Artist Information
Biography
As a practicing professional musician of some 45+ years, Raymond E. Reach (or just plain Ray, as he prefers to be called) lives an unusually diverse musical life. Ray has kept both feet firmly planted in two musical worlds - always having one foot in academia and the other in what he calls the "real world" of professional music. He is one of the premier in-demand jazz pianist / vocalists in the Southeast, having carved himself a niche, doing straight ahead jazz piano coupled with "Sinatra-style" vocals.
As an educator, he is equally adept. From September 1998 until August 2005, Ray was Instructor of Music at the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB), where he taught music technology and directed the UAB Jazz Ensemble. He is currently Director of Student Jazz Programs at the Alabama Jazz Hall of Fame (www.jazzhall.com), and is the creator and director of the "Fun With Jazz" educational program, which originated through the auspices of the Alys Stephens Center for the Performing Arts, and is now offered by the Alabama Jazz Hall of Fame.
In addition, Ray produces jazz and classical recordings and directs the Magic City Jazz Orchestra, a recording and concert Big Band composed of some of the best jazz players Alabama has to offer. Ray has performed with and arranged for numerous notable musicians, including Clark Terry, Leonard Candelaria, Ken Watters, Lou Marini, Ernie Watts, Dizzy Gillespie, Ellis Marsalis, Jr., Cleveland Eaton, Chuck Redd, Mundell Lowe, Bill Goodwin, Lew Soloff and Chaka Khan with the Lionel Hampton Orchestra. He has been a regular featured musician at the annual W. C. Handy Festival in Florence, Alabama (www.wchandyfest.com) since 2003, and is also a faculty member of the W.C. Handy Jazz Camp.
Further information available at rreach@bellsouth.net or at 205-960-6328.
Instrumentation
Instrumentation varies from Duo, Trio, Quartet, Quintet, Sextet, Septet, Nonette, Dectette, Big Band (17 players) and Big Band plus Strings. All arrangements are written by Ray Reach. Personnel are drawn from a roster of the Southeast's finest Jazz/Pop musicians.
Further information available at rreach@bellsouth.net or at 205-960-6328.
Discography
For a discography listing, see Ray Reach's biography at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ray_Reach, or contact Ray reach at rreach@bellsouth.net or at 205-960-6328.
Official Website
Links
Video
Photo Gallery
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Ray and Engineer Allen Stone in session at CBS Recording
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Ray (far right) playing with Cleve Eaton at Topper Price Memorial
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Ray and "Blue Lou" Marini on Fox 6
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Ray at The Jazz Corner, Hilton Head, SC, playing with the Howard Paul Trio
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(L to R) Steve Ramos, Ray Reach and Lew Soloff after playing a set at the Taste of Fourth Avenue Jazz Festival
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(L to R) Lou Marini, Ray Reach and Ernie Stires
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(L to R) Branford Marsalis & Ray Reach
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Lou Marini and Ray Reach in NYC
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(L to R) Ellis Marsalis, John Nuckols, Ray Reach
Press
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Traditions Continue - Jazz Education at the Alabama Jazz Hall of Fame
To read this article and view the pictures, go to http://www.b-metro.com/traditions-continue
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Jazz Musician of the Day: Ray Reach
To read this article, go to http://www.allaboutjazz.com/php/news.php?id=40346
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"Fun with Jazz" Educational Program Now Administered by the Alabama Jazz Hall of Fame
To read this article, go to http://www.allaboutjazz.com/php/news.php?id=15682
Setlist
Ray Reach's repertoire includes nearly 1,600 songs of many varying styles and genre. For an abridged list, consult Ray Reach at rreach@bellsouth.net or at 205-960-6328.