Chris Flory


Chris Flory is an American jazz guitarist.

Early life and career

A native of New York City, Flory was playing guitar by his early teens and around that time heard his first jazz album, Forest Flower by Charles Lloyd. He was influenced by seeing Jimi Hendrix, B. B. King, and Rahsaan Roland Kirk live during the late 1960s. He met musicians through his friend Scott Hamilton and while babysitting the children of Gil Evans he listened to albums by Nat King Cole, Miles Davis, Charlie Parker, and Lester Young. In an interview with JazzTimes, Flory stated that his music has been inspired by Charlie Parker, Charlie Christian, T-Bone Walker, and Jimi Hendrix.
Flory played in rock bands in his early teens but three years later had a couple jazz lessons with guitarist Tiny Grimes. In the early 1970s he was a student at Hobart College. He performed with Hamilton intermittently from 1975 through the early 1990s. He began to record his own albums as a leader after Hamilton's quintet broke up. From 1977 to 1983 Flory played in the Benny Goodman Sextet. He has worked with Ruby Braff, Judy Carmichael, Roy Eldridge, Illinois Jacquet, Buddy Tate, Bob Wilber, Milt Hinton, Hank Jones, Duke Robillard, and Maxine Sullivan.

Discography

As leader

For All We Know City Life Word on the Street Blues in My Heart with Duke Robillard For You
  • ''The Chris Flory Quintet Featuring Scott Hamilton''

As sideman

With Ruby BraffA First A Sailboat in the Moonlight Mr. Braff to You
With Scott HamiltonScott Hamilton and Warren Vache with Scott's Band in New York City Skyscrapers Close Up In Concert The Second Set The Right Time Plays Ballads
With Maxine SullivanUptown Together Swingin' Sweet
With Bob WilberBob Wilber and the Scott Hamilton Quartet Dizzyfingers Bob Wilber and the Bechet Legacy
With others