Trumpeter | Collaborator | Recording Artist
Chris Grady
For more than three decades, Chris Grady has built a multifaceted career as a trumpeter, recording artist, and collaborator whose work spans classical performance, jazz, film music, commercial recording, and live multimedia productions. Equally at home in the concert hall, recording studio, and improvisational setting, he has become a respected and enduring presence in the Bay Area music community.
the origin
A native of Vacaville, California, Grady began playing trumpet at age seven and quickly developed a reputation as an exceptional young musician. His formal studies took him first to San Francisco State University, where he studied jazz with Cal Lewiston and classical trumpet with Joseph Alessi Sr., before continuing his training at San Francisco Conservatory of Music.
While still a student, Grady served as Principal Trumpet of the San Francisco Symphony Youth Orchestra, touring Europe under conductor David Milnes and helping the orchestra earn first prize at the Vienna Cup International Youth Orchestra Competition.
Club FooT
Orchestra
A defining chapter of his career began with the pioneering Bay Area ensemble Club Foot Orchestra. Through the group's original live scores for silent films, Grady developed a uniquely versatile musical voice, drawing from classical, jazz, avant-garde, and cinematic traditions. His work with the orchestra has included performances and recordings for landmark silent films including Metropolis, The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari, and Nosferatu.
Recording Artist
His recording career has included collaborations with a wide range of artists and projects. Grady performed on the Grammy Award-winning album Mule Variations by Tom Waits and later contributed to the Grammy-nominated albums Orphans: Brawlers, Bawlers & Bastards and Bad as Me.
His recording work has also included projects with Jewel, the Guadalajara-based ensemble SUTRA, and Bay Area composer and bandleader Nolan Green through the acclaimed group The Grassy Knoll.
As a solo artist, Grady released the jazz album On It, reflecting his longstanding commitment to both interpretation and improvisation
Modern Music with The Crushing Spiral Ensemble at ODC Theatre
Early Music with vocalist Kelsey Debner at Old St. Mary’s
Now Performing
He remains active throughout the Bay Area music community, performing with The Crushing Spiral Ensemble, Russian Telegraph, and Orchestra Nostalgico, while continuing his long association with Club Foot Orchestra.
Whether performing Baroque repertoire, recording film scores, accompanying songwriters, or improvising with longtime collaborators, Grady continues to approach music with the same curiosity, discipline, and joy that first drew him to the trumpet as a child.
After years of making music together, Chris continues to amaze me with his work ethic and willingness to embrace new musical challenges. He brings the same level of focus and preparation to every project,
whether it's familiar repertoire or something completely new and demanding. Beyond his exceptional talent, he's simply a wonderful colleague—thoughtful, supportive, and someone everyone enjoys having in the room.
—- Matt Small, Bass Player | Composer | Artistic Director of Small Art Music Projects