Ray Garraway

[AlexW]

Hi I was wondering if anyone knows of a Vancouver jazz/fusion drummer named Ray Garraway and how I could contact him. I'm a music student in Edmonton and am interested in taking lessons with him. Thanks for the help!

-Alex

[chandra]

Alex,
I do know Ray actually. He's kind of hard to track down. I know he didn't used to have a phone but it's been a year since I used to live in the basement suite below him so who knows. I have to say, that man practices A LOT! *l* I could probably still get ahold of him for you if you have no luck elsewhere. Email me for more info.

Chandra
(avalon_events@hotmail.com)

[AlexW]

Hi Chandra!!! Thanks SO much for replying. I was beginning to think that Ray just vanished off the face of the earth. I'll just give you some background history on myself and why I want to contact Ray.


He graduated from Grant MacEwan College here in Edmonton Alberta a LONG time ago and since has been basically a legend. At the end of the 2 year program here, you have to play a final recital which is open to the public (like a concert). The staff here has kept Ray's video of his final recital and when I saw it I was amazed. He is incredible! I heard that after he left here, he went to the Percussion Institute in Hollywood. Anyway, the fact that you know him (or who he is) helps me out GREATLY. Because I really want to start contacting him so I can study with him. Any info that you have about him or how i can contact him would really help me out!


Thanks a lot Chandra!


-Alex W.

P.S I tried to email you but apparently it didn't work... my address is alexxx@telusplanet.net

[This message has been edited by Brian Nation (edited February 14, 2002).]

[John Korsrud]

He hangs out almost every night at Bukowski's on Commercial Drive. If he's not there the staff will know how to get him. He gigs there about once week too.
jk

[AlexW]

Thanks a lot jk!! I was wondering if you could please post up a phone# or email address for that place. I live in Edmonton, Alberta but I really want to phone/email and contact him! I bet Ray rips up the place when he plays huh?

Cheers,
AlexW

[AlexW]

Oops.. shoulda' looked around. Thanks Brian.

-Alex

[John Korsrud]

They have jazz on Mondays and Thursdays. Usually trios. The crowd loves it. People like Bruno, Zachernuk, Mike Kenny, Ray G., the Cap-ite crowd play there often. And they have poetry slams on Tuesdays which are very popular. They were talking of adding jazz on Saturdays also so maybe that's happening too.
jk

[Mel]

Alex! I heard Ray play at Bukowski's a while back and, YES, he RIPS IT!

[Allan Johnston]

JK - when you comin' HOME, Bro? Are you writing us from some internet coffee shop over there? Try not to get your ashes on the keyboard... ;-)

Al

[John Korsrud]

I've fallen down and I can't get up.
Actually things go very well here. I'm writing tons of music (finished two pieces including one for orchestra), taking lessons and going to about three of four concerts a week. And even though these are mostly "new music" concerts, there are big, very attentive crowds. Very strange. I subbed in a big band his morning that I helped form in '97. They still play lots of my old HRO compositions and this band plays alot, so Amsterdamers know my name from this band. Very strange. It is an extremely arts oriented society here. There are at least 4 or 5 orchestras, about 12 full-time new music ensembles, about 40-50 full-time composers, lots of big bands, a couple of underground "1067" type spaces. The young musicians (from the conservatories) play bebop, the older musicians are more experimental and touring alot around Europe. The Bimhuis is the main jazz club. They are subsidized (which means you get paid about $300 per) and they bring in lots of international groups. Audiences just love thier music and artists here, for instance if you are a working Dutch artist you get subsidized housing and other stuff. Very strange. But like all typical artists they complain there is no money and how difficult things are! Not so strange. If only they knew. More importantly I follow the Canucks from a newsgroup and can listen to games and watch highlights over the internet. I'm back in April.
jk