Ray Blue & Kirk Lightsey at The Falcon

Ray Blue has a majestic presence…when playing, his sense of purpose is obvious… It's one thing to be a good composer, it's another to be a great performer. Ray Blue's got the whole package." - Jean Szlamowicz/Jazz Hot/DownBeat

New York bred saxophonist, composer, arranger and educator, Ray Blue, performs internationally, and has shared the stage with Eddie Henderson, Wycliff Gordon, Bernard Purdie, The Sun Ra Arkestra, Cotton Club All Stars and many others. He was also a cast member of the “Ray Charles Show” which toured in Germany, Switzerland, Austria and Italy 2008 to 2010. ...

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Ray Blue has a majestic presence…when playing, his sense of purpose is obvious… It's one thing to be a good composer, it's another to be a great performer. Ray Blue's got the whole package." - Jean Szlamowicz/Jazz Hot/DownBeat

New York bred saxophonist, composer, arranger and educator, Ray Blue, performs internationally, and has shared the stage with Eddie Henderson, Wycliff Gordon, Bernard Purdie, The Sun Ra Arkestra, Cotton Club All Stars and many others. He was also a cast member of the “Ray Charles Show” which toured in Germany, Switzerland, Austria and Italy 2008 to 2010.

His festival performances as a leader and featured artist have been worldwide. Ray is a 2013 “Blues Hall of Fame” inductee, as a Master Blues and Jazz Artist. His recordings include his first CD as a leader, Always with a Purpose (2001), Ray Blue Live at Liars Theater (2004 & 2005), ‘Transvision’ and Berries & Blues (2010).

Gifted modern Jazz pianist, Kirk Lightsey has had a career that has included sessions with some of America’s finest modern Jazz instrumentalists, and a series of enjoyable recordings under his own name.

He began working in Jazz in the mid-50s, accompanying vocalists, in New York and then, in the early 60s, on the West Coast. He recorded with the great bebop saxophonist Sonny Stitt in 1965, and began an association with the subtle West Coast singer/trumpeter Chet Baker, resulting in five fine recordings. At the beginning of the 80s, his career received a boost when he joined the popular saxophonist Dexter Gordon’s band for four years.

He has since worked with individualistic trumpeter Don Cherry, guitarist Jimmy Raney and brilliant tenor saxophonists Clifford Jordan and James Moody, as well as touring and recording with the Leaders, a daring, Chicago-orientated group featuring trumpeter Lester Bowie, alto saxophonist Arthur Blythe, tenor saxophonist Chico Freeman, bassist Cecil McBee and drummer Famoudou Don Moye. Lightsey has also earned a reputation as a fine solo performer.

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