Kindly described as one of the London jazz scene’s best-kept secrets, i'm Ray Carless a multi-reed tenor, alto, soprano, baritone saxophonist who has been making music with the great and the good for the past three decades. I was part of the original ‘Brit funk’ movement playing with Incognito, Hi-Tension, Central Line, Linx and Light of The World,  scoring a chart hit with his single Tarantula Walk before moving on to become a founding member of the Jazz Warriors, the big band that launched the careers of Courtney Pine (OBE), Gary Crosby (MBE) of Jazz Jamaica, Roland Sutherland, Jason Yarde, Steve Williamson, Cleveland Watkiss,  Julian Joseph and Orphy Robinson among others.  
I've made creative contributions and or worked with artists like Billy Ocean, Loose Ends, Five Star, Tippa Irie, Will Downing, Joscelyn Brown, Adele recently No.1in 16 European countries, the late n greats Alton Ellis, Gregory Isaacs, Jean Adebambo, Louisa Mark, and most recently Smiley Culture.
Other exhisting artists include Beris Hammond, The Heptones, Aswad, the newly reformed Black Slate, Beggar & Co, Hi-Tension, Cymande2, Kool Is The Gang, Jazz Jamaica, Skatallites, Delroy Pinnock, Lloyd Brown, Patrick Augustus’ Elements Band, Cleveland Watkiss, Alan Weekes, Ska Cubano, Sun Ra disciples, The Heliocentrics, Mica Paris, Jennifer Phillips, Immani, Janet Kay, Chris Tummings & Victor Romero Evans, Heather Haywood, Joy Rose, Ava Golding, The Engine Room Collective, Skatallites trombonist Vin Gordon, Shireen Francis, Siemy Di and vibesman Orphy Robinson.
 
Ray is is currently rehearsing for a European tour with Bristol based Reggae band Black Roots.
Ray recalls the highlight of recent activities was his trip with Township Express to Johannesburg where he had the honour of meeting the great man while performing at NELSON MANDELA’s 90th birthday celebrations. The undisputed OMG moment and highlight of Ray’s musical journeys to date.


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