BLACK BOX Jazz presents the Tim Ray Trio with pianist Tim Ray,  drummer Mark Walker and bassist John Lockwood.  Lockwood, Walker and Ray first played together when they backed Greg Abate, an alto great that has used the trio on two of his Whaling City Sound albums, including Kindred Spirits: Live at Chan's with the late Phil Woods. The trio credits Abate for allowing them to discover the potency, and chemistry, they possessed in support.  In fact, one of Abate's tunes on the live recording Speak Low featured the trio without Abate, essentially serving as their debut together.

In 2016 Tim Ray released his first jazz trio recording on the Whaling City Sound label featuring Lockwood and Walker.  This new disc demonstrates the high level of artistry and musical interaction that they can achieve when left to their own devices. The tracks are primarily a collection of trio music composed and performed by some of the greats in piano jazz. Well-known songs penned by Keith Jarrett, Herbie Hancock and Horace Silver highlight this disc. But Tim’s innovative arrangements of Ellington’s “I’m Beginning to See the Light”, Monk’s “Monk’s Dream” and Chick Corea’s “Windows” showcase this trio’s strengths and abilities to the fullest. Other highlights include Tim’s originals “DE-Train” and “Joy”, Lockwood’s composition “12 by 7” and fun arrangements of the standard “Star Eyes” and Lyle Lovett’s “I’ve Been to Memphis”.