Horace Bray is a guitarist and composer whose music bridges contemporary jazz and Americana, drawing on improvisation, lyricism, and storytelling. Based in Los Angeles, his work blends the harmonic sophistication of modern jazz with the raw intimacy of American roots music, establishing him as a distinctive voice in the evolving landscape of creative music.

A graduate of the University of North Texas, Bray was the first undergraduate in 15 years to hold the guitar chair in the Grammy-nominated One O’Clock Lab Band. His debut record Dreamstate (2015) announced him as a bold new presence, praised for its inventive compositions and nuanced guitar work. Since then, Bray has toured and recorded internationally, both as a bandleader and collaborator.

In addition to his own projects, Bray has brought his guitar playing to stages with artists including Maggie Rogers, Benson Boone, Jordin Sparks, and India.Arie, balancing his identity as a genre-defying improviser with the versatility of a first-call session musician. His creative output also extends into production and cross-genre collaborations, from songwriting to his lofi project Felty, which garnered wide streaming success.

Now, with upcoming releases that highlight his trio and new compositional work, Bray continues to carve a space where jazz, folk, and modern songwriting intersect—music that is as exploratory as it is deeply human.


Horace Bray is one of those artists I’m glad I’ve run into in the past and should definitely be one of those voices you should know.
— Nextbop: Anthony Dean Harris