RAY VEGA: Bio
Performance
A native of the South Bronx, RAY VEGA is a veteran of the bands of Tito Puente, Ray Barretto, Mongo Santamaria, Mario Bauza, Luis "Perico" Ortiz, Hector LaVoe, Johnny Pacheco, Larry Harlow, Pete "El Conde" Rodriguez and Louie Ramirez to name a few. Ray has performed and/or recorded with Joe Henderson, Lionel Hampton, Mel Torme, Paquito D’Rivera, Arturo Sandoval, Israel Lopez "Cachao", The Chico O’Farrill Afro-Cuban Jazz Orchestra, The Lincoln Center Afro Latin Jazz Orchestra, Paul Simon, Yomo Toro, Eddie Palmieri, La Orquesta Sinfonica De Simon Bolivar, The Duke Ellington Orchestra, The Vanguard Jazz Orchestra, Bebo Valdez, and Celia Cruz.
Ray has now established himself as one of the innovators of the New York Jazz and Latin music scenes. A multi-talented trumpeter, percussionist, composer, and arranger, he presents Jazz from a refreshingly original and contemporary perspective. His two recordings onthe Concord Picante label, his self-titled debut "Ray Vega", and "Boperation", along with his 1st release on the Palmetto label "Pa'lante"have been well received by critics, audiences and musicians alike. Vega's 2nd Palmetto CD "Squeeze, Squeeze" has also received critical acclaim including Four Stars in Down Beat Magazine.
Vega grew up immersed in the heart of two vibrant New York City music scenes: Jazz and Salsa. In addition to learning about these two musical styles with some of the great legends, he received his formal training studying trumpet with Sydney Baker, Henry Nowak, Mike Lawrence, Stan Shafran, Laurie Frink, Richard Brezowski and Jerry Gonzalez. He studied Jazz harmony and improvisation with Susan Winder, Bobby Rogovin and Lonnie Hillyer. Vega studied Afro-Caribbean percussion with Luis Bauzo. Ray Vega is a graduate of the legendary High School of Music and Art.
Ray Vega’s sextet presents fiery Latin Jazz from a Nuyorican perspective, while his quartet focuses on straight ahead swinging Jazz. He co-leads AmbosMundosUSA with soprano Sharon Spinetti. This project presents a fusion of Classical repertoire with the sounds of Jazz and world music. Ray’s newest project is Ray Vega y La Nueva Era. This group showcases the new talent coming onto the Jazz/Salsa/Latin Jazz scene(s).
A much in-demand musician, he has performed with Mongo Santamaria with whom he recorded numerous CD's, Mario Bauza's Afro Cuban Jazz Orchestra, including their first-ever European tour, and Ray Barretto and the New World Spirit. Vega was privileged to record three projects with this landmark group including the Grammy nominated "Taboo" and "Contact". It was during his time with Barretto that Vega was called upon to join the Tito Puente Latin Jazz Orchestra as lead trumpeter. Vega recorded with Puente's Orchestra many times over including the Grammy winning "Mambo Birdland", "Dancemania '99" and "Obra Maestra".
Renowned Bassist and Jazz Educator Todd Coolman says-
"(Ray Vega's) creating a very, very valuable bridge from the classroom to the bandstand........That's the magic that Ray brings. He transcends academia and makes it real" www.toddcoolman.com
Trumpet Teacher/ Jazz Educator
Ray is currently a lecturer at the music conservatory at SUNY Purchase. Along with conducting The Purchase Latin Jazz Orchestra and The Purchase Jazz Lab Band, Ray coaches a small Jazz combo, teaches jazz trumpet and Jazz history. At Purchase, Vega joins a stellar faculty that includes Jon Faddis, Hal Galper, John Abercrombie, Charles Blenzig, Todd Coolman, Graham Ashton, Randy Johnston, Javon Jackson, Dena Derose, Richie Morales, Doug Munro, John Riley, Jim Pugh, John Clark and Jim Rotondi.
As an educator, Ray Vega has been invited to conduct master classes in trumpet performance, jazz improvisation, brass performance techniques and afro-caribbean jazz. These are some of the schools and organizations with whom Ray has worked with:
- Manhattan School of Music (NY)
- The Kennedy Center (Washington, DC)
- Music Advancement Program-The Julliard School (NY)
- The New School (NY)
-City College (CUNY)
-Lehman College(CUNY)
- Flynn Arts Latin Jazz (Burlington, Vermont) 2003 through 2007, Artist in Residence
- El Consevatorio de Musica de Puerto Rico
- City Folk Organization (Dayton, Ohio) 2003-2004, Artist in Residence
-Central State University in Ohio
-Cincinnati Conservatory of Music
-University of Dayton/ Dayton, Ohio
- Litchfield Summer Jazz Camp
- Oscar Schindler Performance Arts Center(NJ) Summer Jazz Camp
- University of the Arts-Philadelphia,Pa.
- University of North Carolina @Chapel Hill (2001,2005)
- Oaktown Jazz School-Oakland,Ca.
-New York City Department of Education
- Albany, NY School District
- Bedford, NY School District
- Scarsdale, NY School District
- Notre Dame University/Lebanon
- Tortola Public School System BVI
- Victoria College, Victoria, Texas
- York College,Queens-NY CUNY
- Purchase Summer Jazz Initiative
Leader
In addition to his busy sideman and teaching schedule, Vega has also been developing his own bands. The Ray Vega Quartet (bebop and beyond), The Ray Vega Sextet (following in the footsteps of Mongo, Barretto and Fort Apache) and Ray Vega's New York Concert Jazz Ensemble (further explorations into the Jazz and Latin Jazz big band traditions). Ray is now working on a new project with the renowned soprano Sharon Spinetti. The project is called Ambos Mundos and it combines the worlds of Opera, Jazz and World Music......this is truly a new sound....more news on this project to come soon!
Vega has performed at the American Museum of Natural History, the Museum of Modern Art (both in NYC), the Indianapolis Museum of Art (five years in a row), the San Jose Jazz Festival (1999, 2000, 2004, 2005), The Blue Note, Birdland, The Jazz Standard, Tula's in Seattle, Jazz at The Bistro in St. Louis, Mo, The Blue Wisp in Cincinnati, Churchill Grounds in Atlanta, Jazz en Carolina-Puerto Rico, Artsplosure in Raleigh, NC, the Battery Park Salsa Series and the South Street Seaport/Heineken Latin Jazz Series, The Duncan Theatre in West Palm Beach Fla., the 2002 U.S. Open, the Berne International Jazz Festival and Marian's Jazz Room in Switzerland, and the Puerto Rico Heineken Jazz Festival. Vega has brought his bands on two recent tours of Europe, and the Blue Note Cafe in Beirut, Lebanon. While in Lebanon, Vega participated in three concerts that were sponsored by The American Embassy in Beirut.
Renowned Soprano Sharon Spinetti on Ambos Mundo-
"Ray and I have combined forces to present a unique and original approach to Classical, Jazz and World musical literature.
By melding the voice instrumentally with trumpet and a Jazz trio, we've created a new and distinctive sound. We've brought our own style and influence to, among others, the works of Bach, Debussy,Faure,Handel,Hess, Montsalvatge, Piazzolla,Puccini and Villa-Lobos.
This World Music encompasses Latin, Middle Eastern, European and North American sound.
It's been a dream come true working with Ray. He is the consummate artist,technician, professional, family man and human. Long live beautiful music with Ray Vega on the scene!"
Sharon Miller-Spinetti
www.sharonspinettisings.com