From the sidelines of her childhood I’ve watched Haley Grey grow from a vibrant, bright-eyed baby to a beautiful young woman with an enthralling singing voice. Now, at 18, she is coming into her own; headed to Hampshire College in the fall and celebrating the release of three brand new songs: Sleepless Eyes in the City, My Boy and All Enough for Me...
Haley is a jazz singer/songwriter from San Francisco. She started singing at a young age and began classical training at 13. After five years — wanting to integrate her passion for creative writing with singing—she switched focus to jazz and wrote her first recorded EP.
We have access to so much music these days—one has only to tune in to have new talent delivered on a regular basis from a multitude of sources—and yet we still find ourselves hungry for the crisp, novel sounds and lyrics found in Haley’s new songs. Hers is hip, elegant music that restores our faith in old fashioned originality, musical truths told simply, boldly.
“Restating old truths and adapting them to the age, applying them in ways they were never before applied, stirring up emotion by the inherent power of narrative, visual image and music, artists crack the door to the morally necessary future.” ~ John Gardner, from his book, The Art of Fiction: Notes on Craft for Young Writers, 1983
Haley’s voice is imbued with a swank fullness beyond her years; she takes her time with music, every note is an act of consciousness. Her melodies and words carry surprise—the opposite of cliché. That is both musical and narrative craft. Those of us who have been here a while get the feeling that young Haley has been here before, returning to give a freshness to emotions we know so well. Brava Haley!
Listen for yourself, share with friends ~
July 12, 2016
Anita Gail Jones
4 responses to “Haley Gray ~ Young Avante-Garde Jazz Artist”
Nancy
July 12th, 2016 at 17:34
What a beautiful voice. Thank you for sharing this lovely artist.
juditheloisehooper
July 12th, 2016 at 18:40
It took me a moment to realize this is the Haley I had known since she was three with the quick, smart, quirky sense of humor who made me smile and laugh. But in listening to her music I also realized she is equally a Haley I did not know but happily found deep, thoughtful and reflective.
Tura Franzen
July 12th, 2016 at 21:59
Fabulous full – delightful voice – great compositions as well 🎼🎧🎤
Beatrice R Cox
July 15th, 2016 at 07:19
Great article Anita! Thank you for sharing Haley’s talent so eloquently. She is amazing isn’t she…