Ross Kratter is a bassist, arranger, bandleader, and music director originally from New York, who has called Orlando home since 2021. He has performed professionally since age 14 and has led bands since age 10. Since 2010, he has led the Ross Kratter Jazz Orchestra, an 18-piece big band in New York, which performs original compositions and arrangements. Ross has performed with a host of jazz legends, including Joshua Redman, Bob Franceschini, Victor Wooten, Alex Sipiagin, Gil Goldstein, Steve Wilson, Bob Reynolds, Randy Johnston, Badal Roy, Dave Pietro, the Gabriel Alegría Afro-Peruvian Sextet, and many more. Outside of jazz, he has performed with G.C. Cameron and Glenn Leonard of the Temptations, Joey Fatone of NSYNC, Shawn Stockman and Wanyá Morris of Boyz II Men, Jay Siegel's Tokens, Charlie Gracie, the Drifters, and more. He has written arrangements for artists all over the world. Many of his arrangements have been performed at Walt Disney World. He currently tours with Forever Motown, performs regularly in Orlando with the Leonard Brothers Band, the Blue Theory Orchestra, and Moxy, and freelances with many different bands.

Ross studied double bass under Mike Richmond, Ron McClure, John DeWitt, and Frank Hansen. He studied electric bass under Victor Wooten, Steve Bailey, Anthony Wellington, Felix Pastorius, and Chuck Rainey. He studied composition and arranging under Rich Shemaria, and improvisation under Mike Stern and Wayne Krantz.

Ross Kratter proudly uses and endorses La Bella Strings, Phil Jones Bass Amplification, RS Berkeley tubas, Jerry Harvey Audio in-ear monitors, and Remic microphones.

Band lineup:

REEDS: Daniel Bonnet, Tom Dietz, Christian Ryan

TRUMPET/FLÜGELHORN: Shawn Villanueva

TROMBONE: Marcos Gonzalez

VOCALS: Chase Allen and Elodie Germain

PIANO: Mark Falchook

BASS/MUSIC DIRECTOR/ARRANGER: Ross Kratter

DRUMS: Paul Parker