Introducing Doctor Crosby and the birth of Tomorrow's Warriors
Meet Tomorrow's Warriors co-founder, bassist and band leader Dr. Gary Crosby OBE
Bass Levels
Dr Gary Crosby OBE is a leading jazz double bassist, band leader (including Gary Crosby's Nu Troop, Jazz Jamaica, and Groundation), music arranger, and educator in the UK. Gary is a co-founded Tomorrow's Warriors with Janine Irons OBE in 1991.
Gary and Uncle
Gary Crosby was born in London on 26 January 1955 and is the nephew of Jamaican guitarist Earnest Ranglin.
Gary Crosby Bass Portrait 5 by Janine IronsTomorrow's Warriors
Crosby started out playing trumpet but in his teens studied with noted bassist Peter Ind, going on to become a founding member in 1986 of the Jazz Warriors.
Courtney Pine QuartetTomorrow's Warriors
Gary Crosby was at the heart of a new dawn in British jazz, challenging perceptions and along with Courtney Pine was a founding member of Jazz Warriors.
Crosby has worked with
George Lee, Ed Bentley, Courtney Pine, Steve Williamson, Orphy Robinson, John Stevens, Gary Bartz, Mal Waldron, Eddie Henderson, Stanley Turrentine, Joey Calderazzo, Larry Coryell, Jimmy Witherspoon, Sonny Bradshaw, Myrna Hague, Lord Tanamo, Marlene Shaw, Hugh Masekela and more.
In 1991, Gary launched Just Friends at the Jazz Café, Camden, London. This series of gigs was specifically aimed at promoting a new diverse generation of jazz musicians, giving them a platform to be heard and the opportunity to perform with established artists - an ethos that continues to be at the heart of Tomorrow's Warriors current development programme.
EVENT? by James MellerTomorrow's Warriors
On stage with Byron Wallen, Tony Kofi and Denys Baptiste.
Inspired by both the creativity of the musicians he was working with at the Just Friends sessions, Gary formed Nu Troop, making an immediate impact on the British Jazz scene.
"The original Nu Troop was a conscious attempt to imitate Art Blakey's Jazz Messengers, with leader and bassist Gary Crosby (formerly of the Jazz Warriors) providing a nurturing environment for an ever-changing assembly of hot young players." James Griffiths, The Guardian
Nu Troop On The Block Newspaper Article by Janine IronsTomorrow's Warriors
Nu Troop review and commentary on London jazz scene... the beginning of an awakening?
Performing at Jazz CafeTomorrow's Warriors
Left to right: Trevor Watkiss, Gary Crosby, Robert Fordjour, Byron Wallen, Tony Kofi
In 1994 the importance of the development work that they were undertaking, and the transformational need to increase diversity in British jazz, was becoming more evident to Gary and Janine. A new way of driving the message and work of the Just Friends sessions at the Jazz Café and the nurturing approach of Nu Troop, was needed. Step forwards TOMORROW'S WARRIORS!
Tomorrow's Warriors First Promo by Janine IronsTomorrow's Warriors
The first piece of Tomorrow's Warriors promotional material.
Tomorrow's Warriors at Waterman's Arts Centre 1996 - 2 by Janine IronsTomorrow's Warriors
Janine Irons' contact sheet of another Warriors session at Waterman's featuring Courtney Pine playing with the next generation of young talent.
Tomorrow's Warriors Flier by UnknownTomorrow's Warriors
The new weekly Warriors jam sessions at the Jazz Café became a beacon for young talented musicians.
Queen+Elizabeth+II+Gary+Crosby+Private+Audiences+5dsC1PkUCNOlTomorrow's Warriors
Gary Crosby was the recipient of The Queen’s Medal for Music 2018 which recognises the major influence of an individual or group on the musical life of the UK. He was the first Black musician and the first jazz musician to receive this award.
Other awards include an OBE for Services to Music (2009), BBC Radio Jazz Award for Services to Jazz, a Parliamentary Jazz Award for Music Education, Special Parliamentary Jazz Award for Outstanding Contribution to Jazz.
He has an honorary fellowship at Trinity Laban Conservatoire for Music and Dance, and was made ‘Doctor of Music honoris causa’ from University of London Institute in Paris,
Gary is a member of the Jamaica Jazz Hall of Fame for consistent contribution to Jamaican Music.
groundation CoS clip small.mp4 (2020/2020) by Tomorrow's WarriorsTomorrow's Warriors
Featuring Tomorrow's Warriors alumni Shirley Tetteh, Nathaniel Face, Moses Boyd, and Hamish Nockles More, enjoy this concert recorded for the EFG London Jazz Festival 2020.
Gary Crosby at Jazz Cafe with Jazz Jamaica by Graeme MiallTomorrow's Warriors
Gary remains at the heart of the Tomorrow's Warriors learning and development programme, performs with Jazz Jamaica, is Artistic Director for Nu Civilisation Orchestra and leads his own band to venue and festival stages across the country.
