Ray Blue was a cast member of the “Ray Charles Show” which toured in Germany, Switzerland, Austria and Italy 2008 to 2010.
After receiving a graduate degree from the University of Iowa Ray returned to New York, got re-connected on the scene and studied at the Jazz Mobile with Charles Davis, Stanton Davis and later with Paul Jeffrey, Charlie Lagond ,Sonny Sharrock and Barry Harris. Some of his mentors included Arthur Blythe, Houston Person, Ornette Coleman and Benny Powell.
Ray Blue is also a graduate of Wm. Penn University, which annually presents “The Ray Blue Jazz Award” since 2004 to a graduating senior. In addition, Wm. Penn University hosted its inaugural “Jazz Education Festival” in 2007 for High School and College musicians in Ray Blue’s name. They also presented Ray the “Distinguished Career Award“ in 2010. Ray is a 2013 “New York Blues Hall of Fame” inductee - Master Blues and Jazz Artist. 2015 Iowa Juneteenth “Jazz Legacy Award”, 2016 “Arts Education Award”, 2017 “Living Legacy Award”.
Ray released his first CD as a leader, Always with a Purpose, in 2001. Then came Ray Blue Live at Liars Theater in 2004 and “Ray Blue Live at Liars Theater 2 in 2005. In 2006 Ray released ‘Transvision’ on the Neu Klang label and Berries and Blues in 2010. He is currently recording and producing a new CD that will be released in Spring, 2018.
Ray Blue consults and presents at schools, colleges, universities and communities institutions around the world. He is the founder of Cross-Cultural Connection, Inc. a 501 (c) 3 non-profit organization that promotes jazz culture, performance and education. He endorses GB Saxophones and Vandoren mouthpieces, reeds and accessories.
Critics, jazz hosts and jazz lovers all agree that Lenore Raphael is one of the most swinging mainstream pianists today. Influenced by Oscar Peterson, Bud Powell and Bill Evans, she has taken these influences and created her own recognizable sound.Lenore Raphael, is an internationally renowned jazz Pianist, Steinway artist, radio host and jazz teacher and has been critically acclaimed as one of the best pianists in the jazz mainstream today.
Lenore had the honor of performing at the tribute to Oscar Peterson in Toronto, Canada where she performed her well known composition. “Blues For O.P.”
She has won ASCAP awards for her original compositions, which appear on her own CDs and other artists’. They have been played on Continental Airlines in-flight jazz stream, and on jazz stations worldwide, including their inclusion into the Jazz At Lincoln Center jazz stream.
Lenore has recorded 10 critically acclaimed CDS on the Swingin’ Fox Music label. Some of her recordings have reached Top 10 airplay and her 2006 recording “Invitation” and 2012 recording “Loverly” were up for Grammy nominations.
Lenore now has her own radio show called “Lenore Raphael’s JazzSpot” on purejazzradio and other stations on the internet where she interviews and performs with famed jazz artists and up and coming ones as well. Along the way she has performed and recorded with such greats as Clark Terry, Warren Vache, Howard Alden, Harry Allen, Bucky Pizzarelli, Jack Wilkins and more.
In addition, she is a talented jazz teacher and has done highly acclaimed Jazz Master Classes and colleges and universities world-wide. She was also director at the summer jazz workshop at Montclair University in New Jersey and ran the summer jazz camp at East Tennessee State University.
Lenore is jazz director of NYC West 64th Street jazz at Ethical Culture Society and in North Carolina at the Halle Cultural Arts Center in Apex, NC.
Hilliard Greene has been studying music for more than 30 years and has been playing professionally over twenty. His emphasis is in classical, jazz, rock, blues, R&B, Tango as well as the music of other continents and US regions, and solo performances.Greene studied at the University of Northern Iowa and at Berklee College of Music in Boston and has been teaching private students and classes for over 25 years. He is currently a faculty member at the Bass Collective in New York City. He continues to teach privately and to do workshops and master classes in upright and electric bass for both children and adults.He performs widely in the New York City area: recitals, nightclubs, concert halls (including Carnegie Hall), recording studios, radio and television. Also performs in major cities throughout the United States, Canada, Europe east and west, Asia, the West Indies, and South America.
Greene performed and recorded with Jimmy Scott for 20+ years, serving as his Musical Director from 1995 to 2013. Greene was also Cecil Taylor’s Concert Master for his group 'Phtongos'. He was in residence at Minton’s a.k.a. legendary Minton’s Playhouse as the house bassist.
Greene works / worked with Rashied Ali, Barry Altschul, Lucian Ban, Billy Bang, Kenny Barron, David Berger, Karl Berger, Cindy Blackman, T.K. Blue, Dougie Bowen, Eddie Gladden, Electric Symphony, Alex Harding, George Haslam, Jon Hendricks, John Hicks, and many more.
Hilliard Greene has recently formed The In&Out Band, a trio using jazz standards as a vehicle for free improvisation. Also, he is co-leader of the classical crossover ensemble ZigZag Quartet. He produced three CD’s with his own ensemble The Jazz Expressions, a solo bass CD entitled 'Alone', and co-produced self-titled ZigZag Quartet CD.
