The Jazz Foundation Presents: the Ray Blue Quintet
June 02, 2023
Williamsbridge Oval Recreation Center | 06:00pm - 07:00pm | Free
Jazz Foundation of America presents the Ray Blue Quintet.
Ray Blue’s music can be described as a message that makes listeners feel good. A New York-bred saxophonist, composer, arranger and educator who performs internationally, he is a mainstay on the New York Jazz Scene, having shared the stage and studio as leader, sideman and band member with Kirk Lightsey, Kenny Barron, Harold Mabern, Essiet Okon Essiet, Benito Gonzales, Nat Adderley, Jr., John Gilmore, Dr. Art Davis, Benny Powell, Eddie Henderson, Charli Persip Super Band, Wycliffe Gordon, Bernard Purdie, Steve Turre, Alicia Keys and the Sun Ra Arkestra. He has performed as a leader and featured artist at festivals in Cape Town, Zanzibar, Hartford, Dublin, Macao, Beijing and elsewhere.
Ray received a graduate degree from the University of Iowa and studied at the Jazz Mobile in New York City with Charles Davis, Stanton Davis and later with Paul Jeffrey, Sonny Sharrock, George Coleman and Barry Harris. More of his mentors include Arthur Blythe, Houston Person, Ornette Coleman and Benny Powell. His alma mater, Wm. Penn University, has presented the annual “Ray Blue Jazz Award” to a graduating senior since 2004. He has released 6 albums as a leader, and is the founder of Cross-Cultural Connection, Inc. a 501 (c) 3 non-profit organization that promotes jazz culture, performance and education.
"Ray Blue has a majestic presence...when playing, his sense of purpose is obvious...It's one thing to be a good composer, it's another to be a great performer. Ray Blue's got the whole package." (Jean Szlamowicz, Jazz Hot, Down Beat)
Ray Blue’s music can be described as a message that makes listeners feel good. A New York-bred saxophonist, composer, arranger and educator who performs internationally, he is a mainstay on the New York Jazz Scene, having shared the stage and studio as leader, sideman and band member with Kirk Lightsey, Kenny Barron, Harold Mabern, Essiet Okon Essiet, Benito Gonzales, Nat Adderley, Jr., John Gilmore, Dr. Art Davis, Benny Powell, Eddie Henderson, Charli Persip Super Band, Wycliffe Gordon, Bernard Purdie, Steve Turre, Alicia Keys and the Sun Ra Arkestra. He has performed as a leader and featured artist at festivals in Cape Town, Zanzibar, Hartford, Dublin, Macao, Beijing and elsewhere.
Ray received a graduate degree from the University of Iowa and studied at the Jazz Mobile in New York City with Charles Davis, Stanton Davis and later with Paul Jeffrey, Sonny Sharrock, George Coleman and Barry Harris. More of his mentors include Arthur Blythe, Houston Person, Ornette Coleman and Benny Powell. His alma mater, Wm. Penn University, has presented the annual “Ray Blue Jazz Award” to a graduating senior since 2004. He has released 6 albums as a leader, and is the founder of Cross-Cultural Connection, Inc. a 501 (c) 3 non-profit organization that promotes jazz culture, performance and education.
"Ray Blue has a majestic presence...when playing, his sense of purpose is obvious...It's one thing to be a good composer, it's another to be a great performer. Ray Blue's got the whole package." (Jean Szlamowicz, Jazz Hot, Down Beat)
