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Keith Pray

Keith has traveled from the west coast to Europe making music of many styles with hundreds of gifted musicians including some of the giants of the business. For eight years he resided in New York City performing with artists from multiple disciplines including, jazz, R&B, blues, Latin and big band. He currently resides in New York's Capital Region and has released seven albums under his name, most recently "Down the Middle" on his label PrayNation Records. Besides his own recordings, Keith has recorded for dozens of artists, and continues maintain an active performing schedule and has added jazz organ to his performing credentials.

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Album Review

Keith Pray's Three Bass Hit: Down the Middle

Read "Down the Middle" reviewed by Nicholas F. Mondello


There's just something about the sound of a B-3 organ that touches one's soul. Its awesome power seems to resonate the entire body. Perhaps it's the roots in religious environs. With Down the Middle, Albany, New York area saxophonist Keith Pray leaves his horns and reeds home and assumes the high Hammond throne along with a fine guitar and drum duo as Three Bass Hit. Together, they deliver an engaging rock and funk fest. As one might ...

9
Album Review

Keith Pray: Universal Blues

Read "Universal Blues" reviewed by Nicholas F. Mondello


The opening sounds of Keith Pray's Universal Blues present a sonic gateway that ultimately leads to an overall significant musical experience. Throughout his career, saxophonist Pray, a highly talented and well-respected upstate New York artist, has been an avid explorer of textures and tonalities. With Universal Blues he and his mates deliver an intelligent and intriguing album. Through an eclectic array of Pray's original compositions, the group displays vivid emotional and creative expression while examining that unique element- -the titular ...

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Album Review

Keith Pray: Confluence

Read "Confluence" reviewed by Dan Bilawsky


When most people discuss the jazz scene in New York, they're referring to the music that's made in Manhattan and the surrounding boroughs, but the Empire State stretches far beyond the city that never sleeps and jazz is made in many a locale within. The Capital region, for example, has its own burgeoning jazz scene that's worth noting and saxophonist Keith Pray is a key part of it. Pray has become a force for furthering jazz through ...

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Album Review

Keith Pray: Confluence

Read "Confluence" reviewed by Edward Blanco


When not leading the 17-piece Big Soul Ensemble, the Soul Jazz Revival group or the New Orleans-style Mohawk Brass Band, bandleader, educator and alto saxophonist Keith Pray fronts a hard-swinging quartet performing at venues in Albany and throughout the Capital District of upstate New York. Confluence is his fifth recording as leader, a project he designed for his working quartet but modified with the addition of guitarist Chuck D'Aloia, an idea that remained percolating after seeing a 1994 gig of ...

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Album Review

Keith Pray's Big Soul Ensemble: Live at the Lark Tavern

Read "Live at the Lark Tavern" reviewed by Alexander M. Stern


Live recording can be a mixed blessing. On a live album, an artist has an opportunity to capture the raw energy created in performance before an audience. When the band is cooking and the audience is whooping it up, it is clear that while music is made in rehearsal halls and recording studios, it lives onstage. On the other hand, recording live presents its own unique set of challenges. Getting the best possible sound in the controlled environment of the ...

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Album Review

Keith Pray's Big Soul Ensemble: Live at the Lark Tavern

Read "Live at the Lark Tavern" reviewed by Nicholas F. Mondello


There's something marvelously intimate and involving about hearing a swinging big band live in a smaller venue. It can be let-inhibitions-go dark, bump-elbow tight and, with food and drink circling about, noisy. Perhaps the big concert (big bucks?) format of the Radio Cities, Symphony Halls or Lincoln Centers--the stuff seen on PBS (American Public Television)--slightly diminishes the experience when compared with the intensity, the sense of involvement, even the funkiness and soul of the small venue live performance.

Live at ...

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"Make no mistake about it Keith Pray is a voice with which to be reckoned with. He has it all and leaves it all here, a brilliant convergence of chops, insight, honesty of sound and superb writing skills. This confluence packs a solid, creative punch. -A knock out." -Nick Mondello (jazztimes.com)
Primary Instrument

Saxophone

Location

Albany

Willing to teach

Beginner to advanced

Dr. Lonnie Smith
organ, Hammond B3
John Coltrane
saxophone
Charles Earland
organ, Hammond B3
Kenny Garrett
saxophone, alto
Johnny Hodges
saxophone, alto
Maceo Parker
saxophone, alto
Ben Webster
saxophone, tenor
John Zorn
saxophone, alto

Music

Recordings: As Leader | As Sideperson

Down the Middle

Praynation Records
2022

buy

Universal Blues

Praynation Records
2021

buy

Confluence

ARC - Artists Recording Collective
2012

buy

Live at the Lark...

Self Produced
2010

buy

Inyo

From: Universal Blues
By Keith Pray

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