Ray Reach profile picture

Ray Reach

I am here for Friends and Networking

About Me

From 1998 to 2005, I was on faculty at the University of Alabama at Birmingham, where I directed the UAB Jazz Ensemble and taught courses in Music Technology, Jazz Improvisation and Jazz History. I am currently Director of Student Jazz Programs at the Alabama Jazz Hall of Fame (www.jazzhall.com). I am also Director of the "Fun With Jazz" Educational Series, which was originated through the the Alys Stephens Center for the Performing Arts, and is now offered through the Alabama Jazz Hall of Fame. I play jazz and classical music, teach, sing and produce recordings for a living. I also direct the Magic City Jazz Orchestra (See the following webpages: www.myspace.com/magiccityjazzorchestra and www.allaboutjazz.com/php/article.php?id=14280.I love old movies, good food, good music of any kind, and sincere, honest people...I have produced recordings for: Choral Composer/Arranger K. Lee Scott (www.kleescott.com/), Jazz Trumpeter Lew Soloff (www.lewsoloff.com), Jazz Saxophonist Lou Marini (www.allaboutjazz.com/php/musician.php?id=2659), Jazz Pianist Ellis Marsalis (www.ellismarsalis.com/) and Jazz Guitarist Eric Essix (www.ericessix.com/).I can be contacted at (cellular phone) 205-960-6328 or by email at [email protected] further information, see my bio at ALL ABOUT JAZZ: www.allaboutjazz.com/php/musician.php?id=1874 or at WIKIPEDIA: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ray_Reach.

My Interests

Jazz and Classical music, music composition and arranging, music technology.

I'd like to meet:

Chick Corea, Diana Krall, John McLaughlin, and Pat Metheny.

Music:

Anything performed well with a great amount of skill and a positive message. I don't like "angry" or overly agressive music, or any music which glorifies the negative things in life, such as materialism, insincerity, arrogance or hate.

Movies:

The Remains of the Day, Much Ado About Nothing, To Kill A Mockingbird, Shadowlands, anything directed by Hitchcock.

Television:

Not much worth mentioning here, although I do enjoy old movie channels and PBS.

Books:

Novels by John Fowles, works by C.S. Lewis.

Heroes:

Bill Evans (Jazz pianist), Gil Evans (Jazz arranger / composer), Chick Corea (Jazz pianist / composer), Duke Ellington (pianist / arranger / composer), Billy Strayhorn (arranger / composer)