2009 Projects to date

Ray is currently involved in a number of recording and performance projects.

Way Out West
The Louis Prez Trio
Drumming Ensembles
Zebra Crossing
The Royal Swazi Spa Band

Way Out West

This interesting collective led by Trumpet player and composer Peter Knight features Vietnamese virtuoso Dung Ngyuen on modified guitar, traditional Vietnamese stringed instruments Dan Tranh and Dan Bau, Ray on a variety of Percussion, Howard Cairns on Double Bass, Paul Williamson on Sax and Rajiv Jayaweera on Drums.
2008 saw the band achieve critical acclaim overseas with performances across Canada ,Italy and Japan including Montreal and Venice Jazz festivals.
The band also just won the prestigious Bell Australian Jazz awards for Best Jazz Ensemble in 2009. This was followed by a successful tour of Japan and Korea where the band played Festivals and also appeared as featured artists on Television.
Way Out West is a unique sound that combines the eclectic backgrounds of its members with their common love of jazz in it’s broadest context. The melodic compositions of Peter Knight bring together the diverse skills of the band members to produce music that is at the forefront of an emerging new original Australian musical landscape. Way Out West's debut CD Footscray Station was released in 2003 to rave reviews. The group is currently touring its second CD. 'Old Grooves for New Streets'.

Check www.myspace.com/wayoutwestmelbourne for gigs and more information.

The Louie Prez Trio

A new group featuring Ray, Doug Devries and Leo Dale. The band has just released it's debut CD SCAM.
The music has been described by Doug Spencer (ABC music producer of The Planet ) as Hypnotic, Afro Brazilian accented Jazz.

Check Louieprez.com for more details on gigs etc

Drumming Ensembles

Ray also performs with several of his own percussion and drumming ensembles featuring a variety of drums and percussion instruments from West Africa, Cuba and Brazil. The composition, size and repertoire of the group will vary depending on the performance.

Zebra Crossing

South African singer, story teller and musician Valanga Khoza and Jazz musician Leo Dale have teamed up with Ray to produce a beautiful blend of African inspired Jazz that can be both quiet and reflective or irresistibly danceable.
To purchase copies of the CD and for more information on the group, see www.thezebracrossing.com. If you are an iTunes user you can purchase music at the iTunes store. Type Zebra Crossing in search to find the album and purchase tracks. Or get the software here.

The Royal Swazi Spa Band

The Royal Swazi Spa Band is a South African Jazz ensemble Ray plays with. Their repertoire includes classic compositions by Abdulla Ibrahim and songs made famous by Miriam Makeba. The band features South African musicians Howard Belling on keyboards, Svi Belling on bass, Liz Manaka on vocals and David Marama from Malawi on guitar.

 

See Calendar for details of gigs. Contact Ray if you would like to receive updates on gigs, workshops and tours.

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