Try Harder

Always

All Of You

I'll Remember April

The Right One

My arrangement of "The Song Is You" by Kern/Hammerstein

The Song Is You

The latest installment from Basement Cove Studios!  "There Is No Greater Love" is one of the first songs I learned when I started playing jazz trumpet, and one that I still love to this day.  This version was particularly inspired by Dinah Washington, and the arrangements of Sy Oliver.  I hope you enjoy, and stay tuned for more.

Theres No Greater Love

"We Kiss In A Shadow" by Rodgers and Hammerstein. This song is from "The King And I", but my version was most influenced by two other recordings. The first is by Frank Sinatra. It's big and orchestral and beautiful, but typical of the pop music that was released in the 40s and 50s. The second is a recording by Sonny Rollins. It's a totally raw, stripped down interpretation, featuring only the bass of Jimmy Garrison and Elvin Jones on drums. This arrangement of mine tries to walk the line between the two, using the brass and woodwinds to evoke the Sinatra version while trying to maintain some of the elemental feel of the Rollins trio. 
Featuring:
Steve Alford - English horn, bass clarinet, Eb contralto clarinet
Fletcher Peacock - trombones
Zack Page - bass
Jamey Tate - drums
Many thanks also to my lovely wife Natalie Ray, who makes these cool picture videos to go along with my recordings, and helps me post them in the right places.
Thanks everyone! More on the way!

We Kiss In A Shadow

The second single from Elephant Sword Studios! “Please Come Back To Me” is a throwback, a love letter to the days of big bands as pop music. Lyrically inspired by the great Cole Porter, musically inspired by the masters of big band arranging (especially Mr. Quincy Jones)
Featuring:

Jacob Rodriguez - saxophones
Nick Vayenas - trombones and recording
Fletcher Peacock - bass trombone
Alex Taub - piano
Zack Page - bass
Jamey Tate - drums and recording
Justin Ray - trumpets, vocals, recording, mixing, mastering

Music and lyrics by Justin Ray
Photo by Jean Caze

Please Come Back To Me

"Why?" is the first single from Justin Ray and Elephant Sword Studios.  Elephant Sword is dedicated to composing, recording, and releasing original music for big band.  While heavily influenced by the great big band composers/arrangers/bandleaders of the past (Duke Ellington, Count Basie, Quincy Jones, Nelson Riddle, etc.), the goal is to create music that exists in and for the present day.  "Why?" is musically influenced as much by Michael Jackson's "Thriller" as Benny Goodman/Louie Prima's "Sing Sing Sing", and the lyrics tell a tale as old as time itself: rejection, insanity, and murder.

jray5