The Magic City Jazz Orchestra (MCJO) was founded in 1999 by pianist / guitarist / arranger / composer / producer Ray Reach for the purpose of recording and performing cutting edge big band jazz. Ray directed the UAB Jazz Ensemble from 1998 to 2005, and taught courses in Music Technology and Jazz for the UAB Music Department. He is now Director of Student Jazz Programs at the Alabama Jazz Hall of Fame (www.jazzhall.com), and is director of the "Fun With Jazz" Educational Program, which was begun through UAB's Alys Stephens Performing Arts Center, and is now administered by the Alabama Jazz Hall of Fame.
MCJO is a spin-off from the SuperJazz Big Band (formerly UAB SuperJazz), a popular group which has been performing for 26 years, and was the first musical performing ensemble connected with the music department of the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB). The MCJO has made recordings with saxophonist Lou "Blue Lou" Marini, Jr. and trumpeter Lew Soloff. New recordings are in the works with Marini, Soloff and Tom "Bones" Malone of the David Letterman Show.
The songs on this site are as follows:
(1) MR. CLEAN - From the CD, "Lou's Blues," by Lou Marini and the Magic City Jazz Orchestra. Produced by Lou Marini and Ray Reach. Available at Amazon.com.
(2) AUTUMN RETURNS - Composed and arranged by Ray Reach. Performed by the Magic City Jazz Orchestra.
(3) LOU'S BLUES - From the CD, "Lou's Blues," by Lou Marini and the Magic City Jazz Orchestra. Produced by Lou Marini and Ray Reach. Available at Amazon.com.
(4) ODALISK - From the CD, "Lou's Blues," by Lou Marini and the Magic City Jazz Orchestra. Produced by Lou Marini and Ray Reach. Available at Amazon.com.
All of the above arrangements are available for purchase from Ray Reach at [email protected].
Be sure to read the review of the MCJO's recording, "Lou's Blues," which is reprinted on the AllAboutJazz.com profile page. Simply go to AllAboutJazz.com and search for Magic City Jazz Orchestra.
The CD, "Lou's Blues" by Lou Marini and the Magic CIty Jazz Orchestra is avaialble at Amazon.com, Barnesandnoble.com and at a number of other websites.
For more information, contact Ray Reach at:
Email: [email protected] / Phone: 205-960-6328 / Alabama Jazz Hall of Fame Office: 205-254-2731.
