Ray Reach

Raymond E. "Ray" Reach (born August 3, 1948 in Birmingham) is a jazz pianist and vocalist, the Director of Student Jazz Programs at the Alabama Jazz Hall of Fame, and runs Magic City Music Productions. Reach is a member of several active performing groups, including the SuperJazz Big Band (formerly UAB SuperJazz), the Magic City Jazz Orchestra, the Night Flight Big Band, the W. C. Handy Jazz All-Stars, Cleveland Eaton's Alabama All-Stars, and his own group, Ray Reach and Friends.

Reach began piano lessons at the age of 6 under Giula Williams at E. E. Forbes & Sons Piano Company. He went on to continue studying piano under Carolyn Pfau and Hugh Thomas at the Birmingham Conservatory of Music. He began vocal studies under New York City Opera veteran Andrew Gainey at age 15 while participating in the Birmingham Civic Opera's production of The Barber of Seville. He attended Dixie Junior High School and graduated from Minor High School, where he learned from Tom Pinion and John Fowler.

Reach attended Birmingham-Southern College, the University of Montevallo and the University of Alabama (and others) as he pursued music studies. As a graduate assistant at Alabama's jazz program (1977 to 1980), he worked with Steve Sample, Sr and won an ASCAP Raymond Hubble Music Scholarship. In the 1980s Reach joined the music staff at the Fairmont Hotel in Dallas, Texas. While in Dallas, he became interested in the use of computers and MIDI, co-founding the American MIDI Users Group and developing MIDI software for Systems Design Associates. In 1985 he toured Europe with the Dallas Symphony Chorus, for whom he arranged works by Gershwin, Ellington, Cole Porter and Thad Jones. He accompanied vocalist Marilyn Walton on piano during the tour.

From 1998 to 2005, Reach was the Director of Jazz Ensembles at the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB). He is also a faculty member of the W. C. Handy Jazz Camp, and a regular featured performer at the W. C. Handy Music Festival in Florence, Alabama. In addition, Reach directs The "Fun With Jazz" Educational Program, which was originated through the Alys Stephens Center, and is now offered by the Alabama Jazz Hall of Fame.

Reach has performed with and arranged for numerous notable jazz musicians, including Clark Terry, Lou Marini, Ellis Marsalis, Jr, Cleveland Eaton, Lew Soloff and Chaka Kahn with the Lionel Hampton Orchestra. He has produced recordings for choral composer K. Lee Scott, jazz guitarist Eric Essix with the Night Flight Big Band, Lou Marini with the Magic City Jazz Orchestra, and Ellis Marsalis with the SuperJazz Big Band.

As a jazz educator, Ray has taught a number of notable musicians, including: saxophonist Kelley O'Neal, percussionist Beth Gottlieb, drummer Chuck Tilley, trombonist Ned Holder, drummer Mark Lanter, keyboardist / producer Peter Wolf, trumpeter Chris Gordon, saxophonist Dave Miller.

Reach cites Bill Evans, Oscar Peterson and Chick Corea as influences in the development of his piano playing. He has been influenced by Frank Sinatra and Johnny Hartman on his vocals.

Recordings

As pianist, arranger, vocalist and producer:

• Ray Reach and Friends. "Especially For You" (1994). Jazz quartet
• Ray Reach and Friends. "Have Yourself A Jazzy Little Christmas" (2005). Jazz quartet, recorded at CBS Recording Studios

As producer:

• K. Lee Scott. "Christmastide" (2003). choral music.
• K. Lee Scott. "Requiem" (2006). choral music.

As arranger:

• Jonathan Butler and Juanita Bynum with the GGC Orchestra. "Gospel Goes Classical" (2006). Produced by Henry Panion. #2 Gospel Album in the US.

As producer, arranger and keyboardist:

• Ellis Marsalis and the SuperJazz Big Band. "UAB SuperJazz, featuring Ellis Marsalis" (1997) (co-produced by Henry Panion), recorded at the Alys Stephens Center.
• Lou Marini and the Magic City Jazz Orchestra. "Lou's Blues" (2003)
• Eric Essix and the Night Flight Big Band. "SuperBlue." (2006). Jazz guitar
• Amy Drinkwater. "With All My Heart - A Journey to the Soul." (2005), Christian jazz vocals, recorded at Bates Brothers Recording Studio
• James Clark. "Count On Me" (1997). Original songs by singer / songwriter James Clark, recorded at Bates Brothers Recording Studio
• Ray Reach and Various Artists: "Mr President," (1992) a song benefitting the homeless in the Birmingham area. Artists and studios who donated their time and efforts to make this record include: Chuck Leavell (Keyboards), Charlie Hayward (Bass), Chuck Tilley (Drums), Kelley O'Neal (Sax), Wayne Perkins (Guitar), Front Row Productions and Airwave Productions Group.
• Dr. Dan "Harpdog" Marson. "Blues, Gospel and Jazz Harmonica." (1999)

External links

• Ray Reach profile at All About Jazz
• Ray Reach at MySpace.com
• Alabama Jazz Hall of Fame website
• Ray Reach bio at Wikipedia.com
• W.C. Handy Music Festival website
• The "Fun With Jazz" Educational Program at All About Jazz
• Ray Reach at Wikipedia.com