Spencer Murphy (born 1988, Syracuse, New York) is an American bassist, producer, composer, and consultant living in Brooklyn, NY.

Education

Murphy graduated from Jamesville-DeWitt High School in 2006 before attending SUNY Purchase, where in 2010 he earned a degree in jazz studies.^[1]

Career

While a student at SUNY Purchase, Murphy met Gabriel Garzon-Montano, with whom he co-wrote and recorded Mokaad's Booty EP (2012). He played bass with Garzon-Montano's subsequent solo project through 2015, performing at South by Southwest, as well as opening for Lenny Kravitz's Strut World Tour.^[2] Murphy co-wrote "Sour Mango," a single from Garzon-Montano's Jardín (2017).

In October of 2021, he originated the bass chair in the premiere of Only an Octave Apart, starring Justin Vivian Bond and Anthony Roth Costanzo, with music direction from Thomas Bartlett and arrangements by Nico Muhly.^[3] In January of 2022, Murphy accompanied Bond and Roth Costanzo onstage as they performed selections from the show with the New York Philharmonic, as well as backing the duo in a performance on NPR Tiny Desk.^[4] The following year, he appeared at the 35th Annual Tibet House Benefit at Carnegie Hall, performing with Marc Anthony Thompson, Zsela Thompson, and Scorchio Quartet.^[5]

Murphy had an extended residency at Smalls Jazz Club from 2007-2017, leading a quintet that included Tivon Pennicott, Stacy Dillard, John Chin, and Lawrence Leathers. ^[6] In the same period, he featured or was featured with Joel Frahm, Melissa Aldana, Dayna Stephens, Ari Hoenig, Emmett Cohen, and Johnny O'Neal.^[7]

Recordings

References