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Ray Reach

RAY REACH - Pianist / Vocalist / Guitarist / Arranger / Composer / Producer / Educator

CHECK OUT RAY'S NEW WEBSITE AT:

http://www.rayreach.com

A NEW RECORDING IN THE WORKS BY RAY REACH !

Ray Reach recently announced (July 2021) that he is nearing completion of a new recording titled "Rhythm and Salvation" The recording features legendary drummer Steve Gadd, saxophonist Lou Marini, Jr, trumpeter and director of the Count Basie Orchestra Scotty Barnhart, noted film composer and pianist Misha Segal and a host of other fine musicians.

As a practicing professional musician of some 49+ 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. After leaving UAB hhe was, 15 years, Director of Student Jazz Programs at the Alabama Jazz Hall of Fame (www.jazzhall.com), where he created and directed 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, 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 has also served as a faculty member of the W.C. Handy Jazz Camp.

JAZZ EDUCATION

Ray Reach has an exemplary list of successes as a jazz educator. Among the list of Ray's students we see names such as:

CHUCK TILLEY - Nashville-based drummer for Lee Greenwood, Englebert Humperdinck, and Dolly Parton. While still in high school, Chuck played drums in the All-Star High School Jazz Ensemble at the University of Alabama, directed by Ray Reach.

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Birthday

Jazz Musician of the Day: Ray Reach

Jazz Musician of the Day: Ray Reach

Source: Michael Ricci


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Education

"Fun with Jazz" Educational Program Now Administered by the Alabama Jazz Hall of Fame

"Fun with Jazz" Educational Program Now Administered by the Alabama Jazz Hall of Fame

Source: All About Jazz

The “Fun With Jazz" Educational Program is a jazz-based educational program sponsored by the Alabama Jazz Hall of Fame and presented, free of charge, in schools and other institutions. Beginning in 2006, founder Ray Reach and selected accompanists have presented free one-hour lessons introducing jazz through live performance and interactive activities. As of September 2007, the “Fun With Jazz" Program is now administered by the Alabama Jazz Hall of Fame. HISTORY The program, which was originated under the sponsorship of ...

Primary Instrument

Piano

Credentials/Background

Ray holds a Bachelors Degree in Music Education. In addition, he studied composition on the Master's level at the University of Alabama, under Dr. Fred Goossen and Steve Sample. He teaches private lessons in piano, voice, music theory and composition in his home and at Art's music Shop in Birmingham, Alabama (Phone: 205-995-8376). Ray's two newest challanges are 1) developing the educational offerings at the Alabama Jazz Hall of Fame and 2) presenting jazz educational concerts and workshops in schools and various oither venues. Both of these educational presentations are offered free of charge to the recipients. At the Alabama Jazz Hall of Fame, he is in charge of assembling a faculty of jazz professionals and writing a jazz curriculum to be used in the tuition-free "Saturday Jazz Classes." This same jazz faculty is currently touring schools and organizations, presenting a series of Concert / Workshops entitled "Fun With Jazz." The Fun With Jazz program began under the sponsorship of the Alys Stephens Performing Arts Center, and is now administered by the Alabama Jazz Hall of Fame. For more information about the "Saturday Jazz Classes," go to www.jazzhall.com. For more information about "Fun With Jazz," call the Alabama Jazz Hall of Fame at 205-254-2731.

Clinic/Workshop Information

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Photos

Music

Recordings: As Leader | As Sideperson

Lou's Blues

Chase Music Group
2003

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Videos

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