Focused on doing things the right way, the Christopher Wray Quartet took time listening to albums for inspiration, and seeking out the best people in music to work on their debut album, The Way Up. After talking to a wide variety of producers and engineers, the Christopher Wray Quartet chose Chris Bell to engineer their album.
Bell is a Grammy nominated engineer who has worked with the likes of Erykah Badu, Kirk Franklin, The Roots and many other successful recording artists. Wray states, Chris understands that we are a group that shines on the band stand. We wanted to take our live sound into the studio while recording this album. Chris has a gift of getting the warmest and truest tones out of our instruments and voices. Im incredibly happy with the end result.
Tom Coyne from Sterling Sound was chosen to master the album after Wray and Bell discussed albums they loved. Tom has mastered many of Wrays favorite artists including: DAngelo, A Tribe Called Quest, Dwele, Erykah Badu, The Roots, Common, Maxwell, and Sade to name a few.
Though this album marks another step in the Quartets career, it definitely wasnt the first. What started as one mans vision, has turned into one of the hottest sounds in Oklahoma. Armed with a vast array of influences and instrumental skills, The Christopher Wray Quartet has been creating music from venue to venue for the past 3 years with its elegant riffs charged with bass-heavy licks and the occasional but powerful vocal accompaniment.
In June 2006 the Oklahoma Jazz Hall of Fame honored the Christopher Wray Quartet by presenting them with the "Legacy Tribute Award", an award that pays tribute to an up and coming outstanding jazz artist(s). Past recipients include Wayman Tisdale, Grady Nichols, Jacob Fred Jazz Odyssey and Eldredge Jackson.
Determined to take their music to the next level, the Christopher Wray Quartet focuses on their musicianship, their relationships, and most importantly, their spirituality. In doing so they stay unified as a group and are most creatively efficient. We really strive to create music that keeps the listener intrigued. I think weve blended jazz and soul concepts to create something that is our own. We arent afraid of exploring the instrumental side of music. We dont follow a formula when writing or performing on stage creations. We want to make music that comes from the depths of our souls in an attempt to touch others, Christopher Wray said.
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