Jay Thornbury
2362 Chickasaw St. Cincinnati, OH, 45219 317-999-7016 jaytbury@gmail.com
Professional Profile
Musician specializing in double acoustic and electric bass playing with 8 years of performance experience. Additional instruments include guitar and piano. Ensemble membership has included jazz big band, jazz combo, concert orchestra, cover bands, jam groups, show choir bands, and groups performing original music. Manager and bass player for midwest jam band Indy Gorgeous Club (indygorgeousclub.com), a professional gigging group.
Education
Attended Noblesville High School
Completing Degree in Jazz Studies with an Entrepreneurship minor at The University of Cincinnati College Conservatory of Music
Honors and Awards
2019 Ball State Jazz Fest Outstanding Bass Player Award
2020 Nickel Plate Arts Emerging Artist of the Year
2021 Essentially Ellington Jazz Competition Finalist
2019-20/2021-22 Indiana All State Jazz Bassist
CCM Honors Scholar
Bob Bodley Award
Strengths and Skills
Flexible
Organized
Problem Solver
Easy going
Great cook
Quick thinker
Experienced
Experience
Jazz
Primary bass player in the Indiana All State Jazz band 2019-2022
Essentially Ellington 2021 Finalist band bassist
2022 Indy Jazz Fest Performer
2023 Elkhart Jazz Fest Performer
Bassist for Matt Tolentino Trad Trio
2022-23 CCM Jazz Lab Band Bassist
2022-23 CCM Blue Note Combo Bassist
2023-24 CCM Trad/Fusion Combo Bassist
2024-25 CCM Jazz Orchestra Bassist
Studied with Bethany Robinson 2018-19 bethanyrobinsonjazz.com
Studied with Nick Tucker 2019-22 nick.tucker.bass@gmail.com
Studying with Aaron Jacobs 2022-present jacobsat@ucmail.uc.edu
Teaching
Taught private bass lessons to Noblesville HS Students 2022-23
Bass masterclass at Hamilton Heights Middle School 2022
Jazz master classes and band rehearsal at Central Middle School in Kokomo, IN, 2023
Rhythm section master class with Westfield Middle School 2023
Rhythm section staff at Kennedy Center for Performing Arts in Cincinnati
Bassist in funky jam band Indy Gorgeous Club, 2018-present
Band Manager, booking agent, accountant, social media manager, website builder, general coordinator
Gigging and performing frequently in the midwest since 2018
Nickel Plate Arts Emerging Artist of the Year Award 2020
Porchfest best band 2021
Work
Apprentice Luthier to Kevin Heffernan at Centerstage Vintage Guitars 2018-19
Chef at Wolfies Waterfront Grill 2018-2023
Chef at Barley Island Brewery 2019-2020
Server at The Century Inn 2024-present
Miscellaneous
Performed in many cover groups at the bar scene across the midwest
Bassist/vocalist in Zolmon’s Wolfgang, a Cincinnati based rock group performing original music