John Daniel Ray

John Daniel Ray is a progressive bassist and composer from Winston-Salem, NC. He specializes in using computers to augment his bass and voice in an improvisatory setting. He is passionate about improvised music, but is also a prolific and forward thinking composer and producer.

John plays with his original band RKIII, a progressive jazz/electronic project that pushes the boundaries of what live music can accomplish by utilizing computers as improvisational tools and incorporating electronic sounds into live performance. He also performs regularly with his band the John Ray Trio, playing his original progressive jazz compositions, and he produces and hosts a podcast called Mr. Haircut with renowned drummer Jonathan Greene. John has produced many albums, arranged music for various ensembles including string quartet, handbell choir and voice choir, composed commissioned work, and teaches improv clinics to middle school students.

John has performed and toured with dozens of bands from all over the country since 2000, appearing 5 times with The Allman Brothers, touring for 5 years with The Embers, co-founding early 2000’s hip hop band Solos Unit, and sharing the stage with groups including The Roots, Gap Band, Common, Wu Tang Clan, The New Deal, George Clinton, Oteil Burbridge, The Platters, The Temptations, The Funky Knuckles, Jonathan Scales Fourchestra, and more.

John uses Mainstage 3 with his live rig, and records with Logic. He is fluent with keyboard bass as well as upright, 4, 5, and 6 string basses.