SAXOPHONIST-COMPOSER RAY BLUE is a natural connector - a conduit, a channel, a bridge. He is an intuitive communicator who speaks so eloquently, in and through the music. Ray Blue Connects... Through Interplay... With a brilliant balance between passion and precision, Ray Blue swoops and soars through a melody then launches into a spirited solo, engaging a soulful communication that leaps off the bandstand and speaks deeply to the audience. Whether waxing poetic or laying down a hard groove, The Ray Blue Sound is at once big and warm, dynamic and romantic, nostalgic and modern. It's "Blue Jazz". The fire is contagious, as evidenced by the host of world-renowned musicians with whom he has shared the stage, including Steve Turre, Eddie Henderson, Gary Bartz, T.K. Blue, Blues Legend Bob Gaddy, Wycliff Gordon, Benny Powell, Sun Ra Arkestra and The Cotton Club All-Stars. He currently holds a chair with the Spirit of Life Ensemble, and tours annually with The Ray Charles Show. By Passing it on... Early on, Ray Blue's Jr. High School music teacher introduced his class to Kind of Blue by Miles Davis, proclaiming, "This is your music". That simple statement set his whole program into motion, insuring that "passing it on" would always play a large part of Ray's program. As passionate about passing on the legacy of jazz to young musicians as he is about letting loose on stage, he is one of the art form's most inspiring mentors. An educator/clinician, Mr. Blue consults at colleges, universities, schools and communities around the world, and is the founder of Cross-Cultural Connection, Inc., a 501 (c) 3 jazz performance and educational organization that promotes the music in educational and community institutions and theaters. Since 2002, Mr. Blue's Pro-Am Ensemble, which grants student musicians the opportunity to prepare, rehearse and perform with professional musicians has been conducted in a workshop setting, and presented in the U.S., Germany, Finland, South Africa, Gabon and China. Ray Blue is a graduate of the University of Iowa and Wm. Penn University, which annually presents The Ray Blue Jazz Award to a graduating senior. In addition, Wm. Penn University hosts the annual Ray Blue Jazz Education Festival for High School and College musicians. Across Continents... Blue's roaming spirit led him to forge a European alliance in 2000. His frequent tours through Europe led him to establish dual residences in Berlin and NYC, with his wife Riitta, who hails from Finland. With a long-held desire to establish a connection in Africa, in 2003 Mr. Blue made his first trek to South Africa. While performing with South African musicians, conducting jazz and educational workshops, a unique synthesis of musical language began to unfold, resulting in a fantastic fusion of American and African cultures, rhythms and melodies. People listened, danced, and profoundly resonated. For Ray this was like coming back home. Ray returns to Africa each year to perform, study and conduct workshops. This experience has led to Cross-Continental Spirit (Afro-Jazz Project) To The Community... Ray Blue's latest project is Music of Change - a history of the African-American community through Spoken Word and Gospel Jazz and Contemporary Jazz in a multimedia format: dynamic live performance which reflects specific eras in African-American history complemented by an evocative slide show. Via World Stages... Ray regularly performs on numerous world stages with musicians from many different cultures, throughout Germany, Switzerland, Austria and Italy. As a leader, he has conducted U.S. State Department tours to Zambia, Tanzania, Zanzibar and Gabon. His festival performances as leader and featured artist include: Zanzibar International Film Festival, Zanzibar, Tanzania; North Sea Jazz Festival-Cape Town, South Africa; Macufe Festival-Bloemfontain, South Africa; European Union Annex Festival-Dublin, Ireland; Audi Jazz Festival-Brussels, Belgium; Macao Jazz Festival, China; The Newport in New York Festival, New York, NY; New York State Black Arts Festival-Albany, New York; Koepenick Jazz Festival-Berlin, Germany; Midi Music Festival-Beijing, China; Pori Jazz Festival, Finland; Foix Jazz Festival, France; Bayonne Jazz Festival, France and many others. Through Commerce... Ray released his first CD, Always with a Purpose (2001, Ray Blue Records) followed by Ray Blue Live at Liars Theater, and Ray Blue Live at Liars Theater 2 (2004 and 2005 respectively, Liars Theater Publishing), Transvision (2006, Neu Klang Records). Most of the songs on Transvision were composed while traveling and meeting people around the world. It's a celebration of friendships and connections. His latest, Berries & Blues - a story told by merging jazz, blues and African folk rhythms, will be released on the Funky Records label in March, 2010, featuring 6 of his original compositions alongside 2 jazz standards and 2 spirituals. In the works: a line of Ray Blue educational material, as well as promotional merchandise, is currently being developed. Ray Blue endorses GB Saxophones, Jody Jazz Mouthpieces, Marca Reeds and BG Accessories. For additional information including individual projects: www.rayblue.com www.myspace.com/raybluecrosscontinentalspirit www.facebook.com/ www.musicofchange.org www.thejazznetworkworldwide.com/ sax@rayblue.com