CGNYC w/ Grey McMurray

As part of the "CGNYC - Cologne meets New York City" series, Florian Herzog invites New York musicians to collaborate with Cologne-based artists in an initial gathering to create exciting concerts.

Grey McMurray is a guitarist, singer, and producer from Brooklyn, New York—an insider’s pick on the local avant-garde music scene. Critics describe his music as “sublimely odd” (New York Magazine), and The Guardian called him “the world’s most discreet guitarist”—a compliment for a style of playing that never pushes itself to the forefront but always serves the moment.

He is co-leader of the trio Tongues in Trees (with Samita Sinha and Sunny Jain) as well as the duo itsnotyouitsme (with Caleb Burhans), with whom he has released four albums on New Amsterdam Records. As a sideman, he has played and recorded with greats such as Gil Scott-Heron, Tyondai Braxton, Alarm Will Sound, Beth Orton, Colin Stetson, Sam Amidon, and John Cale.

His first solo album, *Stay Up*, was released in 2019 on Shahzad Ismayli’s label, figureight records, followed by *Crying at Breakfast* (2024)—two works that demonstrate how McMurray has created a unique, unmistakable universe that blends soul, chamber music, and avant-garde.

// Grey McMurray (vocals, guitar), Alison Shearer (saxophone, flute), Nathan Bontrager (cello, banjo), Florian Herzog (bass), Thomas Sauerborn (drums)