Ray Reach Music - Birmingham Jazz Band

Raymond Everett Reach, Jr. (born August *, ****)[*] is an American pianist, vocalist and educator residing in Birmingham, Alabama, now serving as Director of Student Jazz Programs for the Alabama Jazz Hall of Fame, director of the Alabama Jazz Hall of Fame All-Stars and President and CEO of Ray Reach Music[*] and Magic City Music Productions[*]. In addition, he is an accomplished guitarist, arranger, composer, conductor and music producer. Although he has composed, arranged and performed in a variety of genre (including classical, pop, R & B, gospel, contemporary Christian and jazz), he is perhaps best known for his work in the jazz idiom, combining straight-ahead jazz piano stylings with Sinatra-style vocals.[*] Like many male jazz vocalists, such as Frank Sinatra, Tony Bennett, Vic Damone, Mel Torme, Harry Connick, Jr. and Michael Buble, Ray's repertoire centers around the classic popular and jazz standards of the Great American Songbook. However, Ray differs from most of his jazz vocal colleagues in the fact that he does most of his own arrangements and accompanies himself on the piano.