Album Notes

Ray Reach is an accomplished pianist, vocalist, guitarist, arranger, composer, producer and educator. Although he has worked in many genre, he is perhaps best known for his work in the jazz idiom, specializing in "Sinatra-Style" vocals and straight-ahead jazz piano. From 1998 to 2005, he directed the UAB Jazz Ensemble and taught Music Technology and jazz courses at the University of Alabama at Birmingham. He is currently the Director of Student Jazz Programs at the Alabama Jazz Hall of Fame (www.jazzhall.com). He has produced recordings for many notable musicians, among them: saxophonist Lou "Blue Lou" Marini (The Blues Brothers Band, Saturday Night Live Band, Blood Sweat and Tears, James Taylor Band), trumpeter Lew Soloff (Blood, Sweat and Tears, Gil Evans Orchestra, Lincoln Center Jazz Orchestra) and pianist Ellis Marsalis. Mr. Reach is a favorite performer in many concert settings, including: the annual W. C. Handy Music Festival in Florence, Alabama, The Jazz Corner in Hilton Head, South Carolina, and in performances with the renowned SuperJazz Big Band at Samford University in Birmingham, Alabama.

This CD features Ray, accompanied by three of Alabama's most skillful and renowned jazz musicians: Gary Wheat (saxophones), Chris Wendle (bass) and Sonny Harris (drums).