Tune-in to Minnesota Public Radio tonight (Saturday Nov 28) between 10-11pm to hear a live performance and interview with Jeff Ray and friends, hosted by Dale Connelly, the former host of MPR's Morning Show.  Dale Connelly's radio show is called 'Radio Heartland' and airs after the nationally syndicated show 'American Roots'.

Minnesota Public Radio can be heard at 91.1 FM in Minneapolis/St Paul, or online at http://minnesota.publicradio.org/radio/services/nis/schedule/ (click on 'LISTEN NOW').

The show will feature an interview and performance of three songs from the new CD 'Blue Mara' (available at http://www.cdbaby.com/jeffray4).  Jeff Ray and friends includes Mikkel Beckmen on washboard (The Brass Kings / Charlie Parr), Nick Salisbury on bass (Mick Sterling's Irresistables / Mary Curtrufello), and Harold Tremblay on harmonica (Cool Disposition / Summit Stunt Pilots).

The interview will also air on Sunday at 1pm and Monday at 7pm on http://www.radioheartland.org (click on 'LISTEN').

Take care and hope to see you at the next big show at Palmers on Thursday Dec 17!

Thursday 12/17/2009, 10pm-12:30am
Jeff Ray and friends live @ Palmer's Bar
500 Cedar Ave S
Minneapolis, MN 55454-1219
612-333-7625‎
http://www.citypages.com/locations/palmers-bar-152705/?src=likeme

-jeff ray
jeff@jeffraymusic.com
www.jeffraymusic.com

ENGLISH VERSION [English Translation by Google Translate]:




Jeff Ray's fourth album is indeed a must for anyone who has a soft spot for acoustic, semi-acoustic and resonator slide guitar in 't particular. But it is particularly beautiful vocal from the corner and more than once compared to Nick Drake, a comparison that I can effortlessly connect. In terms of songwriting, he is male and he falls out of category for both his lyrics and his music.

Jeff came in 2001 for the first time out, CD-by-least. "Sunshine City Tree" included a strange collection of songs for that time. Nick Drake meets Jimmy Page (acoustic side of the Page), so could you summarize. A plate previously under the title singer / songwriter falls. "June Generation" in 2004 builds largely on the same pattern continued and is still in the realms of acoustic Led Zeppelin and the Allman Brothers Band.

After a series of concerts as opener for city rivals, Jeff is from Duluth, Minnesota, Chris Smither, he goes on a reorientation is the superb "Last Great Winter". His fingerpicking and bottleneck playing style have a very high degree of perfection and precision obtained. Leo Kottke and Bob Brozman are never far away and without hesitation he can get a place in the list of great sliders. This album is very blues oriented but remains open to "world" influences. All songs were written by Jeff, except "Can not Lose What You Is not Never Had" by Muddy Waters McKinley Morganfield.

And now "Mara Blue" was released, the provisional crown on his work. The base is footstompin delta blues like the opener "Confusion", but Indian influences are abundant in "Dead Rising" where he Ravi Shankar's sitar sound on calls to a national resophonic. Oriental atmosphere that runs like a red thread on through the next trance blues song "Dead". Note how Jeff's title and cover design choice excellent fit to the time of the year, All Souls.

He is assisted on this album by friends and soul mates Nick Salisbury, Mikkel Beckmen and Harold Tremblay which he toured under the name Jeff Ray and the Stakes. This is a loose-solid outfit that is sometimes supplemented by other musicians, who also contribute to this CD, depending on their availability or the needs of the gig in question.

"Blue Mara" is a treasure that wonderful and soothing music sets. And that makes you irresistible to grab your guitar, if you play a guitar and some skill to have at least house. Jeff Ray! Another great artist that we should not lose sight. How should we nonetheless remain strongholds? The offer is great, right? But that's us not complain about, see.
Until the next Kiene disc!

The musicians on this album are:

Jeff Ray on resonator slide-guitar, acoustic guitar, banjo and vocals
Nick Salisbury on bass guitar
Mikkel Beckmen on washboard
Harold Tremblay on harmonica 
Brianna Lane on harmony vocals
Timmy Z on percussion
Monica Digre on 'cello
Chris Becknell on fiddle
Chris Hepola on percussion

-by witteMVS of www.Rootsville.be (11/04/2009)


DUTCH VERSION:
Jeff Ray’s vierde album is inderdaad een must voor eenieder die een boontje heeft voor akoestische, semi-akoestische en resonator slide gitaar in ’t bijzonder. Maar ook vocaal komt hij bijzonder fraai uit de hoek en wordt meer dan eens vergeleken met Nick Drake, een vergelijking waar ik mij moeiteloos bij kan aansluiten. Ook wat songschrijven betreft, staat hij zijn mannetje en valt hij buiten categorie voor zowel zijn teksten als zijn muziek.

Jeff kwam in 2001 voor het eerst naar buiten, CD-gewijze tenminste. “Sunshine City Tree” bevatte een voor die tijd eigenaardige collectie songs. Nick Drake meets Jimmy Page (de akoestische kant van Page), zo zou je het kunnen samenvatten. Een plaat die eerder onder de noemer singer/songwriter valt. “June Generation” van 2004 borduurt in grote lijnen op hetzelfde stramien verder en hangt nog steeds in de sferen van de akoestische Led Zeppelin en Allman Brothers band.

Na een reeks concerten als opener voor stadsgenoot, Jeff is afkomstig van Duluth, Minnesota, Chris Smither, gaat hij het over een andere boeg gooien en maakt het schitterende “Last Great Winter”. Zijn fingerpicking style en bottleneck playing hebben een zeer hoge graad van perfectie en nauwkeurigheid gekregen. Leo Kottke en Bob Brozman zijn nooit ver weg en hij kan zonder schroom een plaatsje krijgen in het rijtje der grote sliders. Deze plaat is zeer blues gericht, maar blijft openstaan voor “world” invloeden. Alle nummers werden door Jeff geschreven, behalve “Can’t Lose What You Ain’t Never Had” van Muddy McKinley Morganfield Waters.

En nu wordt “Blue Mara” gereleased, de voorlopige kroon op zijn werk. De basis is footstompin’ delta blues zoals in de opener “Confusion”, maar Indische invloeden zijn overdadig in “Dead Rising” waar hij Ravi Shankar’s sitargeluid overdoet op een national resophonic. Die oosterse sfeer loopt als een rode draad verder door het volgende trance blues nummer “Dead”. Let hoe Jeff’s titelkeuze en hoestekening uitstekend passen bij de tijd van het jaar, Allerzielen.

Hij wordt op dit album bijgestaan door vrienden en zielsverwanten Nick Salisbury, Mikkel Beckmen en Harold Tremblay waarmee hij toert onder de naam Jeff Ray and the Stakes. Dit is een los-vaste outfit die soms wordt aangevuld door andere muzikanten, die ook aan deze CD meewerken, al naar gelang hun beschikbaarheid of de noden van de gig in kwestie.

“Blue Mara” is een kleinood dat wonderbaarlijke en rustgevende muziek bevat. En dat je onweerstaanbaar naar je gitaar doet grijpen, als je een gitaar en enige speelvaardigheid in huis hebt tenminste. Jeff Ray !! Weer een schitterende artiest die we niet uit het oog mogen verliezen. Hoe moeten we dat toch blijven bolwerken ? Het aanbod wordt groot, niet ? Maar daar gaan we nu eens niet over klagen, zie.
Tot het volgende kiene schijfje ! 

De muzikanten op dit album zijn :

Jeff Ray on resonator slide-guitar, acoustic guitar, banjo and vocals
Nick Salisbury on bass guitar
Mikkel Beckmen on washboard
Harold Tremblay on harmonica 
Brianna Lane on harmony vocals
Timmy Z on percussion
Monica Digre on 'cello
Chris Becknell on fiddle
Chris Hepola on percussion

-witteMVS (www.rootsville.be)

St. Paul based songwriter and slide-guitarist Jeff Ray will be performing in Duluth on Friday Oct. 23 at Beaners Central to support the release of his fourth CD, 'Blue Mara', a hard-driving acoustic roots and blues CD that has already received critical acclaim from the Minnesota music community.

'Blue Mara' is a follow-up to Ray's 2007 release, 'Last Great Winter', a CD that defined ‘the clarity and precision of Ray’s bottleneck playing’ as being ‘so well-honed and [having] such an alluringly liquid quality that it puts him in a league with the best on the planet’ (Duluth News Tribune). This time around, 'Blue Mara' takes Ray’s resonator slide-guitar to a dark playground of early 60’s Chicago-blues and 1920’s pre-war blues and melds the two with the pervasive rhythms of appalachia and the intriguing nature of east-Indian melodies.

The album was recorded on an 8-track reel-to-reel in Jeff Ray’s living room and at Owl Recording in Minneapolis by Paul Flynn. The relaxed recording method and lo-fi quality of the CD gives the music the feel of an old Chess Studios recording. At Beaners Central, Ray will be joined by Nick Salisbury (Mick Sterling, GB Leighton) on bass guitar and Mikkel Beckmen (Charlie Parr) on washboard, both are featured musicians on the new CD.  Nick Salisbury has a reputation as one the states busiest bass players and Mikkel Beckmen has made the rounds for many years with Duluth's own Charlie Parr.

The music starts at 8pm on Friday 10/23/2009 at Beaners Central (324 N. Central Ave., Duluth, MN 55807, 218-724-7129).  Music samples are available at www.jeffraymusic.com

Two musical styles in one

By: DAVID HENKE, Staff Writer
Posted: Friday, October 2, 2009

On Friday, Oct. 9, blues guitarist Jeff Ray will perform a CD release show at the Tavern Lounge. Ray’s fourth album, “Blue Mara,” came out earlier in September. The album blends Memphis blues with Indian music. Thousands of miles may separate Indian music from the Memphis blues, but slide guitarist Jeff Ray has found a way to blend the two.

On the St. Paul musician’s new album, released earlier in September, the Memphis blues tradition collides with Buddhist mysticism and East Indian music. The extraordinary blend of cultures and music is even evoked by the title of the album, “Blue Mara” — a “mara” is the embodiment of temptation and a personification of evil in Buddhist cosmology, while “blue” is a tip of the hat to blues music.

On Friday, the blues musician and slide guitarist will perform a CD release show at the Tavern Lounge to promote the album, recorded in Ray’s kitchen on vintage 8-track reel-to-reel recorder.

The combination of music on the album has been more than 10 years in the making for Ray, whose sense of melody and clean intonation make Ray “a gem worth seeking out,” according to the Duluth News Tribune.

As an undergraduate at the University of Memphis, 32-year-old Ray delved deep into the Memphis blues and jam music scene. There, he spent days playing with his friends on Beale Street, a blues-music mecca immortalized by blues pioneer and composer W.C. Handy.

After three years of steeping in the Memphis blues tradition, Ray moved to Wisconsin to pursue pharmacology at the University of Wisconsin, Madison, where he began exploring world music, including Indian music traditions. He also spent time studying Buddhist theology and meditating.

His investigation of the blues and Indian music allowed Ray to draw a number of connections between two very disparate musical traditions. Both the blues and Indian music frequently use multiple note scales and major-to-minor key changes, Ray said. Another link holding the two together, Ray said, is his own skill as a slide guitarist.

Slide guitar is a method of guitar playing where guitarists use a metal glass “slide” on their fingers. The expressive, almost vocal sound it produces is at times similar to Indian instruments, including the rudra veena.

For Ray, the pairing of the two musical styles seemed natural.

“[The combination] works out surprisingly well,” Ray said. “Every culture has it’s own blues music, it’s just that it sounds different.”

Slide guitarist slips into new CD
9/17/2009

By Christina Killion Valdez
Post-Bulletin, Rochester MN

Using an 8-track reel-to-reel recorder set up in his living room, slide guitarist Jeff Ray captured just the right sound for his latest acoustic roots and blues CD. That sound being inspired by the old Chess Studios recordings of Muddy Waters, Little Walter, Howlin' Wolf, Sonny Boy Williamson and Willie Dixon that defined Chicago blues.

At least that's the base of Ray's fourth CD, "Blue Mara," released Sept. 15 on Peace Stream Records. From there Ray, who grew up in Rochester and graduated from John Marshall High School in 1995 before traveling to Memphis, Madison and the Twin Cities, melds his resonator slide-guitar and foot-stompin' style with some 1920's pre-war blues, Appalachia rhythms and east-Indian melodies. The mixture of musical styles has been called "international roots music" or more aptly, within the Midwest's roots music community, "headwater blues."

"Blue Mara" contains 11 original tracks, written by Ray while touring for his critically acclaimed 2007 CD release "Last Great Winter," and a cover of Muddy Waters'"Can't Lose What You Ain't Never Had."

A slate of musicians are also featured on the CD, including Nick Salisbury on bass guitar, Mikkel Beckmen on washboard, Harold Tremblay on harmonica, Brianna Lane on harmony vocals, Chris Becknellon fiddle, Chris Hepola on percussion, Monica Digre on cello and Tim Zhorne on percussion.

Additional recording was done at Owl Recording in Minneapolis by Paul Flynn.

St. Paul based songwriter and slide-guitarist Jeff Ray will be performing in Northfield on Friday Oct. 9 at the Tavern Lounge to support the release of his fourth CD, 'Blue Mara', a hard-driving acoustic roots and blues CD that has already received critical acclaim from the Minnesota music community.  The CD was officially released on Sept 15, 2009.

'Blue Mara' is a follow-up to Ray's 2007 release, 'Last Great Winter', a CD that defined ‘the clarity and precision of Ray’s bottleneck playing’ as being ‘so well-honed and [having] such an alluringly liquid quality that it puts him in a league with the best on the planet’ (Duluth News Tribune). This time around, 'Blue Mara' takes Ray’s resonator slide-guitar to a dark playground of early 60’s Chicago-blues and 1920’s pre-war blues and melds the two with the pervasive rhythms of appalachia and the
intriguing nature of east-Indian melodies.

The album was recorded on an 8-track reel-to-reel in Jeff Ray’s living room and at Owl Recording in Minneapolis by Paul Flynn. The relaxed recording method and lo-fi quality of the CD gives the music the feel of an old Chess Studios recording. At the Tavern Lounge, Ray will be joined by Nick Salisbury on bass guitar who is also featured on the new CD.  Nick Salisbury has a reputation as one the states busiest bass players, working alongside Mick Sterling and G.B. Leighton for many years.

Opening the show will be acoustic duo Jame Curry, performing acoustic dust bowl ballads and electric folk and blues.  The music starts at 7pm on Friday 10/9/2009 at the Tavern Lounge (212 Division St., Northfield, MN 55057, 507-663-0342).  Music samples are more are available at www.jeffraymusic.com

ROCHESTER CD RELEASE ON SAT 9/19:

Saturday 9/19/2009, music starts @ 8:30pm
Canadian Honker
1203 SW 2nd St
Rochester, MN 55902-1941
507-282-6572
http://www.canadianhonker.com/

Nick Salisbury will be joining me on bass guitar.  Nick is well known in musical circles around the state for his experience playing with many MN legends including Mick Sterling and GB Leighton, and many more.  I've been looking forward to this evening because Nick will be performing with me and played on the ENTIRE new CD 'Blue Mara' - he was a big influence on the sound of the CD.


TWIN CITIES CD RELEASE ON SUN 9/20:

Sunday 9/20/2009, music starts @ 9pm
Turf Club
1601 University Avenue
Saint Paul, MN 55104
http://www.turfclub.net/
$3 cover

The full-band that plays on the new CD 'Blue Mara' will be performing!  That includes:
Mikkel Beckmen on washboard (The Brass Kings / Charlie Parr)
Nick Salisbury on bass (Mick Sterling, GB Leighton)
Chris Becknell on fiddle (The Poor Nobody's)
Chris Hepola on drums (The Poor Nobody's)
Eliza Blue singing Brianna Lane's harmony vocal parts
... and many many more!


CDs will be available at both shows for only $10.  There will also be t-shirts for sale, with the very cool CD artwork on them, for only $15 - or $10 with a CD purchase.  (that's only $20 for a CD and a t-shirt)

You can hear samples of the new CD 'Blue Mara' at:
www.myspace.com/jeffraymusic

See you there!

After many long hours, long nights, and long weekends, I'm finally pleased to announce the release of my fourth CD 'Blue Mara'!



I can't explain how proud I am of the final result... the CD was recorded analog on a 8-track reel-to-reel with the help of Paul Flynn at Owl Recording in Minneapolis, using some of the best retro equipment in the music industry.  The CD literally sounds like an old recording that you would hear from Chess studios in Chicago during the early 1960's (a la Little Walter, Etta James, Chuck Berry, Muddy Waters, etc).

The early feedback from critics has been overwhelmingly positive and I can't wait for you to hear it for yourself.  The new CD is much more fast-paced and upbeat than the last CD (Last Great Winter), yet the songs are much darker and quite intense.  The style of the songs meander from Delta Blues with Appalachian rhythms, to tender love songs and flirts with East-Indian melodies.

The guest musicians on the album are really what made the songs come alive... they include some of the best in the industry:
Nick Salisbury on bass guitar (Mick Sterling / GB Leighton)
Mikkel Beckmen on washboard (The Brass Kings / Charlie Parr)
Brianna Lane on harmony vocals (www.briannalanemusic.com)
Monica Digre on 'cello
Tim Zhorne on percussion
Chris Hepola on percussion (The Poor Nobody's)
Chris Becknell on fiddle (The Poor Nobody's)

You can hear samples of the new CD at:
http://www.myspace.com/jeffraymusic

Soon you will be able to order the CD online from CDbaby, but RIGHT NOW you can order the CD directly from me for $15 (that includes shipping, handling and taxes - U.S./Canada locations only)... just send an email to JEFF@JEFFRAYMUSIC.COM with your address and I'll get one in the mail to you ASAP, and you can either mail me a check or pay via paypal.

You can also purchase a MP3 download of the full album directly from me (no 'middle man') for $9... cheaper than iTunes!  Just send an email to JEFF@JEFFRAYMUSIC.COM and I'll send you a web address and download code.

Over the next few weeks I will be touring around Minnesota to perform the songs from the new CD with the various guest musicians from the recording.  These shows will be one-of-a-kind performances, CDs will be on sale for only $10, and t-shirts will be available for $15 (or $10 with a CD purchase).  I sure hope you can stop by to share an evening with us!

UPCOMING CD RELEASE SHOWS:
Friday 9/11/2009 @ Sugar Room, 200 E Walnut St, Mankato, MN, 9pm
Saturday 9/19/2009 @ Canadian Honker, 1203 SW 2nd St, Rochester, MN, 8:30pm
Sunday 9/20/2009 @ Turf Club, 1601 University Avenue, Saint Paul, MN, 9pm
Friday 10/9/2009 @ Tavern Lounge, 212 Division St., Northfield, MN, 8pm
Wednesday 10/21/2009 @ 331 Club, 331 NE 13th Ave, Minneapolis, MN, 7pm
Friday 10/23/2009 @ Beaner's Central, 324 N. Central Ave., Duluth, MN, 8pm

See you soon!  -jeff

Thursday 6/4/2009    Washington Square Bar and Grill
4736 Washington Square
White Bear Lake, MN 55110
651-407-7162
http://wbsquare.googlepages.com    8pm-12am
w/Harold Tremblay (harp), Mikkel Beckmen (washboard), Nick Salisbury (bass)

Saturday 6/6/2009    The Break Room
1635 Hwy 52 North
Rochester, MN 55901
507-289-2426
http://www.thebreakroomrochester.com/    6:30pm-9:30pm
Jeff Ray accompanying Joe and Jess Carey for Joe Carey's CD Release of "Sunflower Soul"

Sunday 6/7/2009    Floyd's
1758 Arboretum Boulevard
Victoria, MN 55386
952-443-9944
http://www.floydsbar.com/FB/index.html    7pm-11pm
with Harold Tremblay (harp)

Wednesday 6/17/2009    Eagle Street Grille
174 W. 7th St.
Saint Paul, MN 55102
651-225-1111
http://www.eaglestreetgrille.net    8pm-9pm
MNaked Showcase, outside on the patio!

Thursday 6/18/2009    Dunn Bros. Coffee
1569 Grand Ave
Saint Paul, MN 55105-2229
651-489-5375
http://www.dunnbrosgrand.com    8:30pm-10:30pm

Saturday 6/20/2009    331 Club
331 NE 13th Ave
Minneapolis, MN 55418
612-331-1746
www.331club.com    9pm-12am
The Sons 'Em Bitches, Jeff Ray (slide-guitar), Mikkel Beckmen (washboard), Eliza Blue (fiddle), special guests TBA.

Saturday 6/27/2009    Cedar Cultural Center
416 Cedar Ave.
Minneapolis, MN 55454
612-338-2674
http://www.thecedar.org/    8pm-11pm
Benefit show! Jeff Ray accompanying Jistoray on electric slide-guitar. Charlie Parr and Dave Simmonet also performing.

Sunday 6/28/2009    Zeitgeist Theatre
275 East 4th St, Ste. 100
St. Paul, MN 55101
651-224-4549
http://www.stpaulguitarstudio.com    -
"The Art of Solo Guitar" St. Paul Guitar Studio guitar clinic open to the public, $20 admission. Special guests include Jeff Ray, Ben Woolman, Zeb Cruikshank, Michael Ziegahn and world champion finger-style guitarist Tim Sparks!