Ray Gelato

Radio 2 Nominated Jazz artist of the year

Paul McCartney chose Ray Gelato to perform at his wedding; Bryan Adams and Richard Branson requested him for their private parties. Her Majesty the Queen twice asked for Ray to perform for her and her guests. Even Robbie Williams requested Ray to open for him at his “Swing When You’re Winning” concert at the Royal Albert Hall. Ray Gelato is a maestro of swing and jazz, an entertainer and saxophone player of the first degree.

2004 was a bumper year for Ray Gelato. He signed a multi album major record company deal and released the acclaimed ‘Ray Gelato’ album described by Music Week Magazine as “A well made and brilliantly sung 15 track album”.  National TV appearances included performances on ITV’s This Morning, Top of the Pops 2, the Terry & Gaby Show, BBC News and Good Food Live where Ray demonstrated his talents as a chef.

Summer 2004 saw Ray and his powerful 7 piece band touring around the UK and Europe playing at all the major festivals in Spain, Germany, Greece, Switzerland and a ground breaking 7th successful 10 day residency at the Umbria Jazz Festival in Italy. The Times commented, “On the big stages of the summer’s outdoor festival circuit, the boundless energy of Ray Gelato makes the band one of the most popular in Europe” The Times.

Back in the UK, Ray and the band continued to expand their ever-growing fanbase. He was asked to perform at the 2004 BBC Proms in the Park in front of an excited audience of 40,000 in Hyde Park, London. The critics love him: “...arguably the only British jazz group with a proper stage show.” commented Jack Massarik of the The London Evening Standard and “…he invests his singing and sax playing with buckets of emotion…” noted David Cheal of the Daily Telegraph.

The rest of the 2004 has seen Ray and the guys continue to wow and win over audiences with shows around the UK and a United States East Coast tour. In October Ray performed at Ronnie Scott’s Club’s 45th anniversary concert at The Barbican in London.  In December 2004 will be the first show of a 3-week residency at the legendary jazz venue Ronnie Scott’s Club in London’s Soho.

2005 has seen Ray and the bands live activity continue to go from strength to strength. They headlined the first night of the Dubai International Jazz Festival . In March and April a UK tour of regional theatres culminated in a packed out show at The Bloomsbury Theatre in London.

In March news came through that Ray had been nominated for the BBC Radio 2 Jazz Artist of the Year.  Ray’s TV appearances continued at the end of April when he appeared on the hit BBC 1 show ‘Strictly Dance Fever’ .

Website: http://www.raygelato.com

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