NOLA influenced brass band with the sounds of Jersey Shore
Rock 'n Roll, Philly Soul, and NYC’s finest.
Ian Gray established the Ocean Avenue Stompers in 2016 with the intent of bringing together the baddest horn players I've worked with over the years. I spent my 21st birthday in NOLA, and came back with an itch to bring that vibe and sound to my musical communities of Asbury Park, Philadelphia, and beyond.
The Ocean Avenue Stompers are comprised of a rotating cast of musicians and friends that I've met along my journey, and whom I hold close to my heart. All of these players are industry professionals, high in demand, so the Stompers will have a new face every time you see us. That adds to the magic of providing the audience with a truly unique experience at every performance, while the musicians showcase their improvisational and off-the-cuff chops.
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"2020's unique pivot in the music industry inspired me to make huge improvements to my home recording studio. I have the ability to provide and produce the highest quality horn stems and arrangements for any recording project.
Do you hear horns on your next tune? Click the link above to visit my Sound Better profile, and let's create music together!"
Meet Ian Gray
Over the last decade, I've been the guy with a trombone on my back everywhere I go, allowing me to be on stage sometimes more than 10 times a week. This has allowed me to grow my network, hone my chops, and develop a unique approach to the trombone as a rhythmic, assertive, and dynamic soloist, a confident sight-reader, a go-to section player, and an improvisational figure-it-the-fuck-out-right-now musician.
These on-stage experiences include opening for and/or jamming with so many of my favorite artists, like George Clinton and P Funk, Vulfpeck, Southside Johnny and the Asbury Jukes, Big Sam's Funky Nation, Soul Rebels Brass Band, Bonerama, Dumpstaphunk, Rebirth Brass Band, Dirty Dozen Brass Band, Soul Live, Wu-Tang Clan, Robert Randolph, The Frontbottoms, and too many others to count, in addition to an absurd amount of local and indie bands in every musical community I've walked through.
I spent my 20s writing, arranging, and/or performing with recording artists and bands like Cory Wong, Darlene Love, Ronnie Spector, Southside Johnny and the Asbury Jukes, LA Bamba and the Hubcaps, Little Steven and the Disciples of Soul, Swift Technique, Ginger Coyle, Karmic Juggernaut, We Used to Cut the Grass, Billy Walton Band, High and Mighty Brass Band, Pat Roddy, and Remember Jones.
A culmination of touring, gigging, and recording scenarios has led me to understand what my fellow musicians and the audiences I play for want and need, both musically and financially.
With the Stompers, I take the role of bandleader very seriously when curating our performances around every unique setting we're offered or thrown into.
