A NYC-native, pianist Ray Gallon has been a mainstay on the jazz scene for over thirty years. Rooted in bebop and blues, his expressive, swinging playing melds old and new into a fresh, original style. As a young player, Ray was mentored by legendary jazz pianists John Lewis, Hank Jones, and Jaki Byard. He has toured and/or recorded with such luminaries as Ron Carter, Lionel Hampton, Art Farmer, George Adams, Les Paul, and Wycliffe Gordon and has appeared at the White House and Kennedy Center with jazz legends Dizzy Gillespie, Milt Jackson, Sweets Edison, and Joe Williams. Ray has also accompanied many vocal greats, including Jon Hendricks, Sheila Jordan, and Chaka Khan. Involved in education, he is currently a Lecturer of Jazz Studies at City College of NY. Ray’s acclaimed trio album Make Your Move (Cellar) features David Wong and Kenny Washington and look for his upcoming trio release with non-other than Ron Carter and Lewis Nash. Michael Garin has been a mainstay in New York City nightlife for decades and has never failed to entertain and create a fresh new style tailored to venue and circumstance. From hosting the midnight burlesque shows in the mid-90s that launched the burlesque revival (and landed him in L’Uomo Vogue in an Ellen von Unwerth photo spread), to co-creating and co-starring in Song of Singapore, the groundbreaking environmental musical (for which he received the aforementioned Drama Desk Award), to acting stints with Spike Lee. And now there is a cult following on Facebook for Michael’s Ogden Nash-style daily promotional poems for his gigs at the Roxy and elsewhere.

As a pianist, songwriter, singer, poet, actor, and song-and-dance man, Michael Garin has carved a singular niche for himself as a performing artist who has crisscrossed boundaries and managed to bring joy to a diverse and appreciative audience. As Michael often says, “It’s a blessing to be in the Happy Business.” Check out Michael's new album release "Hey Look! It's Michael and Mardie" here!
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