Biography
Pianist Greg Murphy has long distinguished himself as a post-bop improviser whose career encompasses both extensive solo projects and a sustained collaboration with drummer Rashied Ali. He first surfaced in Chicago, spent a formative period in New Orleans, and established himself in New York City by the close of the 1980s. The association with Ali continued until the drummer’s passing in 2009. Among Murphy’s own recordings are the 2014 album Blues for Miles, the 2019 release Bright Idea featuring Jeff “Tain” Watts and Eric Wheeler, and the 2024 album You Remind Me.
Born in Chicago, Illinois, Murphy began playing piano in childhood. He participated in school ensembles and received private instruction from Lucia Santini at Roosevelt University. Following high school he enrolled at DePaul University and later at the University of Illinois, where he performed with the UIC Big Band; during those years he also appeared with the Chicago jazz-funk group Lightning Flash Thunder Roar. A 1984 jazz-study grant from the National Endowment for the Arts enabled him to work in New Orleans under pianist and educator Ellis Marsalis. While based there he directed his own ensembles, performed in collective settings, and collaborated with Wynton Marsalis and Donald Harrison.
Murphy relocated to New York City in 1987 and developed a close musical partnership with Rashied Ali, the longtime drummer for John Coltrane. Prior to Ali’s death in 2009, the two recorded and performed together on Judgement Day, Vol. 1 and 2 and Live in Europe. As a bandleader Murphy introduced his first album, Let’s Get Started, in 2004 and has since issued Orientation in 2006, Summer Breeze in 2016 with Kush Abadey and Eric Wheeler, and the earlier Blues For Miles. He composed the theme “Brother, Can You Spare a Dime?” for the 2012 Oscar-nominated HBO documentary short Redemption and has appeared alongside Joe Lovano, Christian McBride, Cindy Blackman, Charles McPherson, William Parker, and numerous others.
Bright Idea, issued in 2019, again featured bassist Eric Wheeler and drummer Jeff “Tain” Watts, who also participated on the 2021 album Cool Water. In 2024 Murphy released You Remind Me, a project dedicated to his late wife, with violinist Zach Brock, bassist Obasi Akoto, drummer Steve Johns, harpist and percussionist David Stoller, singer Malou Beauvoir, and singer-trombonist Frank Lacy all contributing.
Born in Chicago, Illinois, Murphy began playing piano in childhood. He participated in school ensembles and received private instruction from Lucia Santini at Roosevelt University. Following high school he enrolled at DePaul University and later at the University of Illinois, where he performed with the UIC Big Band; during those years he also appeared with the Chicago jazz-funk group Lightning Flash Thunder Roar. A 1984 jazz-study grant from the National Endowment for the Arts enabled him to work in New Orleans under pianist and educator Ellis Marsalis. While based there he directed his own ensembles, performed in collective settings, and collaborated with Wynton Marsalis and Donald Harrison.
Murphy relocated to New York City in 1987 and developed a close musical partnership with Rashied Ali, the longtime drummer for John Coltrane. Prior to Ali’s death in 2009, the two recorded and performed together on Judgement Day, Vol. 1 and 2 and Live in Europe. As a bandleader Murphy introduced his first album, Let’s Get Started, in 2004 and has since issued Orientation in 2006, Summer Breeze in 2016 with Kush Abadey and Eric Wheeler, and the earlier Blues For Miles. He composed the theme “Brother, Can You Spare a Dime?” for the 2012 Oscar-nominated HBO documentary short Redemption and has appeared alongside Joe Lovano, Christian McBride, Cindy Blackman, Charles McPherson, William Parker, and numerous others.
Bright Idea, issued in 2019, again featured bassist Eric Wheeler and drummer Jeff “Tain” Watts, who also participated on the 2021 album Cool Water. In 2024 Murphy released You Remind Me, a project dedicated to his late wife, with violinist Zach Brock, bassist Obasi Akoto, drummer Steve Johns, harpist and percussionist David Stoller, singer Malou Beauvoir, and singer-trombonist Frank Lacy all contributing.
Albums
