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Jazz Pianist Keyboardist
Composer |
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Besides being a veteran jazz keyboardist and pianist
on the south Florida music scene for many years, Ray has been a member of
guitarist Randy Bernsen's Ocean Sound Band and recorded on three of his albums
along with such luminary jazz artists as Jaco Pastorius, Michael Brecker, Wayne
Shorter, and Herbie Hancock. Ray has also performed with jazz legend Dizzy
Gillespie, trumpeter Ira Sullivan, saxophonist Ed Calle, and flautist Nestor
Torres.
Born on April 18, 1957 in Newport News, Virginia,
Ray began playing piano when he was six years old. A resident of Boca Raton, FL
for many years, he has recently relocated to Waynesville, NC, a small town in
the mountains of west North Carolina.
Education & Influences
As a youth, Ray studied classical piano with the renowned Argentinean concert
pianist Raul Spivak. He also studied jazz piano with Vince Maggio (University of
Miami) and Chuck Marohnic (Florida Atlantic University).
Collegiate studies were at Palm Beach Community College, Eastman School of
Music, University of Miami (FL), and Florida Atlantic University where he
graduated in 1982 with B.F.A. in music (jazz arranging and composition).
Musical influences and inspirations: (in no particular order) Antonio Carlos
Jobim, Herbie Hancock, Chick Corea, Keith Jarrett, Sergei Rachmaninoff, Jan
Hammer, Gino Vannelli, Bela Bartok, Wayne Shorter, Isao Tomita, Vince Mendoza,
Toots Theilemanns, Pat Metheny, Igor Stravinsky, Lyle Mays, Mark Isham, Brad
Meldhau, Yellowjackets, Claude Debussy, Claus Ogerman, Liz Story, Weather
Report, George Benson, George Duke, John Rutter, and almost anything with a lot
of reverb.
Performances & recordings
Besides being a veteran jazz keyboardist and pianist on the south Florida music
scene for many years, Ray was a member of guitarist Randy Bernsen's Ocean Sound
Band and recorded on three of his albums along with such luminary jazz artists
as Jaco Pastorius, Michael Brecker, Wayne Shorter, and Herbie Hancock. Ray has
also performed with jazz legend Dizzy Gillespie, trumpeter Ira Sullivan,
saxophonist Ed Calle, and flautist Nestor Torres.
Engineering & Producing
Ray has been actively involved with recording engineering since 1980, and has
owned and operated his own studio, Balsam Pillow, since 1992. He was also a
co-owner of Spectrum Recording Studios, a popular south Florida recording
studio, for several years.
Ray has produced, recorded, mixed and and/or mastered projects for Erin
O'Donnell, Jackson Bunn, Randy Bernsen, Nestor Torres, Richard Brookens & Yellow
Bell, Pam Rozell, Athenas, Vicki Richards, Scott Marischen, Billy Bones,
Relative Viewpoint, Matt Johnson, Rick Krive, Valerie Z. & Paris, Warner
Brothers Publications, Abaco Music, and Calvary Chapel of Ft. Lauderdale, among
others.
In 1993, Ray released his debut CD, "Farewell To Shadowlands", on his own label,
Burning Blue Records. His second project, "Figures Of The True" was released in
June of 2000. Ray’s latest CD, “Beginning To See”, continues to develop and
expand the contemporary jazz stylings found on his earlier projects.
Visit Ray Lyon's MySpace Web site
here!
Ray Lyon CD's
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Beginning To See
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Ray’s new CD, “Beginning To See”,
expands the palette of contemporary jazz styles found on his earlier works with
a diverse and eclectic mix of instrumental and, now, for the first time, vocal
music. Infused with a radiant, airy sound, the project ranges from funk to
straight ahead jazz to tone poem and beyond. Singer Rick Krive gives outstanding
performances on adapted lyrics penned by the Anglican devotional writer Evelyn
Underhill and Scottish poet George MacDonald.
Hear demo excerpts
here!
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Figures Of The True
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Under The Water
Spout 
The
Yearning Sky |
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Farewell To Shadowlands
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Forever
Running
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To purchase these CD's
visit:
www.balsampillow.com
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For More Info On Ray visit: www.balsampillow.com
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