Ray Blue
Ray Blue (born August 17, 1950 in Portsmouth (Virginia) , USA) is an American jazz musician , band leader , composer , arranger and interpreter on the tenor, alto and soprano saxophone . At the same time he teaches as a music teacher.
education
Blue grew up in Pekkskill , New York. He started playing the clarinet at the age of eight . At the age of fourteen he learned to play the saxophone and bass clarinet. During his school days he played in orchestras, big bands , R&B and soul bands. Ray Blue is a graduate of the University of Iowa and William Penn University, which annually presents the "Ray Blue Jazz Award" to a student. He studied - among others at the Jazzmobile - with Paul Jeffreys, Charles Davis , Sonny Sharrock and was supported by Ornette Coleman , Arthur Blythe and other saxophonists.
Concert appearances
Ray Blue then worked in various jazz and R&B bands, such as Steve Turré , John Gilmore , Eddie Henderson and Gary Bartz . He has performed with the Sun Ra Arkestra, the Cotton Club All-Stars, the Spirit Of Life Ensemble and other big bands. As a band leader, he worked with John Patton , Michael Cochrane , Reggie Moore, Larry Willis , Bobby Battle and Doc Powell. In November 1999 Ray Blue visited Switzerland, Germany and France for the first time. He appears at international festivals such as the Zanzibar International Film Festival, the North Sea Jazz Festival, Cape Town , South Africa, the Macufe Festival, Bloemfontain, South Africa, the European Union Annex Festival, Dublin, Ireland, the Audi Jazz Festival, Brussels, Belgium, the Macao Jazz Festival, China, The Newport in New York Festival , the New York State Black Arts Festival, Albany, the Köpenicker Blues and Jazz Festival , Berlin, the Midi Modern Music Festival , Beijing, China, the Pori Jazz Festival , Finland, the Jazz à Foix Festival , France, and the Bayonne Jazz Festival, France. He also gives concerts in jazz clubs. Since 2001 his performances have also taken him to China on a regular basis.
Teaching
As a music teacher, Ray Blue teaches in the USA, Europe and Asia. He is the founder of Cross-Cultural Connection Inc., which promotes jazz in educational and public institutions. He leads “Jazz Education Workshops” and master classes. Ray Blue lives in New York and Berlin.
Recordings
Ray Blue has recorded numerous recording sessions as a sideman for bands from RCA and Columbia Records . In 2001 his first album Always With A Purpose was released. This was followed by Live at Theater Liars (2004) and Live at Liars Theater 2 (2005). In 2006 he recorded Transvision for the Neuklang label. His album, released in 2010, is called Berries and Blues .
Web links
- Web presence
- Ray Blue at Allmusic (English)
- Ray Blue at Discogs (English)
| personal data | |
|---|---|
| SURNAME | Blue, Ray |
| BRIEF DESCRIPTION | American jazz musician, band leader, composer, arranger |
| DATE OF BIRTH | 17th August 1950 |
| PLACE OF BIRTH | Portsmouth, Virginia , USA |