RayVega profile picture

RayVega

RAY VEGA PLAYS STOMVI TRUMPETS

About Me

A native of the South Bronx, RAY VEGA is a veteran of the bands of Tito Puente, Ray Barretto, Mongo Santamaria, Mario Bauza, Luis "Perico" Ortiz, Hector LaVoe, Johnny Pacheco, Larry Harlow, Pete "El Conde" Rodriguez and Louie Ramirez to name a few. Ray has performed and/or recorded with Joe Henderson, Lionel Hampton, Mel Torme, Paquito D’Rivera, Arturo Sandoval, Israel Lopez "Cachao", Paul Simon, The Chico O’Farrill Afro-Cuban Jazz Orchestra, The Lincoln Center Afro Latin Jazz Orchestra, Yomo Toro, Eddie Palmieri, La Orquesta Sinfonica De Simon Bolivar (Venezuela), Michel Camilo, The Art of Jazz Orchestra (Canada), The Duke Ellington Orchestra, The Vanguard Jazz Orchestra, Bebo Valdes, and Celia Cruz.Ray has now established himself as one of the innovators of the New York Jazz and Latin music scenes. A multi-talented trumpeter, percussionist, composer, and arranger, he presents Jazz from a refreshingly original and contemporary perspective. His two recordings on the Concord Picante label, his self-titled debut "Ray Vega", and "Boperation", along with his 1st release on the Palmetto label "Pa'lante" have been well received by critics, audiences and musicians alike. Vega's 2nd Palmetto CD "Squeeze, Squeeze" has also received critical acclaim including Four Stars in Down Beat Magazine.Vega grew up immersed in the heart of two vibrant New York City music scenes: Jazz and Salsa. In addition to learning about these two musical styles with some of the great legends, he received his formal training, studying trumpet with Sydney Baker, Henry Nowak, Mike Lawrence, Stan Shafran, Laurie Frink, Richard Brezowski and Jerry Gonzalez. He studied Jazz harmony and improvisation with Susan Winder, Bobby Rogovin and Lonnie Hillyer. Vega studied Afro-Caribbean percussion with Luis Bauzo. Ray Vega is a graduate of the legendary High School of Music and Art.

My Interests

Music:

Member Since: 2/1/2008
Band Website: rayvegamusic.com
Band Members: My NYC group consists of- Zacchai Curtis:Piano, Andy Eulau:Bass, Richie Morales:Drums, Chembo Corniel:Tumbadoras. My West Coast band consists of- Murray Low:Piano, Dave Belove:Bass, Paul Vonwagenengen:Drums, Michael Spiro:Tumbadoras.I co lead Ambos Mundos USA with singer Sharon Spinetti. This ensemble combines Jazz and Classical music. The members are Sharon Spinetti:Voice, James Shipp: Vibes, Chris Haney:Bass and Brian Adler:Drums.In the past I’ve had- Piano: Hector Martignon Igor Atalita, John DiMartino, Oscar Hernandez, Kimson Plaut, Elio Villafranca, Oliver Von Essen/Bass: Ruben Rodriguez, Boris Kozlov, Gregg August, Bernie Minoso, Donald Nicks, Kip Sophos, Chris Haney, Jairo Moreno, Ariel DeLaPortilla, Harvie S, Mark Vonwagenengen, Mario Rodriguez/Drums: Adam Weber, Peter Retzlof, Willie Martinez, Vince Cherico, Diego Lopez, Dave Meade, Dave Flores, Henry Cole, Adam Christgau/Percussion: Renato Thoms, Willie Everich, Jerome Goldschmidt, Tony Rosa, Chris Deberge, Carlos Catto/Saxophone: Roger Byam, Bob Porcelli, Dave DeJesus, Peter Brainin, Mike Migliore, Mario Rivera, Craig Rivers, Melecio Magdaluyo/Trombone: Dave Marriott, Chris Washburne/Vibes: James Shipp
Influences: POPS!!!, Miles Davis, Dizzy Gillespie, Clark Terry, Woody Shaw, Kenny Dorham, Freddie Hubbard, Lee Morgan, Blue Mitchell, Donald Byrd, Art Farmer, Clifford Brown, Fats Navarro, Nat Adderley, Chet Baker, Kenny Wheeler, Franco Ambrosetti, Tom Harrell, Luis "Perico" Ortiz, Eddie Henderson, Claudio Roditi, Juancito Torres, Terumasa Hino, Tim Hagans, Johnny Coles, El Negro Vivar, Marcio Montaroyos, Maynard, Bill Hardman, Charles Tolliver, Jon Faddis, Allen Vizzutti, Randy Brecker, Tom Browne, Mark Gould, Snooky Young, Felix Chappotin, Victor Paz, Chocolate, Roberto Rodriguez, Ray Maldonado, Manuel "El Guajiro" Mirabal, Arturo Sandoval, Bob Miliken, Maurice Andre, Adolph Herseth, Machito, Mario Bauza, Ray Barretto, Mongo Santamaria, Papo Lucca y La Poncena, Roberto Roena, Bobby Valentin, Tipica 73, Tito Puente, The Brecker Brothers, The Fort Apache Band, Chico O'Farrill, Hermeto Pascual, Bobby Paunetto, Grupo Folklorico Experimental, Bartok, Stravinsky, Wayne Shorter, J Mac, Joe Henderson, Golijov, Weather Report, Return To Forever, Seawind, Bach, Gil Evans, Shirley Horn, Klimax, Carmen McRae, Gal Costa, Art Blakey, Horace Silver, Bird, Dexter Gordon, Trane, Earth Wind and Fire, Andrea Crouch, Gino Vannelli, The Ohio Players, Kool and the Gang, BT Express, Crown Heights Affair, Chaka Khan,......
Sounds Like: RAY VEGA
Record Label: unsigned
Type of Label: None