Jump to content

Recommended Posts

Posted (edited)

I've long been a fan of Michael Ray, who I first discovered some 15+ years ago on recordings with Sun Ra.

He does this amazing fake echo thing (which I've even heard on some live Arkestra recordings), which sounds just like a smooth glissando, over and over disappearing into the distance. I'd heard it a time or two on some studio recordings, and I thought it was studio trick (with electronic echo). But then hearing it on live recordings, I was amazed to discover that the effect was all Michael. (Yes, it's totally a gimmicky type thing -- but I still think it's technically amazing, and usually interesting -- at least in most of the out-ish contexts I've heard it in.)

What are your favorite recordings with Michael Ray (as a soloist), either with or without Sun Ra.

I know he recorded with Kool and the Gang, but I've never heard any of that material. (I thought his Kool and the Gang days were all BEFORE he hooked up with Sun Ra, but the AMG album dates would seem to indicate otherwise -- which is it??) Is any of his work with Kool and the Gang worth picking up specifically for any interesting Ray solos?

How about any other sideman work he's on?? His own leader-dates seem a little corny, from the samples I've heard on-line, but I have been a little tempted to check them out someday -- should I??

Here's his AMG "credits" -- for at least a partial list of the things he's on...

Edited by Rooster_Ties
Posted

No, the echo was not a studio effect, I saw him do it live with Sun Ra. He was paired with Ahmed Abdullah on trumpet. But I don't think I have any non-Sun Ra Michael Ray recordings.

Posted

MICHAEL RAY WAS IN KOOL & THE GANG IN THE EARLY 80S AT THE PINNANCLE OF THEIR COMMERCIAL SUCCESS. I HAVE A SPECTACULAR DVD FROM MUSIKLADEN FROM 1982, MICHAEL RAY IS ON IT AND HE PLAYS THE TRUMPET, AND HAS SOME PRETTY COOL DANCE MOVES TOO-- HAVE YOU CHECKED YOUTUBE MAYBE ITS ON THEIR-- THEY DO THIS ONE SONG FOR THE ENCORE- "LETS GO DANCIN'" ITS SO GOOD

Posted

Good topic Rooster-I like these kind of threads where we explore the work of an artist that doesn't have a huge output as a leader but turn out to be an excellent sideman where ever they appear. James Spaulding comes to mind, for example.

The only Ray I have is with Sun Ra. I haven't listened to any Ra with Ray on it in awhile, so I'm going by memory of how the music hit me with Ray on it.

On a sidenote, I'd be interested in how Ra found and hired Ray to begin with: did Ra hear him on a Kool and the Gang record or saw him live?

Concerning the records, I like him on Strange Celestial Road quite a bit, especially the freak out at the beginning and then how it settles into that funky groove. I also like him on Sunrise in Different Dimensions as well, but probably my favorite apearance is on Somewhere Else-a particularly strong date in my opinion with great playing all around. I'm going by memory, so I think this would be a good opportunity to pull these cd's out again and give them a spin.

Posted (edited)

I think the one non-Arkestra thing I have with Ray is on Trey Anastasio's first side-project, "Surrender to the Air" (that's both the name of the band, and the name of the release) ...which also features fellow Ra alum Marshall Allen, as well as Marc Ribot and John Medeski. This really is a top-drawer free-ish date (with some funk/rock overtones here and there). Haven't spun it in a while, but I really should dig it out again. As I recall, everything gels very nicely, with lots of solo space for all involved.

c94385p269d.jpg

Surrender to the Air (Elektra, 1996)

By the way, there are literally a dozen of them available on half.com for less than $1 each (HERE), plus $2.99 shipping (or only $1.89 shipping if you're buying something else anyway from the same seller). WELL worth checking out.

Edited by Rooster_Ties
Posted (edited)

I see Ray is on this date (which I've never heard before)...

d24342g7n7l.jpg

Stanton Moore -- All Kooked Out! (Fog City, 1998)

And one other cool thing I just noticed (while checking out samples on Amazon), is that it also includes a version of the lead-off track ("Boogaloo Boogie") from John Patton's 1968 album "Boogaloo" (the one that John Zorn wrote the notes for, which came out for the very first time in 1995) -- which is a KILLER tune!! Man, I'm gonna have to pick this one up someday. (That's one of my top three favorite Patton albums, and I *never* thought I'd hear a remake of anything off it.)

BTW, I'm not hearing Ray on any of the Amazon samples -- does he only guest on one or two tracks??? (The AMG review implies this.)

Edited by Rooster_Ties
Posted

So I just spun Strange Celestial Road, Somewhere Else and Sunrise in Different Dimensions, and I have a hard time pinpointing where Ray is on SCR; there are three trumpeters listed and there's little to no solo space for them. Much better is Somewhere Else where Ray reminds me somewhat of Miles, especially muted. S in DD, though is a standout, where Ray is listed as sole trumpeter (strangely, no bassist?). Ray's talent, I think out of these three disks, comes out best on Sunrise and his voice sounds more original here then on the other two discs. Great record anyway.

Posted

Much better is Somewhere Else where Ray reminds me somewhat of Miles, especially muted.

If my memory is correct, I think that's Don Cherry you're hearing. Cherry's on one (or possibly both) of the sessions that make up "Somewhere Else" (again, from memory) -- and plays pocket trumpet (sometimes muted, sometimes not) throughout. I don't remember Michael Ray playing a prominant role on "Somewhere Else".

Posted

Much better is Somewhere Else where Ray reminds me somewhat of Miles, especially muted.

If my memory is correct, I think that's Don Cherry you're hearing. Cherry's on one (or possibly both) of the sessions that make up "Somewhere Else" (again, from memory) -- and plays pocket trumpet (sometimes muted, sometimes not) throughout. I don't remember Michael Ray playing a prominant role on "Somewhere Else".

I just checked the credits and there's no trumpet at all on the first track but both Cherry and Ray are co-listed for the second session. Honestly, I completely forgot that Cherry's on this one at all. I'm pretty sure you're right and that's who I was listening to when it came to the muted parts. Oh well, I guess I gotta scratch this one off the list for listening to some good Ray :blush:

Guest Bill Barton
Posted

His 1993 "Michael Ray and the Cosmic Krewe" album is quite good.

I like his playing on Sun Ra's "Unity" quite a lot.

Yes, agreed! The Krewe disc features several of my ol' buddies from the Vermont area. This group basically had (has?) two versions: one based in New England and the other in New Orleans. A combination of players from both versions are on the Krewe CDs.

He sounds great on Lanquidity by Sun Ra too (Philly Jazz LP reissued on CD by Evidence).

Is Michael Ray the trumpeter with Kool and the Gang who used to spin the trumpet round in his hand as part of the stage routine?

Well, I can't corroborate that as I never saw them live, but I can vouch for the fact that he's the only trumpeter I've ever seen do a backflip in the middle of a solo (from a stationary stance no less!) and keep on playing. My jaw dropped on my chest when I saw him do this at a Krewe concert. The man's got the moves, that's for sure. The blend of showmanship and creative musicality does Pops proud.

I think the one non-Arkestra thing I have with Ray is on Trey Anastasio's first side-project, "Surrender to the Air" (that's both the name of the band, and the name of the release) ...which also features fellow Ra alum Marshall Allen, as well as Marc Ribot and John Medeski. This really is a top-drawer free-ish date (with some funk/rock overtones here and there). Haven't spun it in a while, but I really should dig it out again. As I recall, everything gels very nicely, with lots of solo space for all involved.

c94385p269d.jpg

Surrender to the Air (Elektra, 1996)

By the way, there are literally a dozen of them available on half.com for less than $1 each (HERE), plus $2.99 shipping (or only $1.89 shipping if you're buying something else anyway from the same seller). WELL worth checking out.

A year or so ago I picked this one up based mostly on nostalgia and the fact that Vermont's superb James Harvey plays trombone. Personally, I find it to be pretty scattershot in terms of musical quality, but it's worth that bargain price for the good stuff, including some scorching Marshall Allen solo work and pretty nice Ray. Michael has done quite a bit of playing with Anastasio and the other Phish pholks.

Posted

...but I can vouch for the fact that he's the only trumpeter I've ever seen do a backflip in the middle of a solo (from a stationary stance no less!) and keep on playing. My jaw dropped on my chest when I saw him do this at a Krewe concert. The man's got the moves, that's for sure. The blend of showmanship and creative musicality does Pops proud.

Holy fuck!! :blink:

Posted (edited)

Is Michael Ray the trumpeter with Kool and the Gang who used to spin the trumpet round in his hand as part of the stage routine?

Well, I can't corroborate that as I never saw them live, but I can vouch for the fact that he's the only trumpeter I've ever seen do a backflip in the middle of a solo (from a stationary stance no less!) and keep on playing. My jaw dropped on my chest when I saw him do this at a Krewe concert. The man's got the moves, that's for sure. The blend of showmanship and creative musicality does Pops proud.

Just happened to see the music video for Kool and the Gang 'Celebration' quite recently and there's a trumpeter at the back who looks a lot like Michael Ray doing this trick with the trumpet (spinning it like a baton). Must be him, I guess. The video was from about 1978.

Backflips too? Wow !

Edited by sidewinder

Join the conversation

You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.

Guest
Reply to this topic...

×   Pasted as rich text.   Paste as plain text instead

  Only 75 emoji are allowed.

×   Your link has been automatically embedded.   Display as a link instead

×   Your previous content has been restored.   Clear editor

×   You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL.

  • Recently Browsing   0 members

    • No registered users viewing this page.
×
×
  • Create New...