Ray Reach

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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 the CEO of Ray Reach Music and Magic City Music Productions. He is also an accomplished guitarist, arranger, composer and educator. Ray 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.

Early years

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. Later, as a student at Birmingham-Southern College, he studied with pianist Sam Howard. 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.

College years

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 was awarded an ASCAP Raymond Hubbell Music Scholarship.

Years in Dallas

In the 1980s Reach joined the music staff at the Fairmont Hotel in Dallas, Texas. While there 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, Inc. 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.

Jazz education

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, and saxophonist Dave Miller.

From 1998 to 2005, Reach was the Director of the UAB Jazz Ensemble (at the University of Alabama at Birmingham aka UAB). He is also a faculty member of the W. C. Handy Jazz Camp, a member of the W. C. Handy Jazz All-Stars and a regular featured performer at the W. C. Handy Music Festival in Florence, Alabama. In addition, Reach is founding director of 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.

Performing, arranging and producing

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.

Reach has performed with and arranged for numerous notable jazz musicians, including Clark Terry, Lou Marini, Ellis Marsalis, 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 (co-produced with Henry Panion).

In 1989 the song "Mr President", composed by Michael Loveless, Joe Sterling and Ray Reach was recorded by various artists in Dallas to benefit the homeless in that area. A new recording of the song was made in Birmingham in 1993 with local musicians and choral students from Jefferson County Schools.

Recent Performances

In January 2008, Ray performed as guest artist with the Howard Paul Trio at the famed Jazz Corner on Hilton Head Island, South Carolina. The The Alabama Jazz Hall of Fame All-Stars, under Reach's direction, served as the house band for the 2008 Birmingham Area Music Awards. He performed alongside several artists at the W. C. Handy Music Festival. The Ray Reach Quartet appeared at the Taste of 4th Avenue Jazz Festival in September 2008. And in October his trio returned to the Jazz Corner on Hilton Head.

Partial Discography

As pianist / keyboardist, arranger, vocalist and producer:

As producer:

As keyboardist:

As producer, arranger and keyboardist:

As producer, arranger, keyboardist, vocalist and guitarist:

As keyboardist, arranger and vocalist:

  • Dave Loggins, Ray Reach and others (1995) "The New Course Record".

References

External links

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