Jared Craig is a professional bassist, songwriter and singer based in Toronto. Classically trained at Youngstown State University in Ohio, Jared studied with members of the Pittsburgh Symphony and Cleveland Orchestra. While in school, he immersed himself in the local jazz scene, working his way to becoming a first-call bassist in the area.

 

As a jazz musician, Jared has performed with the Cleveland Jazz Orchestra, Slide Hampton, Jim McNeeley, and a host of jazz musicians from the US and Canada. In the classical world, Jared was a founding member of the Youngstown Scoring Stage, a professional film-scoring orchestra. He has also performed with Leslie Dawn Knowles, Mark Tetreault (Toronto Symphony Orchestra), Pamela Hinman, Garrett Knecht (Canadian Opera Company Orchestra), and various chamber groups.

 

Jared spent time as a band leader for the showbands of Holland America Line cruise ships, performing with the Broadway production of La Cage aux Folles and as a session musician. He was also a Big “E” band member, an Elvis Presley tribute show touring the US with The Stamps Quartet and Elvis's Imperials Quartet.

 

In Canada, Jared has performed with Tom Cochrane, Bill Bell (Jason Mraz Band), Colleen Brown, Madeline Merlo, Marla Lukofsky, and Mariel Buckley. Jared co-wrote a song for Buckley’s critically acclaimed album, Everywhere I Used to Be (2022). He was a founding member and songwriter for the country band Johnson Crook. Johnson Crook shared the stage with many of Canada’s country music stars, including Corb Lund, The James Barker Band, Meghan Patrick, Alan Doyle, Michelle Wright and The Washboard Union. They released their debut album, The Album, in August 2017.

"Jared Craig's songs represent a life devoted to craftmanship and the pursuit of human connection. "

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