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In today’s crowded jazz market, it’s an achievement to come up with a signature group sound. And yet, this is just one of the wonderful things immediately apparent on Devin Gray’s Dirigo Rataplan. An amazing percussionist, Gray’s stunningly detailed playing sounds like a cross between Fritz Hauser and Roy Haynes. He flashes some serious compositional chops as well. Dirigo Rataplan is comprised of eight bright, restless originals that are complex and intimate, brainy and engaging, and occasionally a bit outré. Making all of this great music come alive is Gray’s phenomenal quartet.

Dave Wayne

All About Jazz

About

Drummer, Composer and Bandleader

Devin Gray (Portland Maine, USA)‬‭

Is a distinguished drummer, composer, bandleader and producer‬‭ known for his innovative contributions to contemporary jazz. Since relocating to New York City in‬‭ 2006, Gray has become a prominent figure in the jazz community, collaborating with esteemed‬‭ musicians such as David Liebman, Gary Thomas, Tony Malaby, and Kris Davis. He currently‬‭ divides his time between Brooklyn and Berlin, engaging with diverse musical scenes.‬‭

Gray’s discography as a leader showcases his versatility and commitment to pushing musical‬‭ boundaries. His debut album, “Dirigo Rataplan” (2012), featured notable artists Ellery Eskelin,‬ ‭Dave Ballou, and Michael Formanek, and was praised for its complex and intimate compositions.‬‭ He continued this trajectory with “RelativE ResonancE” (2015), collaborating with Chris Speed,‬‭ Kris Davis, and Chris Tordini, further establishing his reputation as a forward-thinking composer.‬

‭In 2021, Gray released “Melt All the Guns” a politically charged trio album featuring trumpeter‬‭ Ralph Alessi and pianist Angelica Sanchez, addressing the pressing issue of gun violence in the‬ United States. The following year, he presented “27 Licks,” a duet with fellow drummer Gerald‬‭ Cleaver, highlighting his adventurous spirit and deep musical rapport.‬‭ In 2023 Gray released “Most Definitely” as his first solo drum recording showcases his innovative‬‭ approach to percussion, blending acoustic drumming with electronic elements to create a dynamic‬‭ and immersive listening experience.‬‭ The album’s strength lies in its eloquent orchestration of blended electronics balanced‬‭ with Gray’s high-level improvisational performances pushing‬‭ the boundaries of percussion and improvisation.‬

‭Gray’s most recent project, “Melt All the Guns II” (2024), continues his exploration of socially‬‭ conscious themes, this time featuring Ralph Alessi and French pianist Myslaure Augustin. The‬‭ album comprises tracks like “East Berlin 2024” and “Audre Lorde Straße, “reflecting his‬‭ engagement with contemporary issues and global perspectives.‬

‭Throughout his career, Gray has maintained a dynamic presence in the international jazz scene,‬ performing at venues and festivals worldwide including Jazzfest Berlin 2024. His collaborations span a wide range of artists,‬‭ including Sylvie Courvoisier, Tim Berne, Michael Formanek, Zoh Amba, and Micah Thomas, among‬‭ others. As a sideman, he has contributed to projects with Andrea Parkins, Satoko Fujii, Marc‬‭ Ducret, and Eve Risser, showcasing his adaptability and commitment to musical innovation.‬‭ Gray’s work is characterized by a relentless pursuit of quality and sincerity, as well as an exciting‬‭ energy that propels him toward diverse musical directions. His compositions are noted for their‬‭ complexity and engagement, often described as both brainy and intimate. As he continues to‬‭ evolve as an artist, Devin Gray remains a compelling force in modern jazz, sharing his unique‬‭ musical vision with audiences around the world.‬

 

What People Are Saying…

Drummer Devin Gray has built an impressive resume and a well- deserved reputation as both an improviser and instrumentalist. His first CD as a leader, Dirigo Rataplan shows that he is not a slouch in the composition or bandleader department either.

Hrayr Attarian

All About Jazz - April 5th, 2012

A product of much inward reflection about the non-hierarchical nature of sound, this {Most Definitely} is a kaleidoscopic work distinguished by its rapid-fire turnover of ideas and broad spectrum of extremes. The 23 tracks vary significantly in pace, density and attack, and for the most part are scarcely 90 seconds in duration. The two notable exceptions are Soldier On, Milford (an epic and at times propulsive dedication to the late Milford Graves), and the brilliant Fritz Hauser-esque abstractions of Tough Love – at around 20 minutes each, the two pieces account for more than half of the playing time.

Fred Grand

Jazz Journal - June 30th 2023

Devin Gray is a polymath: inventive drummer, intrepid composer, and chief of a burgeoning record label, Rataplan. The New York-based Gray continues his ascension with Melt All the Guns, an electrifying summit of three masters at the tops of their crafts—the other two being trumpeter Ralph Alessi and pianist Angelica Sanchez—joining forces to stand up to the United States’ tragic epidemic of gun violence. The album’s title might suggest a recording on which frustrations boil over into blurts and squeals. In fact, it’s just the opposite. The protest music that Gray, Alessi, and Sanchez make is akin to meditative paintings, vivid in scope with microscopic-level attention to detail.

Brad Cohan

Jazz Times - July 21, 2021

An amazing percussionist, Gray’s stunningly detailed playing sounds like a cross between Fritz Hauser and Roy Haynes.
—Dave Wayne, All About Jazz

Dave Wayne

All About Jazz - November 20th, 2012

You had to figure that master music manipulator Devin Gray, 40, would wind up doing a solo drum album. After all, he’s recorded a drum duet with Gerald Cleaver, 27 Licks, in 2020. His politics were evident in 2021 with his Melt All The Guns trio. He debuted in 2012 with the forward-thinking Dingo Rataplan quartet, revisiting that format in 2018. On Most Definitely (Rataplan Records), he’s alone with his drum set and his electronics, masterfully integrating the two spheres over 23 tracks in just under an hour.

Mike Greenblatt

The Aquarian - August 22nd 2023