Ray Anderson (born October 16, 1952) is an American

jazz Jazz is a music genre that originated in the African-American communities of New Orleans, Louisiana in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, with its roots in blues and ragtime. Since the 1920s Jazz Age, it has been recognized as a major ...

trombonist. Trained by the Chicago Symphony trombonists, he is regarded as someone who pushes the limits of the instrument, including performing on

alto trombone The alto trombone (german: Altposaune, Italian, French: ''trombone alto'') is the alto member of the trombone family of brass instruments, smaller than the tenor trombone. It is almost always pitched in E♭ a fourth higher than the tenor, altho ...

and

slide trumpet The slide trumpet is an early type of trumpet fitted with a movable section of telescopic tubing, similar to the slide of a trombone. Eventually, the slide trumpet evolved into the sackbut, which evolved into the modern-day trombone. The key dif ...

. He is a colleague of trombonist George E. Lewis. Anderson also plays

sousaphone The sousaphone ( ) is a brass instrument in the tuba family. Created around 1893 by J. W. Pepper at the direction of American bandleader John Philip Sousa (after whom the instrument was then named), it was designed to be easier to play than ...

and sings. He was frequently chosen in ''DownBeat'' magazine's Critics Poll as best trombonist throughout the late 1980s and early 1990s.

Biography

After studying in California, he moved to New York in 1972 and freelanced. In 1977, he joined

Anthony Braxton Anthony Braxton (born June 4, 1945) is an American experimental composer, educator, music theorist, improviser and multi-instrumentalist who is best known for playing saxophones, particularly the alto. Braxton grew up on the South Side of Chica ...

's Quartet (replacing George E. Lewis) and started working with

Barry Altschul Barry Altschul (born January 6, 1943, New York City) is a free jazz and hard bop drummer who first came to notice in the late 1960s for performing with pianists Paul Bley and Chick Corea. Biography Altschul is of Russian Jewish heritage, the s ...

's group. In addition to leading his own groups since the late 1970s (including the funk-oriented Slickaphonics), Anderson has worked with

George Gruntz George Gruntz (24 June 1932 – 10 January 2013) was a Swiss jazz pianist, organist, harpsichordist, keyboardist, and composer known for the George Gruntz Concert Big Band and his work with Phil Woods, Rahsaan Roland Kirk, Don Cherry, Chet Baker ...

's Concert Jazz Band. In the 1990s, he began taking an occasional good-humored vocal, during which he shows the ability to sing two notes at the same time (a

minor third In music theory, a minor third is a musical interval that encompasses three half steps, or semitones. Staff notation represents the minor third as encompassing three staff positions (see: interval number). The minor third is one of two com ...

apart). Anderson has worked with David Murray,

Charlie Haden Charles Edward Haden (August 6, 1937 – July 11, 2014) was an American jazz double bass player, bandleader, composer and educator whose career spanned more than 50 years. In the late 1950s, he was an original member of the ground-breaking ...

Liberation Music Orchestra Charles Edward Haden (August 6, 1937 – July 11, 2014) was an American jazz double bass player, bandleader, composer and educator whose career spanned more than 50 years. In the late 1950s, he was an original member of the ground-breaking ...

Dr. John Malcolm John Rebennack Jr. (November 20, 1941 – June 6, 2019), better known by his stage name Dr. John, was an American singer and songwriter. His music encompassed New Orleans blues, jazz, funk, and R&B. Active as a session musician from ...

Luther Allison Luther Allison (August 17, 1939 – August 12, 1997) was an American blues singer-songwriter and guitarist. He was born in Widener, Arkansas, although some accounts suggest his actual place of birth was Mayflower, Arkansas. Allison was intereste ...

Bennie Wallace Bennie Wallace (born November 18, 1946) is an American jazz tenor saxophonist. Biography He was born in Chattanooga, Tennessee, United States. Wallace began playing in local clubs with the encouragement of East Ridge, Tennessee High School ban ...

Gerry Hemingway Gerry Hemingway (born March 23, 1955) is an American drummer and composer. Hemingway was a member of the Anthony Braxton quartet from 1983 to 1994. He has also performed with Ernst Reijseger, Anthony Davis, Earl Howard, Leo Smith, George E ...

Henry Threadgill Henry Threadgill (born February 15, 1944) is an American composer, saxophonist and flautist. He came to prominence in the 1970s leading ensembles rooted in jazz but with unusual instrumentation and often incorporating other genres of music. He h ...

John Scofield John Scofield (born December 26, 1951), sometimes referred to as "Sco", is an American guitarist and composer whose music over a long career has blended jazz, jazz fusion, funk, blues, soul and rock. He first came to mainstream attention in the ...

, Roscoe Mitchell,

Randy Sandke Jay Randall Sandke (born May 5, 1949 in Chicago, Illinois) is a jazz trumpeter and guitarist. While a student at Indiana University in 1968, he and Michael Brecker started a jazz-rock band (Mrs. Seamon's Sound Band) that performed at the Notre ...

's Inside Out Band, Sam Rivers' Rivbea Orchestra,

Bobby Previte Bobby Previte (born July 16, 1951 in Niagara Falls, New York) is a drummer, composer, and bandleader. He earned a degree in economics from the University at Buffalo, where he also studied percussion. He moved to New York City in 1979 and began ...

, George Russell and others. Anderson is a member of

Jim Pugh Jim Pugh (born February 5, 1964) is a former professional tennis player from the United States. He grew up in Palos Verdes, California and at age 10 began taking tennis lessons from John Hillebrand. He played tennis at UCLA. He became a doubl ...

's Super Trombone with Dave Bargeron and Dave Taylor. He received a grant from the

National Endowment for the Arts The National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) is an independent agency of the United States federal government that offers support and funding for projects exhibiting artistic excellence. It was created in 1965 as an independent agency of the federal ...

for a series of solo trombone concerts. Anderson has frequently returned to his early love of New Orleans music for inspiration. His Alligatory Band and Pocket Brass Band, featuring tuba player Bob Stewart or sousaphonist Matt Perrine and trumpeter

Lew Soloff Lewis Michael Soloff (February 20, 1944–March 8, 2015) was an American jazz trumpeter, composer, and actor. Biography From his birth place of New York City, United States, he studied trumpet at the Eastman School of Music and the Juilliard Sc ...

, are rooted in its tradition. Since 2003 he has taught and conducted at

Stony Brook University Stony Brook University (SBU), officially the State University of New York at Stony Brook, is a public research university in Stony Brook, New York. Along with the University at Buffalo, it is one of the State University of New York system's ...

Discography

As leader/co-leader

* ''Harrisburg Half Life'' (

Moers Moers (; older form: ''Mörs''; archaic Dutch language, Dutch: ''Murse'', ''Murs'' or ''Meurs'') is a German List of cities and towns in Germany, city on the western bank of the Rhine, close to Duisburg. Moers belongs to the district of Wesel (d ...

, 1980) * ''Right Down Your Alley'' (

Soul Note Black Saint and Soul Note are two affiliated Italian independent record labels. Since their conception in the 1970s, they have released albums from a variety of influential jazz musicians, particularly in the genre of free jazz. History Black S ...

, 1984) * '' Old Bottles - New Wine'' (

Enja Enja Records is a German jazz record company and label based in Munich which was founded by jazz enthusiasts Matthias Winckelmann and Horst Weber in 1971. The label's first release was by Mal Waldron, and early releases included European and Ja ...

, 1985) * ''

It Just So Happens ''It Just So Happens'' is an album by trombonist Ray Anderson which was recorded in 1987 and released on the Enja label.

'' (Enja, 1987) * ''

Blues Bred in the Bone ''Blues Bred in the Bone'' is an album by trombonist Ray Anderson which was recorded in 1988 and released on the Enja label.Gramavision Gramavision Records is an American record label founded in 1979. Since 1994 it has been a subsidiary of Rykodisc. The label's music is largely jazz, blues and folk oriented but has touched on many other styles and genres. In 1979, Jonathan F.P. ...

, 1989) * ''Wishbone'' (Gramavision, 1991) * ''Every One of Us'' (Gramavision, 1992) * ''

Big Band Record ''Big Band Record'' is an album by trombonist Ray Anderson and the George Gruntz Concert Jazz Band which was released on the Gramavision label in 1994.Rousell, PDiscography of Tim Berneaccessed June 28, 2018Azurety'' ( hat ART, 1994) with

Han Bennink Han Bennink (born 17 April 1942) is a Dutch drummer and percussionist. On occasion his recordings have featured him playing soprano saxophone, bass clarinet, trombone, violin, banjo and piano. Though perhaps best known as one of the pivotal fig ...

and Christy Doran * '' Don't Mow Your Lawn'' (Enja, 1994) with the Alligatory Band * '' Slideride'' (hat ART, 1994) with

Craig Harris Craig S. Harris (born September 10, 1953) is an American jazz trombonist, who started working with Sun Ra in 1976. He also has worked with Abdullah Ibrahim, David Murray, Lester Bowie, Cecil Taylor, Sam Rivers, Muhal Richard Abrams, and Char ...

, George E. Lewis and

Gary Valente Gary Valente (born June 26, 1953) is a jazz trombonist. Early life Valente was born on June 26, 1953, in Worcester, Massachusetts. He started playing the trombone as a young child, encouraged by his father, who played the same instrument. In the ...

* '' Cheer Up'' (hat Art, 1995) with Han Bennink and Christy Doran * ''Where Home Is'' (Enja, 1998) * ''Bonemeal'' (Raybone, 2000) * Bobby Previte & Bump, ''Just Add Water'' ( Palmetto, 2001) * Ray Anderson/Ibrahim Electric, ''Ibrahim Electric Meets Ray Anderson'' (Sundance, 2005) * ''Sweet Chicago Suite'' (2012) With BassDrumBone * ''Wooferlo'' (Soul Note, 1989) * ''Hence The Reason'' (Enja, 1997) * ''Cooked To Perfection'' (Auricle, 1999) * ''March Of Dimes'' (Data, 2002) * ''The Line Up'' (

Clean Feed Records Clean Feed Records is a jazz record label founded in Lisbon, Portugal, in 2001. The label's roster includes Ray Anderson, Tim Berne, Carlos Bica, Anthony Braxton, Mark Dresser, Ellery Eskelin, Peter Evans, Scott Fields, Fight the Big Bull, ...

, 2006) * ''The Other Parade'' (

, 2011) * ''The Long Road'' (Auricle, 2016) With Slickaphonics * ''Wow Bag'' (Enja, 1982) * ''Modern Life'' (Enja, 1984) * ''Humatomic Energy'' (Blue Heron Records, 1985) * ''Check Your Head at the Door'' (Teldec, 1986) * ''Live'' (Teldec, 1987)

As sideman

* ''

Live in an American Time Spiral ''Live in an American Time Spiral'' is a live album by George Russell released on the Italian Soul Note label in 1983, featuring performances by Russell with his New York Band recorded in 1982. Reception The Allmusic review awarded the album ...

'', George Russell's New York Band (Soul Note, 1983) With

* ''Somewhere Else'' (Moers, 1979) With

* ''

Creative Orchestra (Köln) 1978 ''Creative Orchestra (Köln) 1978'' is a live album by American composer and saxophonist Anthony Braxton. Recorded in Germany in 1978 but not released on the hatART label until 1995, the album features a live concert featuring several of Braxton' ...

'' (hatART, 1978

995 Year 995 ( CMXCV) was a common year starting on Tuesday (link will display the full calendar) of the Julian calendar. Events By place Japan * 17 May - Fujiwara no Michitaka (imperial regent) dies. * 3 June: Fujiwara no Michikane gain ...

* '' Performance (Quartet) 1979'' (hatART, 1979

981 Year 981 ( CMLXXXI) was a common year starting on Saturday (link will display the full calendar) of the Julian calendar. Events Births * Abu'l-Qasim al-Husayn ibn Ali al-Maghribi, Arab statesman (d. 1027) * Giovanni Orseolo, Venetian ...

* '' Seven Compositions 1978'' (Moers Music, 1979) * '' Composition No. 94 for Three Instrumentalists (1980)'' (Golden Years of Jazz, 1980

999 999 or triple nine most often refers to: * 999 (emergency telephone number), a telephone number for the emergency services in several countries * 999 (number), an integer * AD 999, a year * 999 BC, a year Books * ''999'' (anthology) or ''999: T ...

* '' Composition 98'' (hatART, 1981) With

* '' The Montreal Tapes: Liberation Music Orchestra'' (Verve, 1989

* ''

Dream Keeper ''Dream Keeper'' is an album by bassist Charlie Haden that was recorded in 1990 and released by Blue Note Records. The album was nominated for a Grammy Award for Best Large Jazz Ensemble Performance and was voted "Jazz album of the year" in '' Do ...

'' (DownBeat's Jazz album of the year) With Roscoe Mitchell *'' Sketches from Bamboo'' (Moers Music, 1979) With

Hank Roberts Hank Roberts (born March 24, 1954, Terre Haute, Indiana) is an American jazz cellist and vocalist. He plays the electric cello, and his style is a mixture of rock, jazz, avant-garde, folk, and classical influences. He emerged with the downtown N ...

* ''

Black Pastels ''Black Pastels'' is the debut album by cellist Hank Roberts which was recorded in 1987 and released on the JMT label.Shimada, T.JMT label discography accessed October 7, 2014 Reception The AllMusic review by Scott Yanow said it was "Recommende ...

'' (JMT, 1988) With Bob Thiele Collective * ''Lion Hearted'' (1993) With

Roseanna Vitro Roseanna Elizabeth Vitro (born February 28, 1951) is a jazz singer and teacher from Arkansas. Biography Born Roseanna Elizabeth VitroScott Fredrickson and Gary W. Kennedy.Vitro (Wickliffe), Roseanna" In ''The New Grove Dictionary of Jazz'', 2 ...

and

Kenny Werner Kenny Werner (born November 19, 1951) is an American jazz pianist, composer, and author. Early life Born in Brooklyn, New York, on November 19, 1951 and then growing up in Oceanside, Long Island, Werner began playing and performing at a young ...

* '' The Delirium Blues Project: Serve or Suffer'' (2008)

References

External links

Ray Anderson's official site
{{DEFAULTSORT:Anderson, Ray 1952 births Living people American jazz trombonists Male trombonists Jazz musicians from Illinois Musicians from Chicago Free jazz trombonists CIMP artists Enja Records artists Stony Brook University faculty University of Chicago Laboratory Schools alumni 21st-century trombonists 21st-century American male musicians American male jazz musicians Clean Feed Records artists Palmetto Records artists Black Saint/Soul Note artists Moers Music artists Gramavision Records artists