John Daniel Ray is a progressive jazz bassist and composer, and operates a production company called Mr. Haircut. He has produced dozens of projects and has played with hundreds of bands and ensembles in his 20 year career, from the Allman Brothers to the Roots.

John plays with his original band Vintage Astronaut, a progressive jazz/electronic project that pushes the boundaries of what live music can accomplish by utilizing computers as improvisational tools and incorporating electronic sounds into live performance. He also performs regularly with Noobious, a video game music cover band, RKIII, an experimental electronic band, Lucky Pocket, a dance/party band, and he produces and hosts a podcast called Mr. Haircut with renowned drummer Jonathan Greene. John has arranged music for various ensembles including string quartet, handbell choir and voice choir, composed commissioned work, and teaches improv clinics to middle school students.

John has performed and toured with bands from all over the country since 2000, appearing 5 times with The Allman Brothers, touring for 5 years with The Embers, co-founding early 2000’s hip hop band Solos Unit, and sharing the stage with groups including The Roots, Gap Band, Common, Wu Tang Clan, The New Deal, George Clinton, Oteil Burbridge, The Platters, The Temptations, The Funky Knuckles, Jonathan Scales Fourchestra, Jazz is Phish, and more.

John uses Mainstage 3 with his live rig, and records with Logic. He is fluent with keyboard bass as well as upright, 4, 5, and 6 string basses.

Contact for more information, booking inquiries, press pictures/graphics, or lessons.

John Daniel Ray has spent 20 years in the music business dabbling in photography and graphic design. Check out his work here: