Greg Tuohey is many things to the Brooklyn music community- an extremely talented guitarist currently playing with the band Lowry, an original co-founder of the Local Correspondents community, someone capable of both giving an honest and insightful critique and being a supportive fan, and occasionally he’s the person who pours that last shot down your throat. After over a decade in New York, Greg is moving to Urbana, Illinois this August. So here’s a look at where Greg came from, where he’s been, and where he’s headed.

Lowry photoshoot c/o Daniel D’Ottavio Photography

Warning: What follows is a resume so impressive it may simultaneously induce eye-burning jealousy and die hard fandom.

Greg began playing Classical piano when he was five years old. By the time he was 11 he had switched to guitar, playing his first jazz gig by 15. At 18 years old the awards were soon to follow with 1994 being a landmark year:

- Composed and played for the George Chisholm quintet, who won the New Zealand Jazz Record of the Year with “Perfect Strangers”

- Nominated for an album called “Urbanism” of which he was co-leader

- Toured the US with the “Roger Fox Big Band”

- Received the New Zealand “Young Achievers” award and a scholarship to Berklee School of Music

In 1995 Greg left Berklee and moved to New York on a scholarship to The New School’s jazz department. During this time Greg kept busy playing a huge amount of jazz gigs:

-  Played in New York with Mark Turner, Seamus Blake, Chris Cheek, Matt Penman, George Garzone, Adam Nussbaum, Jerome Sabbagh, Jochen Rueckert, and many other respected jazz musicians

- Toured the U.S., Ireland, France, Belgium, Germany, Switzerland, Thailand, New Zealand, Australia, and several other countries

- For years held a residency at (the now long gone) Dharma club on the LES. It consisted of a Tuesday night trio gig with Ari Hoenig and Francois Moutin and a Saturday night Quartet with Mark Turner, Matt Penman and Jochen Rueckert. This is where Greg would learn his famed bartending skills.

When he was 25 Greg found himself listening exclusively to rock music while living (albeit rather poorly) as a professional jazz musician. He decided to follow his instincts and give up jazz to pursue rock music. He has not played a jazz gig since. With fellow disenfranchised jazzers he formed post punk band “Tennis” as lead guitarist and singer. “Tennis” was signed to Watermark/Rykodisc and released a record which is sold in stores worldwide.

During the same time, Greg also started working as a bar back at Bar4 in the first year that it opened (2000), later becoming a bartender. Over the next 10 years Bar4 would be transformed from neighborhood dive to locally beloved local music venue, and Greg played a part in that transformation, starting an open mic with Tanya Buziak and helping to found Local Correspondents with Tanya, Jessi Robertson, and Larry Hyland.

Eventually Tennis broke up and Greg formed a new band, Seems So Bright. Seems so Bright is signed to IDJ Records and released the “Resistance” EP and the “Blinds Down” LP.

Greg also was hired for major labels as a professional guitarist for live shows. Some of his professional experience included:

- Hired as guitar player for Alana Grace (Columbia Records)

- Toured with Alana Grace opening for All American Rejects, The Backstreet Boys, Ashlee Simpson and other major label acts, playing to crowds averaging between 6000 and 11,000 fans.

- Played on the Today Show with Alana Grace

Seems So Bright was courted by every single major lable, but could not work out a deal, finally breaking up.

Greg then started playing with local favorite, Lowry. Lowry was signed to Engine Room Recordings, released an album titled “Love is Dead,” and completed a five month tour in support of the album. Lowry has also played at All Points West festival along with Radiohead, Grizzly Bear, Andrew Bird, and other major label acts. This month Lowry plans to begin recording a new record.

Meanwhile Greg is nothing if not busy, playing on local records for artists such as Wakey! Wakey!, Steve Waitt, Tanya Buziak, Paula Valstein, Jessi Robertson and many more. Although he will be sorely missed in the NYC music community, we look forward to his many visits to Brooklyn while touring with Lowry.