RAY'S BANDS - UNDER CONSTRUCTION


Ray Reach leads, writes arrangements for and plays in a number of bands, each of which focuses on a different and unique musical type (or genre), although every one of Ray's bands can play a wide range of styles.  A list of his bands includes:

Ray Reach and Friends - Ranging in size from three to six players, this group focuses on straight-ahead jazz with Sinatra-style vocals.

The Soul Serenaders - A six piece band, focusing on danceable Contemporary and Classic Rock and Rhythm and Blues, as well as light jazz with Sinatra-style vocals.  

Skunk Funk - The best in classic, contemporary and ultra modern funk.

The Bama Blues Crusaders - Blues and Old School R & B to the max!  A five to seven piece group, featuring some of the South's virtuoso Blues players.

The Groove Merchants - A four or five-piece Jazzy Soul/Funk/R&B "Mini-Big Band" centered around the "Hammond Organ" sound.  Instrumentation is:  Ray Reach on "Hammond B-3", Guitar, Drums, Tenor Sax and (optional) trumpet.

Magic City Nu-Jazz - A contemporary jazz group which features the best in the latest instrumental and vocal jazz.

SRO Superband (Spraggins, Reach and O'Neal) - A Contemporary Jazz (and Old School R & B) supergroup, featuring drummer James "P J" Spraggins ( Eric Essix, Kelley O'Neal Band, P J Spraggins Band), saxophonist Kelley O'Neal (Take 6, Brian McKnight, the Winans, Eric Essix and the Tuscaloosa Horns) and Ray Reach on keys and vocals.

Raybob Wills and the Bama Plowboys - A sophisticated country-style band which performs Western Swing, Country Soul (a la Ray Charles) Country Classics (Hank Williams, George Jones, Conway Twitty, Charlie Rich, etc.) and Modern Country. 

Wondergroove - A Stevie Wonder tribute band.

Here and Now - A Luther Vandross tribute band.

Genius Soul - A Ray Charles tribute band.

Streetkar - A great party band specializing in Pop, Rock and Soul music of the 50s, 60s, 70s and 80s.

The Little Big Band - A classic big band in a small package:  7 to 9 pieces, instead of the usual 17-piece big band.  This group can play classic big band stuff, Sinatra-style vocals, as well as classic Soul, R & B and Disco!  Big sound without the big price!

The Ray Reach Orchestra - A classic big band (17 pieces), focusing on danceable, swingin' crowd pleasers!  In the style of Glen Miller, Duke Ellington, Count Basie, Tommy Dorsey and Benny Goodman.  Also available with added string and woodwind sections, in an orchestra of up to 40 players!  This expanded Ray Reach Orchestra has done shows backing a number of famous singers.  (Call Ray Reach at 205-960-6328 for more information on the expanded Ray Reach Orchestra.)   https://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Ray-Reach-Orchestra/150551051639328?fref=ts

The Magic City Jazz Orchestra (MCJO) - An amazing, adventurous big band (17 pieces) which nails all the big band styles fron the 1930s to the present.  Check out MCJO's CD titled 'Lou's Blues," featuring Blue Lou Marini and his great compositions, on Amazon.com.  Here's a link to a Wikipedia article about the "Lou's Blues" CD:  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lou%27s_Blues

The SuperJazz Big Band - An institution in the Southeast, this band has been performing in Birmingham for over 35 years!  Check out their recording, produced by Ray Reach and UAB Professor Dr. Henry Panion, which features guest piano soloist Ellis Marsalis, father of the famed Marsalis brothers (Wynton, Branford, Delfayeo and Jason).  Here's a link to some information about the CD:  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/UAB_SuperJazz,_Featuring_Ellis_Marsalis

The Nashville Jazz Orchestra - (Subject to availability.)  Nashville's premier Jazz Big Band, populated by Nashville's finest studio (and live) instrumentalists!  Official Website:  http://www.nashvillejazzorchestra.org/

The Dallas Jazz Orchestra - (Subject to availability.)  Dallas' finest!  DJO's Wikipedia page:  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dallas_Jazz_Orchestra