Artist description RAYMOND JONES IS A CONTEMPORARY JAZZ PIANIST/COMPOSER. HIS MUSIC IS AN ORGANIC MIX OF ALL HIS INFLUENCES WHICH ULTIMATELY CREATE AN ORIGINAL, CREATIVE ARTIST.

Music Style CONTEMPORARY JAZZ

Musical Influences GEORGE DUKE, KEITH JARRETT, ANTONIO JOBIM, DUKE ELLINGTON, JONI MITCHELL, CARLA BLEY, COLEMAN HAWKINS, THELONIOUS MONK

Similar Artists OMAR (UK ARTIST), JOE SAMPLE, INCOGNITO, GEORGE DUKE, WILL DOWNING

Artist History RAYMOND STARTED HIS CAREER IN NYC WORKING WITH LATIN BANDS (WHILE SITTING IN AT JAZZ CLUBS AS WELL). FROM THERE, HE BEGAN PLAYING WITH DANCE ACTS, LEADING TO HIS WORKING AS KEYBOARDIST WITH THE GROUP CHIC (GOOD TIME, LE FREAK, ETC.). AFTER FOUR YEARS WITH CHIC, RAYMOND TOURED AND RECORDED WITH ARTISTS AS DIVERSE AS NONA HENDRYX, TALKING HEADS, MATERIAL, CHAKA KHAN AND OTHERS. RAYMOND COMPOSED MUSIC FOR VARIOUS ARTISTS AS WELL, SUCH AS JEFFERY OSBORNE, DENISE WILLIAMS, STEPHANIE MILLS, PATTI LABELLE AND WHITNEY HOUSTON AMONG MANY OTHERS. THESE WRITING PROJECTS LED RAYMOND TO MEET AND WORK WITH SPIKE LEE ON FIVE OF HIS FILMS INCLUDING DO THE RIGHT THING, MO BETTER BLUES AND SCHOOL DAZE. IN THE EARLY 1990'S RAYMOND TEAMED WITH FORMER CHIC LEAD SINGER NORMA JEAN WRIGHT TO FORM THE GROUP STATE OF ART. THEY RELEASED THEIR CRITICALLY ACCLAIMED CD COMMUNITY ON THE FORTY ACRES AND A MULE/SONY LABEL. IN 1997, RAYMOND RELEASED HIS FIRST CD (ACTS OF LOVE ON UEG) AS WELL AS BECOMING HEAD OF THE MUSIC DEPARTMENT ON THE FOX AFFILIATE TELEVISION SHOW, THE KEENEN IVORY WAYANS TALK SHOW. IT RAN 10 MONTHS. AFTER THE SHOW'S DEMISE, RAYMOND BEGAN WORK ON HIS SECOND CD NAKED SOUL ON UEG (RELEASED 1999). RAYMOND IS CURRENTLY PROMOTING NAKED SOUL AND WORKING ON FUTURE RECORDING PROJECTS.

Group Members RAYMOND JONES-PIANO/KEYBOARDS

Instruments PIANO/KEYBOARDS

Albums NAKED SOUL (1999), ACTS OF LOVE (1997)

Press Reviews URBAN NETWORK, BRE, RAP PAGES (FINAL ISSUE), FRESH, BILLBOARD, MANY OTHER NATIONAL AND REGIONAL PUBLICATIONS AND MOST IMPORTANTLY, BLACK TAIL

Additional Info listen to more music at: www.live365.com/stations/27747 (MO FLAVAZ) or at www.live365.com/stations/http://www.live365.com/stations/30890 (uegmusic.radio)

Location Woodland Hills, CA - USA

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