Article By: Jacquelyn Herbert
Photographs By: Sarah Rhoads Photography

It’s a Sunday night in Santa Monica. It’s hard to say exactly who the Dakota Lounge is filled with, but it’s most easily all walks of life.  The bulk of the crowd waits eagerly for the music to start. As the band warms up, a pair of Bengal’s fans that are decked out in team gear arrive, and I wonder if they’re going to be a distraction.  Then, the music starts.

Christopher Wray and his band immediately entice the audience with their first song, “Elevating Love.”  Stealing the attention of everyone inside, you can tell that they were not only well rehearsed but they’ve clearly been friends and band mates for much more than just this set. They were breaking into unexpected, but much appreciated, solos and even dedicating a song to a band mate’s recently passed relative.

“There’s something about the way people play out here on the West Coast that’s different from where I’m from.  Like in Oklahoma, the players just got different blood running through them,” Christopher comments.  Originally hailing from the South, he moved to Los Angeles after a lot of soul searching and a visit to Cozy’s in the valley.  “This is the truth right here, this is why I moved to LA because I sat on a plane from Dallas to LA, and I sat next to this guy named Gordon Campbell…he is a really successful gospel drummer; I mean, he’s played with everyone.” Christopher continued to talk to Gordon, eventually getting the recommendation to check out a R&B jam session at Cozy’s.  He headed there a little nervous, not knowing what to expect or even where he was.

“It was one of the friendliest vibes I’ve ever been in, and I thought to myself, I can make a band out of this bar.  If I come back to this club and I keep coming, I can get some guys out of this club, and that’s exactly what I did seven months later,” says Christopher.

A song or two in and Christopher is itching to give it his all.  He sweetly asks the audience to bear with him, even if his playing is bad, as he takes his recovering arm out of its sling and straps on his guitar.  Regardless of doctor’s orders, tonight, he’s going to play.  “I just feel this is something that the Lord’s called me to, and I’m gonna’ keep on doing it until I feel called in another direction.”

Previous to his relocation in LA, Christopher Wray was anything but new to the music scene.  Encouraged since his youth, his middle school teachers taught improvisation and allowed him to experiment with many different instruments, which he gladly took home to a supportive and musical family.  Music was everywhere for him.  While he listens to all kinds of music, Christopher says that he’s predominantly influenced by jazz, gospel and soul music You can hear these elements shine through in the intricate way his lyrics float along for the ride – with a band that’s playing can only be described as straight from the heart.

The applause comes in waves with the conclusion of a particularly good guitar lead, drum solo or the completion of another mesmerizing song.  The audience does what they can to show their appreciation, but Christopher’s been wowing crowds since long before he hit the west coast.  In 2006, the Christopher Wray Quartet was honored by the Oklahoma Jazz Hall of Fame with a “Legacy Tribute Award,” which recognizes up-and-coming, outstanding new jazz artists.  When asked about this honor, Christopher humbly acknowledges his accomplishment and just says, “It was really cool.  You got to dress up in tuxes and feel important; it was a major honor.”

As the performance comes to an end, Christopher is sure to thank his band mates one more time and showcases all the talent on the stage, leaving the audience asking for, of course, an encore.  “I realize I’m not a white guy who’s trying to be anything other than who I am.  I love music that just happens to be predominantly black music,” says Christopher, who acknowledges his place as a minority in his genre but confidently proclaims that it’s a non-issue for him.  “I recognize my stage is full of African Americans, and I’m…like…the only white guy, but I honestly don’t realize that when we’re playing.”

They’ve gotten the green light for another song, and Christopher throws it to the audience asking if they’d prefer a ballad or what?  It seems as though the audience would be happy either way at this point just to keep them on stage a little longer.  “The Lord’s opening up a lot of doors for me, so I’m not taking sole credit. [However], you have to work for those doors to open.  They’re not going to just open by themselves, so I’d say have a clear, direct goal about what you want and be unrelenting about going after it,” Christopher advises.  Quickly answering Christopher’s call to the audience, one of the Bengal’s fans shouts out, “It’s my birthday!  Jam the f*@$ out!” and that’s exactly what they did.

————————————————

Spec Sheet:

Name/Nickname: Christopher Wray

Birthplace: Oaklahoma City, OK

Height: 6′4″

Random/quirky thoughts about yourself: “To many to count.  I smoke a cigar nearly every Sunday at 3pm. Not sure if that’s random or quirky. Most of them are weird and embarrassing.”

Favorite things to do: “Other than music, I love to spend time with friends and family and I’m an avid fisherman.”

Most embarrasing life moment: “I think I’ve successfully pushed them out of my mind.”

————————————————

Connect with Christopher Wray:

Website

Blog

Twitter