Artist description Ray is a 6-string and electric upright bassist who writes and plays melodic jazz propelled by R&B, Caribbean, and various ethnic rhythms. The emphasis is on strong melodies, lush harmony, and a solid groove.

Music Style Jazz

Musical Influences Miles Davis, James Brown, Jaco Pastorius, Pat Metheny, Frank Zappa, Wayne Shorter, Herbie Hancock, Igor Stravinsky, Steely Dan, Prince, Steve Winwood, Stanley Kubrick

Similar Artists According to others: Pat Metheny, Herbie Hancock, Johnny Guitar Watson

Artist History Ray studied string bass with Frank Carroll, former bassist with the NBC Orchestra. He studied bass, theory, and piano at Broward Community College in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, playing with the college Symphony Orchestra. While living in Florida, he met the great jazz bassist Jaco Pastorius, becoming a private student of Jaco's for two years. During this time, Ray began working as an in-demand bassist in the Miami area, playing and writing with Trinidadian jazz steel drummer Othello Molineaux' band for three years. The band was nominated for the South Florida Writers' Association Carbonell Award for best pop-rock act. Ray continued to work in the South Florida area with numerous acts, working with jazz groups, pop groups, and playing shows.In 1985, Ray began a yearlong engagement with Blood, Sweat and Tears, which led him to move to New York in 1987. He toured extensively with Eddie Harris and Les McCann during the next few years, performing in both the U.S. and every major European city. Eddie Harris recorded two albums featuring Ray's bass work during this period. Ray also performed along with his brother Ronnie in the band of Shalom Hanoch, one of Israel's leading rock artists. He also toured Europe with the Funky Tenor All-Star Band, featuring Eddie Harris, Pee Wee Ellis, Karl Denson, Larry Goldings, and James Gadson. In the intermittent periods, he continued to work locally in New York.During the past year, Ray has concentrated on writing, arranging, and producing his solo project, Galaxy Club, a CD of original music featuring performances by Dr. Lonnie Smith (recording artist also featured with George Benson, Lou Donaldson, et al), Othello Molineaux (solo artist, Jaco Pastorius, Monty Alexander, and Ahmad Jamal), J.T. Lewis (Herbie Hancock, Lou Reed, Vanessa Williams, Sting), Robert DeBellis (Don Byron, Muhal Richard Abrams), and Robert Thomas, Jr. (Weather Report, David Sanborn); as well as performing in Europe with Othello. He is currently looking for a label for this fine album of contemporary jazz, continuing to work in the New York area.

Albums Galaxy Club

Press Reviews earBuzz Review: Ray Peterson plays bass. Many basses. Mucho basso he playo - with 5-string, 6-string, fretless, upright, and ye 'ol standby, the 4-string. He also throws his fingers atop a keyboard here and there on his 10 tune, instrumental jazz gem, "Galaxy Club". The collection is a grooving moving representation of the superb compositional talent Peterson possesses, supplemental to his talents on the deep resonant fretboard. His bass playing is deep in the pocket and tight - and his soloing is pure jazz guitar - up in the registers where it's difficult to distinguish a bass on his 5 and 6 string axes. It sounds as if Ray also utilizes some midi pickup to trigger unison key sounds with his bass melodies - either way - they fullness of the recording is just short of amazing. The record opens with medium groover, "Angel's Kiss" - with the most memorable solo about three minutes into the tune - it flows easy and intuitively - relaxed yet musically compelling with half step passings and modal experiments. Other highlights on the CD include "Break This", which starts with a funky bass riff; "Mack of the Year", a techno acid jazzer that moves more mainstream with space sounds before Peterson enters with his chromatic fun; "Nine Flames", the long mp3 here is an easy listening jazz pop piece; "A Man Inside Himself", which employs a more new age feel and fretless ambiance; and finally, "Ethiopia Rock", a reggae inspired muted trumpet wonder - cool beat. This is a wonderfully well rounded instrumental collection - sure to please any jazzer. Melody and accomplished instrumental passages, along with solid composition.

Location New York, NY - USA

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