Ray Anderson (musician)
| Ray Anderson | |
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| File:Ray-anderson.jpg
Photo Hreinn Gudlaugsson
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| Background information | |
| Born | October 16, 1952 Chicago, Illinois, United States |
| Genres | Jazz |
| Occupation(s) | Bandleader, composer, trombonist, artist |
| Instruments | Trombone, Sousaphone, Vocals |
| Years active | 1973–present |
| Labels | Enja Records |
| Website | http://www.rayanderson.org |
Ray Anderson (born October 16, 1952 in Chicago, Illinois) is an independent jazz trombone and trumpet player. Anderson is a boisterous trombonist who is masterful at multiphonics. Trained by the Chicago Symphony trombonists, he is regarded as pushing the limits of the instrument. He is a contemporary and colleague of trombonist/composer George Lewis. Anderson also plays Sousaphone and sings.[1] He was consistently chosen as DownBeat Magazine's Critics Poll best trombonist throughout the late 1980s and early 1990s.[2]
Biography
After spending study time in California, he moved to New York in 1973 and freelanced. In 1977, Anderson joined Anthony Braxton's Quartet (replacing George Lewis) and started working with Barry Altschul's group. From this point forward he started ranking high in polls and becoming influential himself. In addition to leading his own groups since the late '70s (including the funk-oriented Slickaphonics), Anderson has worked with George Gruntz's Concert Jazz Band. In the '90s, he began taking an occasional good-humored vocal, during which he shows the ability to sing two notes at the same time (a minor third apart).
The prolific Anderson also has demonstrated his special supportive skills on a remarkably wide assortment of albums by David Murray, Charlie Haden's Liberation Music Orchestra, Dr. John, Luther Allison, Bennie Wallace, Gerry Hemingway, Henry Threadgill, John Scofield, Roscoe Mitchell, Randy Sandke's Inside Out Band, Sam Rivers' Rivbea Orchestra, Bobby Previte and others. Anderson is also a member of Jim Pugh's Super Trombone with Dave Bargeron and Dave Taylor. He also received a grant from the National Endowment for the Arts for a series of solo trombone concerts.
While pushing his sound into the future, Anderson has frequently returned to his early love of New Orleans music for inspiration. His Alligatory Band as well as his Pocket Brass Band, featuring tuba great Bob Stewart, are rooted in its tradition.
Since 2003 he has taught and conducted at Stony Brook University.
Discography
As leader
- Ray Anderson: Harrisburg Half Life (Moers, 1980)
- Slickaphonics:
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- Wow bag (Enja, 1982)
- Modern life (Enja, 1984)
- Humatonic Energy (Blue Heron Records, 1985)
- Check your head at the door (Teldec, 1986)
- Live (Teldec, 1987)
Ray Anderson: Right Down Your Alley (Soul Note, 1984)
- Ray Anderson: Old Bottles - New Wine (Enja, 1985)
- BassDrumBone: Wooferlo (Soul Note, 1987)
- Ray Anderson: What Because (Gramavision, 1989)
- Ray Anderson: Wishbone (Gramavision, 1991)
- Ray Anderson: Every One Of Us (Gramavision, 1992)
- Ray Anderson: Big Band Record (Gramavision, 1994)
- Ray Anderson Alligatory Band: Don't Mow Your Lawn (Enja, 1994)
- Ray Anderson / Craig Harris / George Lewis / Gary Valente : Slideride (Hat Hut, 1994)
- Ray Anderson / Han Bennink / Christy Doran : Azurety (Hat Art, 1994)
- Ray Anderson / Han Bennink / Christy Doran : Cheer Up (Hat Art, 1995)
- Ray Anderson Pocket Brass Band: Where Home Is (Enja, 1998)
- Ray Anderson: Bonemeal (Raybone Music, 2000)
- Bobby Previte & Bump: Just Add Water (Palmetto, 2001)
- Ray Anderson / Ibrahim Electric: Ibrahim Electric Meets Ray Anderson (Sundance, 2005)
- Ray Anderson Pocket Brass Band - Sweet Chicago Suite (2012)
As sideman
Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. With Barry Altschul
- Somewhere Else (Moers Music, 1979)
With Anthony Braxton
- Creative Orchestra (Köln) 1978 (hatART, 1978 [1995])
- Performance (Quartet) 1979 (hatART, 1979 [1981])
With Charlie Haden
- The Montreal Tapes: Liberation Music Orchestra (Verve, 1989 [1999])
- Dream Keeper (DownBeat's Jazz album of the year)
With Hank Roberts
- Black Pastels (JMT, 1988)
- Lion Hearted (1993)
With Roseanna Vitro and Kenny Werner
References
External links
- Pages with broken file links
- Articles with hCards
- Articles using small message boxes
- 1952 births
- Living people
- American jazz trombonists
- American jazz trumpeters
- Jazz musicians from Illinois
- Musicians from Chicago, Illinois
- Free jazz trombonists
- CIMP artists
- Enja Records artists
- State University of New York at Stony Brook faculty
- University of Chicago Laboratory Schools alumni
- Guggenheim Fellows
