the best jazz artists. Their innovative arrangements and group dynamic have led Cadence Magazine to rate them "as interesting, if not more, than the celebrated Bad Plus." The Trio's music has been featured on the hit television show "Gossip Girl," Michael Keaton's new movie "The Merry Gentleman," and the radio program Eight Forty-Eight with host Steve Edwards on Chicago's NPR station WBEZ. They've performed at the Chicago Jazz Festival and at venues around the country to critical success, and can be seen regularly around Chicago with the city's top vocalists and instrumentalists. The Trio has also been able to transfer this focus into tangible success, as their last 2 CDs ("No One" and "Save Us") spent over 10 weeks on the National and College Jazz Charts, while Chicago's NPR station WBEZ named each among the year's best in 2003 and 2005 respectively.
Dan Cray
Dan Cray
Pianist Dan Cray, a finalist at the 2003 Montreux Jazz Festival Solo Piano Competition and the 2004 American Pianists Association Cole Porter Fellowship Competition, is one of the most dynamic young jazz artists working today. Jazz Radio Berlin has hailed him as a "key figure when it comes to escorting jazz into the new millennium," while the Indianapolis Star enthused that his playing had "both the depth and the playfulness characteristic of jazz piano at its best." Dan has performed with a number of established jazz musicians and ensembles, including Ira Sullivan, Eddie Johnson, Bobby Broom, Orbert Davis, Eric Schneider, George Fludas, Kurt Elling, Ari Brown and the Chicago Jazz Orchestra. While in Chicago, Dan has performed at galas for U.S. Senator Barack Obama, Mayor Richard Daley, and Governor Jim Edgar, and he plays regularly at the city's premier jazz clubs.
Dan graduated from Northwestern University, where he studied with Donald Isaak and Michael Kocour. He has released three albums with his trio--Who Cares (2001), No One (Blujazz 2003), and Save Us (Blujazz 2005), and can also be heard on releases by trumpeter David Young, vocalists Marc Courtney Johnson and Erin McDougald, and saxophonist John Goldman.
Thanks for the add!!! It's always a good thing to have new friends! Y'all are an inspiration!!!
Hope you dig our music - we had a great time makin' it! The music on our page is some of our "pop-ier" stuff - check out "Buginajar" or "I Love You" - I think you'd enjoy them!
If you like our music, download it (for FREE) and share with your friends. We made it to be enjoyed.
Thanks again for the add, and we hope to hear more from you
you guys sounded great last night. sorry about my loud drunk friends, i tried to get them out of there as quickly as i could. i didn't realize they were coming.
Right on Dan, you guys are sounding real good there in the Windy (I was born there '53)..thanks for the Add-On and greetings from Times Square NYC! If you're in NYC be sure to contact me. I'm on mornings on KYOURADIO 1550 AM and streaming twice a day HammondCast Show. c u in a minute, Jon http://ascap. com/network/audioportraits/Jon_Hammond_Rent/ *Member AFM Local 802, Local 6 / ASCAP Publisher
Thank you...we try to dig on everyones interest's or the sounds they enjoy,..We like what you had going on your page...and figured we would take the chance, you would like what we enjoy the most...and thats make music...but for the most part... now that we got that horrible and cheesy statement out of the way....this looks like another typical, but somewhat long band comment... But heck at least its a comment... Right?
Thank you for your friendship Dan, I'm very pleased! I wish you the best of luck. I hope that all is going well and that you are having a very enjoyable week! Very creative music, I enjoy it very much.. Take care and God bless! Ramzi..
Hey thank's for the add. I'm Sophie and I'm 22 and I live in Tennessee. I really like your music. Your song's are great. I love listening to them. Best of luck with everything and Have a great weekend. later
Blast playing with you last night. Your voicings are beautiful, comping is so supportive. Hope to play some more in the future. And your on my list for 2008, third base side, row 22, seats 9 and 10.
Fellas, let me just say it's been an absolute blast working with you and at the jazz fest, and now on this recording project. You brought it as only you know how and I cannot wait til it's all done to show to the world!!
Thanks a ton for your friendship and your excellence!!!
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