Ray Marchica
IN THE RING
with Rodney Jones, Lonnie Plaxico,
and Teodross Avery
New York, NY – Sons of Sound proudly announces
the June 7, 2005 release of In
The Ring, the jazz-funk
debut from workhorse drummer Ray Marchica, who
goes nine rounds with three heavyweight instrumental
masters: Rodney Jones on guitar, Lonnie Plaxico
on bass, and Teodross Avery on tenor saxophone.
Like the “sweet science” itself, these
veterans dance, bob, and weave their improvisations
across a canvas of deep groove.
Ray Marchica is one of the most diverse freelance
drummers in New York City. In addition to leading
his own group, Ray is a member of The Ed Palermo
Big Band specializing in performing the music of
Frank Zappa, a challenging collection of work that
demands the most highly skilled of drummers (Bozzio,
Colaiuta, Wackerman). He has recorded with James
Brown, Little Richard, Dan Hartman, and Earl Klugh,
and has toured with guitar greats Roy Buchanan
and Johnny Winter. A graduate of Brooklyn College,
he holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Music
Performance.
In The Ring features nine tracks that bring together
the elements of the New York jazz-funk tradition.
Rodney Jones’ contributions, “Minor
Mishap” and “Journey’s End,” are
genuine examples of this style. A drummer focused
more on feel and groove than on soloing, Ray makes
his musical imprint on the introduction to “Tequila,” for
which he imagines the fate of the worm in a bottle
of a similar beverage, mescal. He also pays tribute
to his stylistic influences, Elvin and Philly Joe
Jones, on “The Joneses.” Ray explores
the brushes on the ballad “I Can’t
Get Started” and works the blues on his own “9H5,” named
for the TV dressing room where the tune was written.
True to their jazz roots, the influences of Jimmy
Smith and Wes Montgomery are heard on the band’s
closing track, “Summertime.”
Ray and Rodney met as bandmates on The Rosie O’Donnell
Show. During the show’s six-year run, they
performed with Phil Collins, Tony Bennett, Bette
Midler, Cher, Marc Anthony, Robert Palmer, Jennifer
Holiday, Chaka Khan, and Neil Diamond, among other
guests. Ray also played gigs with Rodney’s
group, where he met Lonnie Plaxico and Teodross
Avery. When it came time for Ray to do his own
record, he wanted Rodney, Lonnie, and Teodross
in his corner.
Ray is also respected for his work in Broadway
musical theatre. He held the chair as the house
drummer at Radio City Music Hall for two years,
then went on to the Broadway productions of How
to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying, Damn
Yankees, and The Will Rogers Follies (directed
by Tommy Tune). He is currently the drummer for
Mamma Mia. The Broadway gigs introduced many theatrical
stars to Ray’s talent, and he has subsequently
toured with Bernadette Peters, Betty Buckley, Tommy
Tune, Joel Grey, Michael Feinstein, Leslie Uggams,
Shirley Bassey, James Naughton, and Jimmy Webb.
Himself a fusion of the influences that define
New York jazz/funk, Rodney Jones was drawn to Jimi
Hendrix, Johnny Winter, Alvin Lee, and Barney Kessell.
At 17, he joined Chico Hamilton’s band. After
a brief stint with Jaki Byard, he toured with Dizzy
Gillespie for three years until his early twenties.
After Gillespie, he accompanied Lena Horne, an
experience that led to his current role as musical
director for Ruth Brown. Rodney has worked with
Pee Wee Ellis and Jimmy McGriff, and he toured
with Maceo Parker for five years. He has recorded
eight albums as a leader, including two for Blue
Note: The Undiscovered Few and Soul Manifesto.
Lonnie Plaxico has been a very versatile bassist
throughout his career. Early on he played with
Chet Baker, Sonny Stitt, and Junior Cook. After
spending time in Wynton Marsalis’ band in
1982, Plaxico worked with Dexter Gordon and Hank
Jones before joining Art Blakey’s Jazz Messengers.
He recorded with Dizzy Gillespie and David Murray
and led his own sessions for Muse. Lonnie has also
performed with Steve Coleman, Greg Osby, Bud Shank,
Cassandra Wilson, and Don Byron.
Teodross Avery made his recording debut as a leader
on GRP at the age of 20. He had studied classical
guitar when he was ten, switched to alto saxophone
at age 13, and a few years later took up the tenor
saxophone. Avery studied with Joe Henderson while
still attending high school. At Berklee College
of Music he won the Sony Innovation Award in 1993.
Sons of Sound is an independent jazz label founded
in 1997 with the goal of bringing jazz music and
instrumental technique to a younger audience. The
label supports music education through The Commission
Project, a nonprofit based in Rochester, NY. Through
TCP, Sons of Sound underwrites residencies at Princeton
University, including Bob Mintzer in 2003-2004
and Jimmy Heath in 2004-2005.
For additional information see the label’s
website at http://sonsofsound.com. For more about
The Commission Project, see http://tcp-music.org/
and http://swingnjazz.org.
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CDs, full press kits, color and b&w jpgs available
upon request.
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