Ray Anderson (musician)


Ray Anderson is an American jazz trombonist.
WWW Official Site

Background

Trained by the Chicago Symphony trombonists, he is regarded as someone who pushes the limits of the instrument, including performing on alto and soprano trombone. He is a colleague of trombonist George E. Lewis. Anderson also plays sousaphone (marching tuba) and sings. He was frequently chosen in DownBeat magazine's Critics Poll as best trombonist throughout the late 1980s and early 1990s.
Anderson has worked with 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, George Russell and others. Anderson is a member of Jim Pugh's Super Trombone with Dave Bargeron and Dave Taylor. He received a grant from the National Endowment for the Arts for a series of solo trombone concerts.
Anderson has frequently returned to his early love of New Orleans music for inspiration. His Alligatory Band and Pocket Brass Band, featuring tuba player Bob Stewart or sousaphonist Matt Perrine and trumpeter Lew Soloff, are rooted in its tradition. Since 2003 he has taught and conducted at Stony Brook University.

Career

After studying in California, he moved to New York in 1972 and freelanced.
By 1975, he was a playing trombone as a member of the group Hidden Strength, which also included Roy Herring Jr. on vocals, Grover Underwood on keyboards, Ken Sullivan on keyboards, Robert Leach on saxophone, Alvin Brown on bass and Al Thomas on drums. They had a hit with "Hustle on Up (Do the Bump)" which made it to No. 35 on the Billboard Hot Soul Singles chart, and No. 27 on the Cash Box Top 100 R&B chart. Their album also made the Billboard and Cash Box charts.
They also had a hit with "I Don't Want to Be a Lone Ranger".
In 1977, he joined Anthony Braxton's Quartet and started working with Barry Altschul's group. In addition to leading his own groups since the late 1970s including the funk-oriented Slickaphonics, in which he began taking an occasional good-humored vocal, where he shows the ability to sing two notes at the same time. Anderson has worked with George Gruntz's Concert Jazz Band.

Discography

As leader/co-leader

Harrisburg Half Life Right Down Your Alley Old Bottles - New Wine It Just So Happens Blues Bred in the Bone What Because Wishbone Every One of Us Big Band Record Azurety with Han Bennink and Christy DoranDon't Mow Your Lawn with the Alligatory BandSlideride with Craig Harris, George E. Lewis and Gary ValenteCheer Up (Ray Anderson, [Han Bennink and Christy Doran album)|Cheer Up] with Han Bennink and Christy DoranWhere Home Is Bonemeal Ibrahim Electric Meets Ray Anderson Sweet Chicago Suite
With BassDrumBoneWooferlo Hence the Reason Cooked to Perfection March of Dimes The Line Up The Other Parade The Long Road
With SlickaphonicsWow Bag Modern Life Humatomic Energy Check Your Head at the Door
  • ''Live''

As sideman

With Barry AltschulAnother Time/Another Place Somewhere Else Brahma For Stu
With Anthony BraxtonCreative Orchestra (Köln) 1978 Performance (Quartet) 1979 Seven Compositions 1978 Composition No. 94 for Three Instrumentalists (1980) Composition 98
With Charlie HadenThe Montreal Tapes: Liberation Music Orchestra Dream Keeper
With Julius HemphillThe Boyé Multi-National Crusade for Harmony
With Roscoe Mitchell
With Lucky PetersonTriple Play
With Bobby Previte & BumpJust Add Water
With Sam Rivers' Rivbea All-star Orchestra
With Hank RobertsBlack Pastels
With George Russell's New York BandLive in an American Time Spiral
With Bob Thiele CollectiveLion Hearted
With Roseanna Vitro and Kenny Werner