Ray Gallon Detailed Resumé

EDUCATION

  • M.A. Music Composition, CCNY, 1989  
  • B.F.A. Music, Magna Cum Laude, CCNY, 1982  
  • Private Study 1976-1987 Jazz Piano: with John Lewis, Jaki Byard, Jimmy Rowles, and Steve Kuhn. Composition: with Mario Davidovsky, David Del Tredici, and Ed Summerlin 
  • NEA Fellowship Grant, for private study with Hank Jones, 1982-3 

TEACHING EXPERIENCE  

  • City College of New York, Department of Music, Jazz Studies   2007-present 
  • New School for Jazz & Contemporary Music   1995-2010 
  • The Juilliard School, Jazz Studies Division   2001-02 
  • NYU, Jazz Studies Department   1995-99  
  • New York School for Commercial Music   1996-98  
  • Various workshops, including: Kennedy Center (with T.S. Monk), Vermont Jazz Center (2010 to present, Summer Workshops, Jazz In July (UMass Amherst), NJPAC, Wachovia Jazz for Teens Program (with T.S. Monk), St. Peters Prep, Matan Jazz Camp (Israel), University of Scranton, Club de Jazz (Santiago, Chile) with Lew Tabackin, Shobi University (Japan – workshops at CCNY), U-Mass at Amherst (with Jon Hendricks), Blue Note Master Class (with Ron Carter), Thelonious Monk Jazz Institute, Boston (with Lewis Nash), David Gage String Instruments (with John Patitucci), Hawaii Jazz Master (with Wycliffe Gordon), Essentially Ellington Band Director Academy (Jazz at Lincoln Center), 

SIDEMAN TOURING ENGAGEMENTS 

Ron Carter 

  • https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ron_Carter 
  • 1986–present 
  • Quartet, Quintet, Nonet, and Big Band concert tours in USA and Canada 
  • Major jazz festivals, including Montreal, San Francisco, and Detroit 
  • Club engagements, including Village Vanguard, Blue Note, Fat Tuesdays, Iridium, Birdland, and Catalina (L.A.) 
  • Performances with guest artists such as Houston Person and Hubert Laws 
  • Duo engagements at Knickerbocker and Bradley’s, NYC 
  • Rehearsal pianist/production assistant for recording sessions with Jackie McLean, Clark Terry, Abbey Lincoln, Benny Golson, 
  • Helen Merrill, Herb Ellis, Roland Hanna, Kenny Barron, Mulgrew Miller 
  • Accompanying Ron Carter master classes at Blue Note, NYC and Thelonious Monk Jazz Institute 

T.S. Monk 

  • https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/T._S._Monk 
  • 1997-2003 
  • Sextet/Septet tours throughout USA, Canada, Europe, and Brazil, including many major international jazz festivals 
  • Monk On Monk big band tours throughout USA and Europe featuring Bobby Watson and Howard Johnson 
  • Gala concerts at The Kennedy Center and Avery Fischer Hall 
  • International club engagements including Birdland, Jazz Bakery, Jazz Alley, Yoshi’s, Scullers, Catalina, Blues Alley, Dakota Bar & Grill, and New Morning 
  • Tours with guest vocalists Nnenna Freelon, Jane Monheit, Roberta Gamberini, Patricia Barber, and Miles Griffith 
  • Orchestra concerts with composer/conductor David Amram   

Art Farmer  

  • https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Art_Farmer 
  • 1995-1996 
  • Quartet club engagements, including Jazz Showcase, Chicago and Trumpets, NJ with Kenny Davis, Carl Allen, Lonnie Plaxico, and Akira Tana 
  • Concerts at Vienna Philharmonic Hall with Lionel Hampton 

Lionel Hampton 

  • https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lionel_Hampton 
  • 1988-1990 (fulltime); 1993-2001 
  • 7 European concert tours 
  • Numerous tours throughout USA, Canada, and Caribbean 
  • White House Gala performance for President Clinton 
  • Presidential Inaugural Ball for President Bush (Sr.) 
  • Major international jazz festivals, including JVC, North Sea, Playboy, Nice, Ravinia, and Montreal 
  • Concerts with guest artists Illinois Jacquet, Nina Simone, Slim Galliard, Al Grey, and Melba Moore 
  • Lionel Hampton Tribute Big Band 2002-present (sub and special events) with guests such as Antonia Bennett 

Dizzy Gillespie/Lionel Hampton  

  • https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dizzy_Gillespie
  • 1989-1990 
  • Quintet concerts with the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra 
  • Big Band concert tour in Florida 

All Star Tributes to Lionel Hampton   

  • 1999-2000 
  • Kennedy Center 90th Birthday Gala featuring small group and big band performances with Milt Jackson, Sweets Edison, Joe Williams, Little Jimmy Scott, Ernestine Anderson, Al Grey, and Terry Gibbs 
  • USA concerts with Milt Jackson, Benny Golson, and Sweets Edison   

Lionel Hampton Orchestra/Big Band (Alumni Band) 

  • 2002-present 
  • New Years Eve Gala Performance at The Kennedy Center with Jon Hendricks 
  • Concert performances with Chaka Khan, including NJPAC, Park City Utah Jazz Festival, and New Haven Summer Concert Series 
  • Weeklong engagement at Marians Jazz Room, Bern, Switzerland with Peter Appleyard 
  • Centennial Celebration Gala Concert, Ogden Museum, New Orleans with Jason Marsalis 
  • Engagements at Birdland and South Orange Performing Arts Center   

John Patitucci 

  • https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Patitucci 
  • 2007-2011 
  • Duo Performance/Workshop, David Gage String Instrument Studio, NYC 
  • Concert performance, Westchester, NY 
  • Duo Recital, CCNY Concert Series 
  • CCNY Faculty Jazz Ensemble concerts 

Slide Hampton 

  • https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Slide_Hampton 
  • 2009 
  • Tribute to J.J. Johnson & Kai Winding at Smalls, NYC 

Les Paul 

  • https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Les_Paul 
  • 2004 
  • Monday night engagements at Iridium 
  • Performances with guest artist Stanley Jordan   

Wycliffe Gordon 

  • https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wycliffe_Gordon 
  • 1999-2003 
  • Tours throughout USA 
  • Concerts at Lincoln Center, IAJE, Chicago’s Ravinia Festival, 92nd Street Y, Aspen Snowmass Essentially Ellington Festival, and NJ Jazz Society Festival 
  • Performance at Tony Bennett’s 75th Birthday Gala Event, Metropolitan Museum of Art, NYC 
  • Quartet concert tour of Hawaii with Reginald Veal 
  • Club engagements, including Shanghai Jazz, NJ 

John Stubblefield 

  • https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Stubblefield 
  • 2000 
  • Quintet gigs at Zinc Bar, NYC 

Lew Tabackin 

  • https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lew_Tabackin 
  • 1996-1997 
  • Quintet concert tour in Chile with Warren Vache 
  • Quartet engagements at Birdland with Lewis Nash 
  • Quartet engagements at Visiones with Billy Drummond 
  • Quartet concert at the Santa Fe Chamber Music Festival with Peter Washington and Bill Goodwin 
  • Quartet engagements at The Cornerstone 

Winard Harper 

  • https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Winard_Harper 
  • 1993-1995 
  • Quintet engagements Blues Alley, Washington DC with Buster Williams 
  • Concert tour of Oregon and Washington State with Craig Handy 
  • Quartet engagement at Condon’s NY with Craig Handy 
  • Quartet engagement in Philadelphia with Billy Mitchell 
  • Quartet engagements with Charles Davis  

Harper Brothers 

  • https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Philip_Harper_(trumpeter) 
  • 1991-1993 
  • Tours throughout USA and Canada 
  • Concert tours throughout Europe 
  • Tour of Japan including weeklong engagement at Keystone Corner, Tokyo 
  • Major festivals including North Sea, Playboy, JVC, Ravinia, Molde, Stockholm, Concord, Saratoga Springs, and Melon Foundation 
  • Club engagements throughout USA, including Village Vanguard, Catalina, Village Gate, Jazz Showcase, Regattabar, Blues Alley, Yoshi’s, Jazz Alley, and Dakota Bar & Grill 

Mingus Dynasty Big Band  

  • https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mingus_Dynasty_(band) 
  • 1992-1993 
  • Performances at Time Café with Ronnie Cuber, Ralph Peterson 
  • Javon Jackson 
  • https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Javon_Jackson 

Louis Hayes 

  • 1992-1993 
  • Quartet concert tour of Colorado and Oregon with Louis Hayes 
  • JVC Saratoga Jazz Festival with Peter Washington, Billy Drummond   

George Adams 

  • https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_Adams_(musician) 
  • 1989-1992 
  • Quartet gigs with various rhythm sections including Lewis Nash, Smitty Smith, Essiet Essiet, Santi Debriano, Sirone, and Cameron Brown 
  • 5 Japan tours including Mt. Fuji Festival, Osaka Expo, Keystone Corner, and engagements at Blue Note clubs in Tokyo, Osaka, and Fukuoka 
  • 4 European tours 
  • Engagements at NYC clubs Sweet Basil and Birdland 

Benny Golson 

  • https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Benny_Golson 
  • 1992 
  • Quartet concert in New Jersey with Peter Washington and Carl Allen 

VARIOUS FREELANCE

Ray has appeared at the majority of New York City area jazz clubs and multitudes of venues in North American and globally, including: 

Dizzy’s Club Coca-Cola, Iridium, Village Gate, Cornerstone, The Garage, Jazz at Lincoln Center, Smalls, Smoke, Fat Cat, Little Branch, Garage (NYC), Zinc Bar, Iridium, Harvard Club, Regency Hotel, St David’s School, Swing 46, Kavehaus,  Silver Lining, Big Apple Jazz (Harlem), Sweet Rhythm, Brasserie Ruhlmann, Cornerstone (NJ), New Haven Summer Concert Series, Park City Jazz Festival (Utah), Sofia’s, Oscar, Westchester Jazz Orchestra, Onyx Club, Ortlieb’s (Philadelphia), Frankie's Jazz Club, Dimitrou's Jazz Alley, University of New Hampshire, Sardi’s, Fire Bird, Knickerbocker, Blue Water Grill, Blue Note, NYC, Gala concert for BAFFA, Gateway Playhouse (L.I.), Museum of Modern Art, The Supper Club, The Squire, Savoy, Bateaux, Redeye Grill, Visiones, La Belle Epoque, The 75 Club, venues and festivals in Utica, Woodstock, Connecticut, Chile, Savannah New York Harbor Cruises, and private parties, including those of André Previn and Anne-Sofie Mutter. 

Ray has played in quartets and quintets of a virtual who's who of great jazz instrumentalists between 1987 and present, including (in alphabetical order): 

Eric Alexander 
Carl Allen 
Eddie Allen 
Harry Allen 
Ben Allison 
‘Sugar Ray’ Appleton 
Clifton Anderson 
Teodross Avery 
Cliff Barbaro 
Ronnie Ben-Hur 
John “Jellybean” Benitez 
Peter Bernstein 
Cindy Blackman Santana 
Walter Blanding 
Jonathan Blake 
Seamus Blake 
Jane Ira Bloom 
Paul Bollenback 
Don Braden 
George Braith 
Cecil Bridgewater 
Howard Brofsky 
Bobby Broom 
Cameron Brown 
Freddie Bryant 
Dwayne Burno 
Michael Carvin 
Joe Chambers 
Doc Cheatham 
Jimmy Cobb 
Anat Cohen 
Avishai Cohen 
Joe Cohn 
Ornette Coleman 
Harry Connick Jr. 
Junior Cook 
Bob Cranshaw 
Adam Cruz 
Charles Davis 
Bobby Durham 
Christian Fabian 
Chris Flory 
Joel Frahm 
Joe Ford 
Vernell Fournier 
Kenny Garrett 
James Genus 
Stjepko Gut 
Al Harewood 
Roy Hargrove 
Tom Harrell 
Donald Harrison 
Antonio Hart 
Roy Haynes 
Jimmy Heath 
Nick Hempton 
Horatio ‘El Negro’ Hernandez 
Todd Herbert 
Vincent Herring 
Billy Higgins 
Satoshi Inoue 
Dennis Irwin 
Gene Jackson 
Ron Jackson 
Steve Johns 
Howard Johnson 
Randy Johnston 
Willie Jones III 
Mike Karn 
Bob Kindred 
Ryan Kisor 
Kiyoshi Kitagawa 
Ralph LaLama 
Jed Levy 
Eddie Locke 
Joe Lovano 
Ilya Lushtak 
Brian Lynch 
Dennis Mackrel 
Joe Magnarelli 
Russell Malone 
Chuck Mangione 
Manhattan Tap   
Wynton Marsalis 
Earl May 
Virgina Mayhew 
Christian McBride 
Ron McLure 
Neal Miner 
Bob Mintzer 
Red Mitchell 
Tyler Mitchell 
Bob Mover 
Paul Meyers 
Lewis Nash 
Sam Newsome 
Adam Nussbaum 
Nicki Parrott 
Cecil Payne 
Niels-Henning Orsted Pederson 
Clarence Penn 
Walter Perkins 
Charlie Persip 
Anne Philips 
Valery Ponomarev 
Bobby Porcelli 
Chris Potter 
Marcus Printup 
Bernard “Pretty” Purdie 
Tony Redus 
Dizzy Reece 
Nat Reeves 
Rufus Reid 
Ben Riley 
Scott Robinson 
Mickey Roker 
Tal Ronen 
Jim Rotundi 
Harvie S 
Benny Salzano 
Maria Schneider 
Dave Schnitter 
Tad Shull 
Don Sickler 
Paul Sikivie 
Steve Slagle 
Bill Stewart 
Grant Stewart 
Irvin Stokes 
Ed Summerlin   
Will Terrill 
Clark Terry 
Ben Tucker 
Steve Turre 
Tommy Turrentine 
Ray Vega 
Richie Vitale 
Myron Walden 
Jack Walrath 
Jerry Weldon 
Scott Wendholt 
Frank Wess 
Mark Whitfield 
Jackie Williams 
Steve Wilson 
Ben Wolfe 
Pete Yelin 
Eliot Zigmund   

VOCAL ACCOMPANIST 

Ray has accompanied jazz legends and leading vocalists including: 

Nina Simone, Etta Jones, Roberta Gambarini, Joe Williams, Ernestine Anderson, Little Jimmy Scott, Jane Monheit, Gloria Lynne, Niki King, Hilary Kole, Grady Tate, Chaka Khan, Nnena Feelon , Niki King, Hillary Kole, Grady Tate, Chaka Khan, Ernie Andrews, Melissa Walker, Etta Jones, Jane Monheit, Melissa Walker, Roberta Gamberini, Claudia Acuna, Venessa Rubin, Jay Clayton, Miles Griffith, Patricia Barber, Kendra Shank, Yalla Ballin, Marianne Solivan, Nora McCarthy, Vicky Garner, Marilyn, Frank Senor, Leslie Harrison, Jimmy Lategano, Naama Gheber, Lucy Yeghiazarian, Kat Gang. 

Sheila Jordan   1987-Present 

  • Concert Proctors Theater, Schenectady, NY w/Cameron Brown, Billy Drummond 
  • Performances in NYC, Washington D.C., Woodstock, and Vermont 
  • Concert performance Savannah Jazz Festival 
  • Club engagements in NYC and Washington D.C. 

Jon Hendricks   

  • European concert tour including Paris and London 
  • Concert and club performances throughout New England 
  • Mid-West concert tour 
  • Weeklong engagement at The Jazz Standard, NYC 
  • Weekend engagement at Smoke, NYC 
  • Big Band concerts with Lionel Hampton Alumni Orchestra 
  • Kennedy Center Gala New Year’s Eve Command Performance 

Nnena Freelon   

  • 1999-2002 
  • The Music of Brazil – Mid-West concert tour 
  • European and US concert tours including many jazz festivals 
  • Orchestral concerts in Pittsburgh with conductor David Amram 

Gloria Lynne   

  • 1996-1999 
  • Flushing Town Hall concert 
  • Congressional Black Caucus Gala, Washington, D.C. 
  • Newark Jazz Festival 
  • East Coast club appearances 

Dakota Staton   1990-1991; 1994-1995 

  • Club engagements in NYC and New Jersey 
  • Extended engagement at Michael’s Pub 
  • Performance in Boston Jazz Festival    

BANDLEADER 

Ray Gallon Duo/Trio at Mezzrow Jazz Club featured Friday/Saturday nights 

Ray Gallon Quartet/Quintet at Smalls Jazz Club

Concerts/club appearances in Canada, Japan, Israel, Spain, and Chile 

Trio engagements at Fat Cat with Albert “Tootie” Heath and Billy Hart 

Duo engagements at Knickerbocker, NYC with Ron Carter, Buster Williams, Peter Washington, and Paul West 

Duo engagements at Bradley’s, NYC with Ron Carter 

Duo engagement at Birdland with Buster Williams 

Trio engagement at Frankie’s Jazz Club Vancouver with Paul Rushka and Jesse Cahill 

Quartet engagement at Dizzy’s Club Coca Cola, JALC w/Bobby Porcelli 

Trio and solo engagements at Smalls, NYC 

Quartet engagements at Cornerstone with Lew Tabackin, Ryan Kisor, Joe Magnarelli, Irvin Stokes, Tony Reedus 

Duo engagements at Sofias with Dave Young, Avishai Cohen, Dennis Irwin, Dwayne Burno, Tony Scherr, Kiyoshi Kitagawa, Omer Avital, John Benitez 

Trio engagements at Little Branch, NYC 

Trio engagements at Silver Lining, NYC with Jimmy Wormworth 

Trio, duo, and solo engagements at Sofias, NYC 

Trio and duo engagements at Arturo’s, NYC 

Duo engagements at Greene Street, NYC with Bob Hurst 

Regular trio and duo engagements at Blue Fin, NYC with Kiyoshi Kitagawa, Willie Jones III, David Wong, Quincy Davis 

Regular trio engagements at Blue Water Grill with Kiyoshi Kitagawa 

Trio performances at Jazz Composer’s Forum, NYC 

Solo engagements at The Harvard Club, NYC 

Solo piano concert at University of Scranton 

Sidemen have included :

Ron Carter, Buster Williams, Vernell Fournier, Joe Chambers, Lewis Nash, Billy Hart, Peter Washington, Kenny Washington, Leroy Williams, Al Harewood, Joe Magnarelli, Eliot Zigmund, Willie Jones III, Ugonna Okegwo, Kiyoshi Kitagawa, Joe Farnsworth, Kenny Wolleson, Dwayne Burno, Paul West, Jeff Ballard, Marvin ‘Smitty’ Smith, Tony Reedus, Avishai Cohen, Dennis Irwin, Tony Scherr, James Genus, Bob Hurst, David Wong, John Benitez, Dave Young, Joel Frahm, Ben Wolfe, Tom Melito, Eric Revis, Rodney Green, Gerald Cannon, Omer Avital, Dezron Douglass, JJ Wiggins, Neal Miner, Pat O’Leary, Vince Dupont, Paul Sikivie, Aaron Kimmel, Jesse Cahill, Paul Rushka, Billy Drummond, Steve Wilson, Steve Nelson.

SELECT RECORDINGS 

  • The Ray Gallon Trio, with David Wong and Kenny Washington, recorded at Brorby Acoustic and mastered by Dave Darlington, coming soon
  • Naama Gheber Quintet, with Steve Nelson, David Wong, Aaron Kimmel, 2019 
  • Angela Verbrugge Quartet with Cameron Brown and Anthony Pinciotti, 2018
  • Antoine Cara Trio, with David Wong, 2012 
  • Stephanie Jones Quartet, 2012 
  • Wild is the Wind, Niki King, 2010, including music video performance 
  • Tribute To Haruki Murakami, Ron Carter Quartet, Toshiba/EMI, 2008 
  • Jazz Masters Series Vol. 3: On The Modes, Ray Gallon/Pat O’Leary/Tom Melito Trio, Windplayer, 2007, play-along recording featuring 5 original compositions 
  • Jazz Masters Series Vol. 2: Blues, Ray Gallon/Pat O’Leary/Tom Melito Trio, Windplayer, 2006, play-along recording featuring 5 original compositions 
  • Jazz Masters Series Vol. 1: Standards: NY Session, Ray Gallon/Pat O’Leary/Tom Melito Trio, Windplayer, 2005, play-along recording featuring 5 original compositions 
  • Metamorphosis, Shiro Sadamura & Uplinkers, Vibral/MCN, 2005 
  • Debbie Kennedy Quartet, with Ron Carter, Lewis Nash, 2005 
  • Blue Skies, Ray Gallon Trio featuring Ron Carter and Lewis Nash, No-Lag, 2004, including two original compositions 
  • Higher Ground, T.S. Monk, Hyena, 2003, featuring 2 original compositions  
  • Michael Hashim Quartet, Michael Hashim, 2002 
  • Crosstalk, T.S. Monk, N-Coded, 1999, featuring one original composition  
  • Around The Block, Dan Block Quartet featuring Leroy Williams, Amosaya, 1999 
  • Loose Change, Ron Carter featuring vocalist Grady Tate, Demo, 1997 
  • You Can Hide Inside The Music, The Harper Brothers, Verve, 1992, featuring 1 original composition and guest appearances by Sweets Edison, Ernie Andrews, and Jimmy Heath 
  • Old Feeling, George Adams, Blue Note, 1992, featuring 1 original composition 
  • Cookin’ In The Kitchen, Glad Hamp, 1990, GRAMMY nominated as Jazz Album of the Year     

SELECT FILM/TELEVISION/RADIO BROADCASTS 

  • PBS-TV, A Place Out of Time, documentary feature film by Hudson West Productions, featuring original music soundtrack, national broadcasts 2010 
  • A Place Out of Time, documentary feature film, pianist/co-composer, 2009 
  •  Miss Haru, documentary feature film (Japan), pianist, 2004 
  • WKCR-FM, trio performance and interview, 2005 
  • TV-1, Israel, trio performance and interview, 2005 
  • TVE-1, Spain, trio performance and interview, 1999 
  • BET ON JAZZ, hour-long concert with T.S. Monk, 2002 (still showing in rotation)  
  • TODAY SHOW, NBC-TV with T.S. Monk, 2001 
  • NPR JAZZ SET, broadcasts with Ron Carter from Great American Music Hall, San Francisco, 1999 and Montreal Jazz Festival, 1993 
  • C-SPAN, White House Gala performance with Lionel Hampton and President Clinton, 1999  
  • ORF-1, Austria, Lionel Hampton/Art Farmer concert at Musikverein, Vienna, 1996 
  • TONIGHT SHOW with JOHNNY CARSON, 1991 and JAY LENO, 1992 with The Harper Brothers 
  • BET ON JAZZ, Lionel Hampton at Montreal Jazz Festival 
  • NHK-TV, Japan, Mt. Fuji Festival, with George Adams, 1990 
  • WNYC-FM, live broadcasts with Sheila Jordan, 2001 and Dakota Staton, 1995 

ACCOMPANIST for VOCAL WORKSHOPS 

New School Vocal Master Classes, Jon Hendricks, Mark Murphy, CCNY Jazz Vocal Workshop classes 1997-present, Vermont Jazz Center, Sheila Jordan, Jay Clayton, Anne Phillips, Marion Cowings, Gabrielle Stravelli, Marianne Solivan, Melissa Walker.   

ACADEMIC AND PROFESSIONAL RECOGNITION 

The New Grove Dictionary of Jazz, ed. Barry Kernfield (see Gary Kennedy: “Gallon, Ray,” Grove Music Online, ed. L. Macy (Accessed 17 February 2007), http://www.grovemusic.com)  
The Biographical Encyclopedia of Jazz, ed. Leonard Feather and Ira Gitler, Oxford University Press, 1999, pg. 241