THE JAZZ NETWORK ~ "A GREAT PLACE TO HANG"
soulraye's Page
Profile Information
- Marital Status
- Married
- Tell us a little about you....
- Michael Raye:
Composer, Producer, Piano/Keyboards,
Arranger, Singer, Actor
Michael Raye's impressive debut began at age seven with his first piano recital. At fourteen, he played cello at Carnegie Hall with the Youth Symphony Orchestra of New York. Composition in his early teen years soon followed. Michael graduated from Ithaca College with a BFA in music and continued his education in advanced music composition at Indiana University. As a musical director and conductor he
has worked with such artists as: Gloria Gaynor, Suzette Charles, Bessye Scott, Keith David and Little Anthony and the Imperials. As a musician, he has toured extensively both nationally and internationally with an impressive array of artists including: Daryl Hall, Will Downing, Michael Bolton, Tom Browne, Deniece Williams, Phyllis Hyman and Gloria Gaynor. He has recorded with Richie Havens, John Blake and Will Downing among others. Michael has performed on Broadway in 'Bring in the Noise, Bring in the Funk' and 'It's So Nice to be Civilized.'
He has composed for film and television, including the 1992 Sundance film festival grand prize winner “Just another girl on the IRT” as well as industrials and corporate exhibits in the United States, Europe and Canada. Michael has been the recipient of several grants and has been commissioned by several Modern and Ballet Dance companies for his original compositions. These companies include: David Parsons Dance Company, National Ballet of Canada, Ballet Met, Michael Mao, and Carolyn Dorfman.
As a solo artist, he has recorded, arranged, produced and released two singles on Menu Records entitled 'No Love Intended' and 'Black and White.' His debut CD 'Due Lights' was released on his own label HotLance Records and his most recent CD 'Mystic Gypsies' was released on SoulRaye Records, both at www.CDBaby.com.
Television performances have included: Tonight Show with Johnny Carson, Tonight Show with Jay Leno, Friday Night Videos, Good Morning America, CBS Good Day America, The Rosie O'Donnell Show and Dick Clark's New Year's Rockin' Eve. For ABC Television, he acted in the movie 'Double Platinum' starring Diana Ross and Brandy.
Michael was recently honored with an award from the spiritual teacher Sri Chinmoy entitled 'Lifting the world with a oneness heart' for his song 'Beyond the Realm of Time.'
For more information on Michael Raye please log on to www.SoulRaye.com
- Website:
- http://soulraye.com
INSPIRATIONAL CORNER
Uncle Hugh 'Peanuts' Whalum is my 80 year-old uncle who has FORGOTTEN more about jazz than I've even learned yet! He released his CD "Introducing Hugh 'Peanuts' Whalum" after gigging in the St. Louis scene for over 55 years! Needless to say his voice, his saxophone, his piano... like a fine, aged Merlot. His energy?! I dare not try and keep up. I'm on stage falling asleep by the time he gets going good – cut from a different cloth. Arnette, Coleman, Hamp, Hank... fine cloth.
Why do I bring them up? Because they represent something really important that we now get to enjoy, like they did back then, but now through technology on sites like this, that we've been missing.
The good news, since family – in this case JAZZ FAMILY – and relationships are much more important, more fulfilling... is that I feel RICHER knowing and following you guys music on THE JAZZ NETWORK!
Sincerely,
Kirk WHALUM
www.kirkwhalum.com
"Congratulations on your creativity, energy and dedication to Jazz, knowing and have worked with your Dad ~ its all in the genes".
~Clem De Rosa
Professional Musician, Educator, Arranger, Composer and Band Leader
Birthdays
Birthdays Today
ADVERTISE YOUR ARTISTRY, BUSINESS OR EVENT HERE ON THE JAZZ NETWORK!
Give the gift of some of The Jazz Network Members music for the Holidays!!
Just click your favorite artist, its as easy as 1-2-1-2-3-4!! :-)
Available on iTunes and www.fredricklevore.com
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The Jazz Network Holiday Promotion offers its members a spot on the front page to display your CD cover for immediate click-thru for purchase for holiday gifting! Feel free to contact Jaijai for details for now is a good time to start promoting Holiday sales!
If you have interest in having a featured spot, want to be spotlighted, promote a 'gig' or CD release party with a flyer or banner, stream your gigs live from a venue worldwide, give a shout-out for any reason ~ post a press release...have a business we should know about?... or even a "sneak peek" of your upcoming release? How about managers looking for artists, or indie labels looking for submissions...This is the place to do it!
Jaijai is also making herself available to help you promote your artistry with marketing tips that will take you to the next level.
If you are interested in becoming a client, please let her know.
If you want your page designed with your CD cover and special slideshows, or that 'extra special touch' Jaijai will also lend her design skills to those that want that 'extra splash' to their pages.
Contact her here on the site to discuss your creative thoughts!
Happy Networking!
:-)
Artwork courtesy of Jeff Laibson
SPOTLIGHTED ARTISTS
Finding THE JAZZ NETWORK has been an amazing experience for Musique Noire. The opportunity to not only gain exposure among the jazz community, but to also learn and network with others in the jazz world has been invaluable. It is a place where we are all treated equally, whether one is a major label act or an indie artist, whether one plays traditional jazz or any of the "branches" of the jazz Family "tree".
Musique Noire is honored to be spotlighted here and are deeply grateful to Jaijai for creating this wonderful world. We're here to stay!
~ Musique Noire
Jaijai, what a wonderful mission you've undertaken to create such a place for artistic minds to meet and share their hearts. A place to renew faded determinations, and revive lessened momentums. A place to display our wares and reconfirm to one another that we actually are on the right track.
I commend you, Jaijai, for caring so much that you created this castle of the heart for all of us. I want to share my praise for all of the new friends as well as old friends that I've met and will meet here in our castle. Here we can garnish the where-with-all, the strength, the conviction, and the selflessness through our symbiosis, to share our gift to the world with an unbiased agenda.
My mentor, Daisaku Ikeda says of art: "A beautiful flower delights and refreshes the hearts of all people equally, no matter what soil it grows in. That is the power of beauty. The same is true of great art. It is this spirit that the German poet Heinrich Heine sang of when he wrote that once the peapod bursts open, the sugar peas inside are for everyone to enjoy."
Let's be audacious, my friends!
Buster Williams
"It was a pleasure to be featured on the Jazz Network Main Page. This Network is a unique forward step for independence, contact and conversation between artist, promoters/agents and fans.
Thank you Jaijai for offering a professional meeting place. I've met new musicians and rediscovered old friends I haven't seen or heard from in years. May we all continue to expand this network.
~ Will Calhoun
"I think that what Jaijai Jackson has done with the Jazz Network shows how the eternal love for this music is passed down from generation to generation. The fire her father lit in her has burned brightly and has inspired her to pass this torch on to future generations. I'm very proud to be featured and I'm very happy that Jazz has a voice and spirit like Jaijai looking after it."
~ Ron Kearns
I am so honored to be on The Jazz Network with so many wonderful and dedicated musicians. Jazz is the truly American art form and as I travel to other countries I find that their appreciation for jazz is really uplifting. There are so many excellent jazz musicians around the world now and The Jazz Network is helping us to find each other. Thank goodness for people like Jaijai who have dedicated so much time and effort to keep the jazz community together and for opening doors to us that we may never have found.
Regarding education in jazz, having done Master Classes in many places I find students need to take time and learn from the Masters and LISTEN. They should go back in history to appreciate ALL styles of jazz and its development. They need to learn melodies and lyrics (yes, even instrumentalists need to know lyrics) and that jazz is not just a series of modes and riffs. I think The Jazz Network can be an excellent tool for that also.
Thank you Jaijai...you are awesome!
~ Lenore Raphael
"Thank you Jaijai for creating a space for the likes of me! I truly enjoy being featured here and really hope it can give me new contacts and opportunities.
Keep up the good work!"
~ Patrick Rydman
Sweden
"The Jazz Network has come into being at just the right time. I believe that we are forever in need of spiritual and artistic enrichment and the way I see it, music, particularly jazz music, is all about the spirit. The Jazz Network allows us to reach out to our fellow artists across the world, in a way that has not been seen before, enlightening us as to who's out there making hip and happening music and helping to shape the culture. Whether artists approach this music from traditional perspectives or attempt to create new and radical sub-genres of jazz, the Jazz Network
is providing exposure, performance and recording opportunities that we might never have found on our own.
The Jazz Network is an amazing resource for the Jazz community. I'm
honored and happy to be a part of it.
Jaijai, thanks for your faith and what you're doing for the jazz community"
Best,
Nicolas
It’s a rare occasion when you meet someone who you feel a real connection to … Someone who possesses a kind spirit, unyielding generosity and a dedication to the jazz community beyond expectations.
Jaijai, thank you so much for creating such a fantastic website for the jazz community. You’ve helped artists connect with each other around the world.
I’m proud to have The Jazz Network be the first site to promote my latest recording. Words cannot express my gratitude to you for your dedication to the music and the artists.
With much love and gratitude,
Denise Donatelli
Hi Jaijai,
Stopping by to show you some love and tell you just how much I appreciate all you've been doing here, not just for me but for this incredible community of jazz musicians. I see that The Jazz Network is growing in leaps and bounds daily and want you to know that I recognize the importance of what's going on here, musicians having a place to connect with each other, young musicians having a place to meet and be mentored by musicians who have been around the block. You've created a beautiful space here and it's obvious that folks are feeling very much at home. Thanks for sharing your time, your heart, your soul. This is a huge commitment and you've taken it on with such determination. I wish you and The Jazz Network continued success and support you in all you're doing.
~ Marcus
© 2008 Created by Jaijai Jackson aka. "Woman of Jazz"
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Comment Wall (18 comments)
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Soham a/k/a forevrchld
Philip Woo
I just found you on here. how funny is that?
(smile)
Glad we're sharing the same space.
Hugs to you & Kristen.
Charisse.
Stay Blessed
eVa
I'm am so not surprised that you to are still together and with a family started. Some things are meant to be.
Miss you both.
Much love,
Ivan
Big love,
Ivan
Sending Best Wishes From Boston; For a Peaceful, Fun & Wonderfully Productive Day! Have A Great One.
Your Boston Friend,
Karin
Several years ago, my cousin (Jimmie Wilson), who had done some studio work with you in New York, introduced me to your music, which I thoroughly enjoyed. Although Jimmie now resides in Frankfurt and is very active musically, I will be sure to tell him that I have come across you on The Jazz Network.
Please add me to your list of friends.
Best wishes t you.
Joan-Adrienne
Divine Intervention Mgmt./PR
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