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