Raymond E. Reach, Jr. (b. August 3, 1948 in Birmingham, Alabama) is an American pianist, vocalist and educator, now serving as Director of Student Jazz Programs for the Alabama Jazz Hall of Fame. In addition, he is an accomplished guitarist, arranger, composer, conductor and music producer. Although he has composed, arranged and performed in a variety of genre, he is perhaps best known for his work in the jazz idiom.
Ray is a member of several active performing and recording groups, including the Magic City Jazz Orchestra, the Night Flight Big Band and Cleveland Eaton and the Alabama All-Stars. He is a former member of the SuperJazz Big Band (formerly ''UAB SuperJazz''). Ray has performed with and arranged for numerous notable jazz musicians and ensembles, including Clark Terry, Dizzy Gillespie, Mike Williams (lead trumpeter for the Count Basie Orchestra, Leonard Candelaria (noted classical trumpeter and educator), Lou Marini, Ellis Marsalis, Cleveland Eaton, Chuck Redd, Mundell Lowe, Lloyd Wells, Bill Goodwin, Lew Soloff, Jonathan Butler, Galen Jeter's Dallas Jazz Orchestra (later known as Dallas' Original Jazz Orchestra) (DOJO), the Guy Lombardo Orchestra, the Lawrence Welk Orchestra, Ladies' Night Out and Chaka Khan with the Lionel Hampton Orchestra.
During his seven years as Director of the UAB Jazz Ensemble (1998-2005), Ray wrote a large percentage of the music that the band played. His catalogue of jazz arrangements and compositions numbers over a thousand pieces. The demo recordings included here are as follows:
(1) HOW INSENSITIVE - Arrangement of the gentle Bossa Nova by Antonio Carlos Jobim. This recording features Ellis Marsalis accompanied by the SuperJazz Big Band in a live recording done at UAB's Alys Stephens Center for the Performing Arts.
(2) AUTUMN RETURNS - A 32-bar up-tempo be-bop melody written over he chord changes of “Autumn Leaves.” Big band, 8 brass. Soloists may play written solos or chords are provided for improvisation. Difficult melodic parts. A medium barn burner.
(3) SATIN SMOOTHIE - A 32-bar medium tempo be-bop melody over the chords of “Satin Doll.” Soloists may play written solos or improvise. Difficult lead parts. Tutti shout with drum interludes.
(4) TAKE THE BASS TRAIN - A 32-bar medium tempo bass feature based on the changes of “Take the A Train.” Bass and other Soloists may play written solos or improvise. Difficult bass solo. 4-bar bass solo interludes. Ends with 3-bar bass solo.
(5) LOVE NEVER FAILS - Arranged for the hit Gospel CD, "Gospel Goes Classical," produced by Henry Panion. Jonathan Butler on vocal. The CD rose to number 2 on the national Gospel survey, and number 3 in the Classical Crossover category (Billboard Magazine).
(6) WADE IN THE WATER - Big band arrangement of the traditional Spiritual, transcribed and adapted by Ray Reach for a Christian Jazz CD by vocalist Amy Drinkwater, titled "With All My Heart." Produced by Ray Reach.
For more information about Ray Reach's compositions and arrangements, email Ray at rreach@bellsouth.net, or call at 205-960-6328.
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