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Former Member: Todd Gray, Jazz Trumpet
Musical talent runs deeply in Todd's family, as his great-uncle played trumpet with Al Hirt for many years. His father plays jazz trumpet in New Orleans to this day. Todd was a part of many New Orleans groups including The Riverside Ramblers, Third Line Brass Band, Storyville Stompers, Johnny Angel and the Swingin’ Demons, and The Contenders, to name just a few. Todd has been a regular player at many New Orleans Mardi Gras balls, events and parades, the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival, the French Quarter Festival, the Pensacola Jazz Festival, the San José Jazz Festival, the Gilroy Garlic Festival,and the Fairfield Tomato Festival. Todd played in the critically acclaimed North Texas State Lab bands, and studied improvisation under jazz great Ellis Marsalis at the University of New Orleans. He continues his trumpet education as a student of trumpet legend Bobby Shew. Todd moved to the Bay Area and was soon asked to play with renowned lead player Ed Morrison’s A Touch of Brass jazz big band. During his tenure in San José, he also played jazz with the West Valley Jazz Orchestra and the DeAnza Daddios big band. He also spent some time playing with the popular 70's and 80's funk band, Souled Out. Currently, Todd is a member of the funky Bay Area Dixieland band Bughorn Rex, the hot Latin rock band Safari, and has been playing with Bob Enos’ Soundwave Orchestra in Alameda. Well-versed in rock, blues, soul, jazz, Dixieland, and swing music, Todd also performs with several other Bay Area groups. He resides in beautiful San Anselmo with his lovely wife Sean. Most recently, Todd’s jazz soloing can be heard on the Full Spectrum Jazz CD release “Pursuits” as well as on “Doin’ it Right,” the latest recording by A Touch of Brass.
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Originally from New Orleans, Todd Gray began playing the piano at the age of eight and switched to the trumpet at 14. By the time he was 16, he was playing professionally.