At just 22 years of age, local jazz musician Liam Gray has already achieved more than most his age in the world of music, with this year promising to be even bigger.

The hard-working guitarist and singer grew up listening to his parent’s music collection at a young age, before performing for the first time whilst still at school as a 14-year-old.

“I love jazz music. As a musician, it’s the genre I focus on. Growing up, I’d listen to my Dad’s music like The Beatles and Eric Clapton. That progressed to blues with B.B King and Stevie Ray Vaughn to name a few.

Today, musicians like Vince Jones and Kurt Elling inspire me. And of course, Ol’ Blue Eyes, Frank Sinatra” Gray explained.

Liam played guitar with the Western Sydney Regional Big Band at just 15 and toured China in 2011 and 2013.

After finishing school, he began playing gigs on his own at venues like the Park Hyatt in Sydney and the Annandale Hotel.

He started studying a Bachelor of Music at the Australian Institute of Music in 2015. At around this time, Liam’s love of music would extend to musical theatre, with the ‘double threat’ taking part in the Blue Mountains Musical Society’s production of Tommy. This was followed by West Side Story in 2016 and Jesus Christ Superstar in 2017.

“Musical theatre is great. Having the opportunity to sing and act here in the Blue Mountains has been an amazing experience. I would really like to do more of that” he said.

Since completing his studies, Gray now finds himself teaching music through Stormer Music in Blaxland and playing local solo, duo and band gigs.

It is here that he enjoys playing most of all, “The Blue Mountains is very communal. The local talent is well fostered and there is camaraderie amongst the musicians and the audiences. People are genuinely interested in music and have a good appreciation for what we do”.

As for 2019, Liam adds with a smile, “There’s lots of exciting things in the pipeline. Watch this space”.
For more information about Liam Gray, visit his Facebook page @liamgraymusic.