Local favorites Ray's Music Exchange bring their 4th annual reunion show to the Woodward Theater on Saturday, March 28. The Woodward is located at 1404 Main Street in Over-the-Rhine.
General admission tickets, $15 ADV/$18 DOS (plus applicable fees), are on sale now at MOTR Pub, Shake It Records, http://www.cincyticket.com/eventperformances.asp?evt=2474 and all CincyTicket outlets. All shows at The Woodward are age-restricted to 21-and-up unless otherwise noted.
From the mid 1990’s to the mid-2000’s, Ray's Music Exchange evolved from a pure soul and funk band to a multi-faceted instrumental powerhouse in the Midwest and beyond, blending their far-reaching influences into a cohesive sound is truly at home in live performance. A natural product of the rich musical history and diversity of Cincinnati, RME combined the soundscapes of modern composers like Steve Reich and Frank Zappa, the jazz fusion of Miles Davis and Weather Report and the danceability of James Brown and The Meters.
By the year 2000, Ray's was a full-fledged touring machine, reaching crowds all over the country and becoming an award winning and highly sought after act on the Jam Band festival circuit. They challenged that fan base’s ears along with their perceptions of what improvised music could sound like. They brought guided (or conducted) improvisation into the standard open jams that in turn influenced close friends and musical compatriots Umphrey’s McGee.
After releasing five independent CDs and traveling the country, in 2006 the band wound down touring activities and when on hiatus as members were splitting time with other touring acts such as the Jazz Mandolin Project and Jacob Fred Jazz Odyssey and pursuing other musical interests. In 2010, 14 past members of the band reunited for a sold out concert at the Play by Play Cafe and recorded the event for a live concert DVD "A Live Rayunion" which was released the following year and stands as the best recorded representation of the band to date. Since then, the semi-annual “Ray-union" shows have each been something special both for the band and the audience which have grown in size each time they reunite. The possibilities of a busier future for the local core members of Ray's has become apparent. Musical chemistry and creativity of the highest level demands it.
