Label: Self Released
Source: The Dentonite
Genre: Modern Creative Jazz
GAB's RATING: ★★★★☆
Bray is inspired by Ambrose Akinmusire, The Bad Plus, Gilad Hekselman, Lage Lund, and Kurt Rosenwinkel, “but mostly the people I play with,” Bray says, “like Matt Young, Mike Luzecky, and Connor Kent,” really inspire the young musician.
More than jazz, Bray says he listens to a lot of different music when he is not playing (or listening to) jazz. Neo-soul, Gospel, folk, prog-metal, old school country, ambient, and singer-songwriter genres top his list, although he says the list could go on.
A master of his craft, Bray graduated from the University of North Texas last fall, earning his Bachelor's in Jazz Guitar Performance and Music Theory. Although not originally from Texas, Bray moved around a bit as a child, hitting two major U.S. coasts and the Midwest in states like California, Maryland, and Ohio. Bray ended up in Webster Groves, Missouri for middle & high school, venturing to Denton shortly after for college.
More than jazz, Bray says he listens to a lot of different music when he is not playing (or listening to) jazz. Neo-soul, Gospel, folk, prog-metal, old school country, ambient, and singer-songwriter genres top his list, although he says the list could go on.
A master of his craft, Bray graduated from the University of North Texas last fall, earning his Bachelor's in Jazz Guitar Performance and Music Theory. Although not originally from Texas, Bray moved around a bit as a child, hitting two major U.S. coasts and the Midwest in states like California, Maryland, and Ohio. Bray ended up in Webster Groves, Missouri for middle & high school, venturing to Denton shortly after for college.
“I think Denton definitely has a good scene,” Bray says, “but we need more places to play and get together.” With the news of Rubber Gloves set to close later this year, Hailey’s and Banter saying bye-bye last year, Denton musicians seem to venture to Dallas for more frequent shows to play.
In fact, you can catch this Texas-transplant strumming his guitar every Tuesday evening (starting in June) with the Southpaw Preachers who have a residency at Vetted Well in Dallas.
Despite the music venues slowly diminishing, there is a wealth of talent residing in Denton. “The musicians are amazing and really into being great at a bunch of different styles,” Bray says. “I can be on an old-school soul gig on a Friday, then play a jazz standards gig the next night with the same musicians, then a few days after that we may all be playing hip hop and neo-soul. It’s rare to be in a place where there are so many musicians proficient in so many different styles. It also feels like a big family which I think is really important for a musical scene.”
1. Laumeier 05:24
2. Laumeier Outro 05:09
3. Living With Imperfection 05:10
4. Sooth 07:37
5. Dreamstate 06:26
6. 3 4 5 02:56
7. Mellifluous 07:25
8. Dirge For Mary Mallon 04:22
9. The Mind as a Brittle Object 05:19
10.Semantic Satiation 06:53
2. Laumeier Outro 05:09
3. Living With Imperfection 05:10
4. Sooth 07:37
5. Dreamstate 06:26
6. 3 4 5 02:56
7. Mellifluous 07:25
8. Dirge For Mary Mallon 04:22
9. The Mind as a Brittle Object 05:19
10.Semantic Satiation 06:53
Horace Bray - Guitar, Vocals
Colin Campbell - Keyboard
Mike Luzecky - Bass
Matt Young - Drums (1, 2, 3, 5, 8), Post-production (6, 9)
Connor Kent - Drums (4, 7, 9, 10)
Hale Baskin - Vocals (1)
Allison Pontier - Vocals (1)
Josue Alan - Vocals (1)
Drew Zaremba - String Arrangements
Jesus Saenz - Violin
Amy Wang - Violin
Karina Sim - Violin
Channing Hooper - Violin
Usman Peguergo - Violin
Ethan Rouse - Viola
Sabrina Mackenzie - Viola
