Biography
Ray's Music Exchange is a Cincinnati-based jazz/funk ensemble whose lineup features Eli Hludzik on drums and percussion, Nick Blasky on bass, Joe McLean on guitar, Brad Myers on guitar, and Michael Mavridoglou on trumpet, flügelhorn, and percussion. Because every member writes original material, the group readily expands its performances into extended improvised jams. Beyond its own headline dates, the band has shared bills with John Scofield, Victor Wooten, Stanley Jordan, Béla Fleck & the Flecktones, Deep Banana Blackout, Oteil Burbridge, Mickey Hart and Planet Drum, Ekoostik Hookah, Fat Mama, Lake Trout, Ulu, Leftover Salmon, Umphrey's McGee, the Big Wu, Jazz Is Dead, and Jerry Garcia Band, and has also appeared at the High Sierra festival in 1999, the Berkshire festival in both 1999 and 2000, the Autumn Equinox festival in 2000, and the H.O.R.D.E. Music Festival in 1998. Its debut album, Alivexchange, arrived in 1999 and captured the Cincinnati Entertainment Award for Album of the Year that year as well as Best Jazz Group the following year; the follow-up, Turanga, was released in 2001. While Ray's Music Exchange remains the central project for its members, they simultaneously pursue outside work in Soma, NuPorno Nation, and Uncle JoeBob.
Albums
