Dan Cray

There are 2 artists with the name Dan Cray: 1. 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 best young independent 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."

1.
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 best young independent 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."

While living in Chicago, he has performed at galas for Governor Edgar, Governor Ryan, and Mayor Richard Daley, and plays regularly at the city's premier jazz clubs and special events. He currently leads a TRIO featuring bassist Clark Sommers and drummer Greg Wyser-Pratte. Dan has also performed with a number of other established jazz musicians and ensembles, including Ira Sullivan, Orbert Davis, Eric Schneider, George Fludas, Kimberly Gordon, Hinda Hoffman, Kurt Elling, Ari Brown and the Chicago Jazz Orchestra.

Dan graduated from Northwestern University, where he studied with Donald Isaak and Michael Kocour. He has also studied privately with Danilo Perez and Dick Hyman. Dan has released three albums with his trio: Who Cares (2001), No One (Blujazz 2003), and Save Us (Blujazz 2005). He can also be heard on releases by trumpeter David Young, vocalist Marc Courtney Johnson, saxophonist John Goldman, and vocalist Erin McDougald.

2.
Dan Cray is an indie singer songwriter and guitarist who delivers his unique songs filled with beauty, sadness and dark humor.