Gary Crosby OBE

Order of the British Empire

The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is an order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by George V of the United Kingdom. The Order comprises five classes in civil and military divisions...

 (born 26 January 1955, London, England) is a jazz double bassist, music arranger, educator and Executive Artistic Director of Tomorrow's Warriors

A founder member of the original Jazz Warriors

Jazz Warriors

The Jazz Warriors were an all-black London-based group of jazz musicians that made their debut in 1986. The idea for the band came from the Abibi Jazz Arts - a London organization that promoted black music and black culture - in 1985...

, Gary Crosby is a professional musician and bandleader, composer/arranger, record producer, company director and facilitator. He leads Gary Crosby’s Nu Troop

Nu Troop

Gary Crosby's Nu Troop is a post-bop jazz group formed by musician Gary Crosby in London.-History:Gary Crosby formed the post-bop acoustic jazz group in 1991....

, Gary Crosby Trio, Guava, Jazz Jamaica

Jazz Jamaica

Jazz Jamaica is a jazz/reggae music group formed by musician Gary Crosby in London.-History:In 1991, inspired by the rhythms of traditional Jamaican music and the largely improvisational nature of jazz, original Jazz Warrior, jazz double bassist, and nephew of veteran Jamaican guitarist Ernest...

 and Jazz Jamaica All Stars

Jazz Jamaica

Jazz Jamaica is a jazz/reggae music group formed by musician Gary Crosby in London.-History:In 1991, inspired by the rhythms of traditional Jamaican music and the largely improvisational nature of jazz, original Jazz Warrior, jazz double bassist, and nephew of veteran Jamaican guitarist Ernest...

 – and has worked with many top artists.

In 1991, he established Tomorrow’s Warriors, providing a platform for talented young musicians who wished to pursue a career in jazz. Over the next 13 years, the Tomorrow’s Warriors Jazz Café Jam Session became an institution and developed four generations of Warriors including Denys Baptiste, J-Life and Soweto Kinch. In 2004, the Tomorrow’s Warriors Jam Session moved to The Spice Of Life in Soho, where it remained active until Summer 2010. Tomorrow’s Warriors continues to develop the careers of young musicians and is now commencing the development of its sixth generation of Warriors with core programs and workshops at Southbank Centre, London.

In 1996, Gary and his partner, Janine Irons MBE, established The Dune Music Company Ltd, a commercial company comprising four divisions: artist management, record label, music publishing, and education.

In 1998, Gary Crosby’s Nu Troop won the award for Best International Ensemble at the Jazz à Vienne Concours International d’Orchestres in France.

In 2002 Gary won the award for Best Band for his 20-piece big band, Jazz Jamaica All Stars. In the same year, he was honoured by the Festival Directorate of the Ocho Rios Jazz Festival, Jamaica for Consistent Contribution To Music In Jamaica, thereby securing a place in the Jamaica Jazz Hall Of Fame.

In 2006, Jazz Jamaica was awarded with the All Party Parliamentary Jazz Award

All Party Parliamentary Jazz Appreciation Group

The All Party Parliamentary Jazz Appreciation Group is a UK Parliamentary group with a membership of more than 100 MPs and Peers. Its stated purpose is to "To promote the use and enjoyment of jazz as a music form."...

 for Best Ensemble.

In 2007, Gary received the BBC Radio Jazz Award

BBC Jazz Awards

The BBC Jazz Awards were set up in 2001 and had the status of one of the premier jazz awards in the UK. There were awards for Best Musician, Best Vocalist, Rising Star, Best Album, Jazz Innovation, Radio 2 Jazz Artist, Services to Jazz, Best of Jazz amongst others....

 for Services To Jazz.

In 2009, Gary was awarded an OBE in The Queen’s Birthday Honours List.

Footnotes