Carl Bray (piano), graduated with honors from Campbell Collegiate in Regina, Saskatchewan and is now pursuing a Bachelor of Applied – Contemporary Music at Humber College in Toronto.

His influences as a jazz pianist include: Oscar Peterson, Wynton Kelly, Brad Mehldau, Herbie Hancock, Thelonius Monk, Miles Davis, Chet Baker, Keith Jarrett, Hank Mobley, John Coltrane, Charlie Parker and others.

His awards include the 2006 Hnatyshyn Foundation Oscar Peterson Grant for Jazz Performance, Humber College Music and Academic Awards, Saskatchewan Music Teachers Association, Downbeat Magazine Award, CBC Galaxy Rising Star Award and gold award at MusicFest, 2005 with the FDQ (Richmond, BC).

In 2006, he was selected for the Yamaha All-Star Jazz Big Band for MusicFest (National Arts Centre, Ottawa); he opened for the famous Dr. Lonnie Smith, with Three Storys High jazz combo, at the Cellar, in Vancouver, BC, in 2005. Carl was selected and performed in the All-Canadian Young Jazz Showcase at Port Hope Jazz Festival, (Ontario) in 2004, 2005, 2006; he performed with Jack Semple at Saskatchewan Centennial Celebration in Ottawa. While playing with FDQ, he opened for the Regina Symphony Orchestra at “Beethoven at Buffalo Pound”, 2004 and “Mozart on the Meadow”, 2005 and performed at the opening and closing ceremonies of the 2005 Young Canada Summer Games.

He has been privileged to work and perform with virtuosos such as: Kristen Korb, Kelly Jefferson, Jon McCaslin, Gordon Foote, Chase Sanborne, Dave Young, Brian Dickinson, Pat LaBarbera, Dave Restivo, Mike Downs, Rob McConnell, Randy Brecker, Alex Dean, Al Kay, Ted Quinlin, Dave Douglas, and legend, Don Thompson. 

Carl is eagerly anticipating a career in jazz performance, writing and arranging and perhaps teaching.

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