John Gray: towing the line

By Lindsay Wilson

As printed in beatroute

Explaining to Calgary-rooted bass player John Gray that he’s considered one of the finest blues and jazz bassists within the city limits would likely make him shake his head and laugh, but that seems to be the case, judging by what members of the Calgary music community say and by the extensive list of greats Gray has accompanied on stage.

But the fact remains that notables such as Dexter Gordon, Chet Baker, Lenny Breau, Ray Charles, Stevie Ray Vaughan, Little Milton, Wild Chet Butler, Louisiana Red and even K.D. Lang don’t blindly pick names out of a hat when it comes to finding the right groove master to hold down the beat and keep the music on track.

For any child who has a calling for music, choosing a suitable instrument is often a challenging process. After taking a run at the piano, Gray found himself drawn to the strings, winding up in a love triangle with guitar and bass. “I was kind of torn between the two instruments for a while, and I still have a love of guitar to this day,” explains Gray in his typical calming and reflective nature.

Bass stuck with Gray by the time he was in his junior year of high school, where he was playing in two symphony orchestras; this classical training resulted in him working with the Edmonton Symphony Orchestra, as well as the University of Alberta’s Big Band and Symphony Orchestra. This led Gray into writing charts for vocalists, as well as teaching both bass and guitar – which he continues to work at to this day.

Gray’s transition into blues and jazz came about in 1970, which was the year he was picked up by renowned blues and jazz vocalist, the late Clarence “Big” Miller. Miller – who began in Iowa but eventually made Edmonton his home – was a childhood friend of monster jazz musicians such as Count Basie and Duke Ellington and spent a lifetime building a reputation as the real deal. Gray spent much of the following twenty-two years playing with Miller.

“Big was a serious influence on me. He was really hard on me in a lot of ways, and so I learned a lot from playing with him,” says Gray, who fondly remembers his friend with a deep respect that can only be fully understood by anyone who has spent a comparable amount of time on stage with another musician.

Over the years, Gray has toured many parts of the world both on and offshore, as much time has been spent playing on cruise ships. Through the years, the bands (including his own jazz trio), the tours, recordings and too many live shows to count, Gray has built himself a reputation as one of the most sought-after hired guns in the Calgary area, specializing in electric bass and stand-up.

Gray applauds the city’s efforts to build and further the community of musicians that have come to call Calgary home.

“The economy’s strong in Calgary and I can see it getting better and better for musicians as the economy builds and the population increases,” notes Gray.

Future plans for the jazz-blues man include recording a CD in the next six months, featuring his own blues-based compositions. Until then, it shouldn’t be hard to spot Gray towing the line around town.