RAY VEGA, a South Bronx native, is a veteran of the South Bronx bands of Tito Puente and Ray Barretto. Hector LaVoe. Luis “Perico” Ortiz, Luis “Perico” Ortiz, Johnny Pacheco. Louie Ramirez, Louie Ramirez, Louie Ramirez, Louie Ramirez, Louie Ramirez, Loue Ramirez, Louie Ramivar, Sandro De Las Americas, The Mingus Big Band, The Vanguard Jazz Orchestra, Bebo de la Orquesta Sinfonica De Simon Bolivar, Sema Sinfonica De Simon Bolivar, Sandro De Las Americas, La Orquesta Sinfonica de Simon Bolivar, Anda Sinfonica, La Orquesta Sinfonica, Sandro De Las Americas, and the Duke Ellington Orchestra, Bebo Valdez, Valdez, Celia Cruz, Loui, She, Ray has recorded and performed with Joe Henderson, Lionel Hampton, Mel Torme, Paquito d’Rivera, Arturo Sandoval, The Spanish Harlem Orchestra, Steve Turre, Israel Lopez “Cachao”, Las Leyendas De La Fania, Pete Escovedo, The Chico O’Farrill Afro-Cuban Jazz Orchestra, Jazz at Lincoln Center Afro Latin Jazz Orchestra, Paul Simon, John Santos and The Machete Ensemble, Jose Jose Cruz, The Vanguard Jazz Orchestra, The Vanguard Jazz Orchestra, Bebo Valdez, Celia Cruz, Celia Cruz, Bebo Valdez, The Vanguard Jazz Orchestra, The Vanguard Jazz Orchestra, Bebo Valdez, and Celia Cruz, Celia Cruz, Celia Cruz, Celia Cruz, and The Vanguard Jazz Orchestra, The Vanguard Jazz Orchestra, The Vanguard Jazz Orchestra, The Vanguard Jazz Orchestra, Bebo Valdez, Bebo Valdez, and The Duke Ellington Orchestra, The Vanguard Jazz Orchestra, and The Vanguard Jazz Orchestra, and The Vanguard Jazz Orchestra, and Celia Cruz, and Celia Cruz, and Celia Cruz, and Celia Cruz, Bebo Valdez and Celia Cruz, Celia Cruz, and Celia Cruz, and Celia Cruz, and Celia Cruz, and Celia Cruz, and Celia Cruz, and Celia Cruz, Celia Cruz, and Celia Cruz, Bebo Valdez and Celia Cruz, Celia Cruz, Celia Cruz, Celia Cruz, Celia Cruz, Celia Cruz, Celia Cruz, Celia Cruz, Cilia, Bebo Valdez, Celia Cruz, Celia Cruz, Celia Cruz, Celia Cruz, Celia Cruz, Celia Cruz, Celia Cruz, and Celia Cruz, Celia Cruz, Celia Cruz, Celia Cruz, Celia Cruz, Celia Cruz, Celia Cruz, and Bebo Valdez, Celia Cruz, Celia Cruz, Celia Cruz, Celia Cruz, Celia Cruz, Celia, Celia Cruz, Celia Cruz, Celia Cruz, Celia Cruz, Celia Cruz, Bebo Valdez, Celia Cruz, Celia Cruz, Celia Cruz, and Celia Cruz, Bebo Vald Ray is currently working with Osvaldo Galijov, a renowned Comtemporary classical composer. He plays the solo trumpet in “La Pasion Segun San Marco”, which has been critically acclaimed. Ray is now a leading innovator in the international Latin and Jazz music scenes. He is a multi-talented trumpeter and percussionist, composer, arranger and arranger. His unique and modern perspective on Jazz gives it a refreshing and new perspective. His self-titled debut, “Ray Vega”, as well as his first release on Palmetto’s Palmetto label, “Boperation”, have been well received by musicians, critics, and audiences alike. Critical acclaim has been given to Vega’s second Palmetto CD, “Squeeze, Squeeze”, which was also awarded Four Stars by Down Beat Magazine. Vega’s newest CD, “East-West Trumpet Summit”, is a collaboration between Thomas Marriott and Seattle trumpeter. Origin Records released the CD in summer 2010. It reached number one on the Jazzweek national jazz charts during the week ending June 21, 2010. Vega grew to be a part of the vibrant New York City music scene, including jazz and salsa. He learned about these musical styles from some of the greatest legends and also received formal training in trumpet playing with Sydney Baker, Henry Nowak. Stan Shafran, Laurie Frink. Richard Brezowski. Jerry Gonzalez. He studied Jazz harmony, improvisation and jazz harmony with Susan Winder and Bobby Rogovin. Luis Bauzo taught Vega Afro-Caribbean percussion. Vega is a graduate of The High School of Music and Art and attended The Long Island University Brooklyn Center. He is a highly sought-after musician and has recorded many CD’s with Mongo Santamaria’s Afro Cuban Jazz Orchestra (including their first ever European tour), Ray Barretto, and the New World Spirit. Vega had the privilege of recording three projects with this iconic group, including the Grammy-nominated “Taboo”, and “Contact”. Vega joined the Tito Puente Latin Jazz Orchestra in 1996 as the lead trumpeter. Vega recorded many recordings with Puente’s Orchestra, including the Grammy-winning “Mambo Birdland”, Dancemania ’99 and “Obra Maestra”. Ray is currently a senior lecturer in the University of Vermont. Ray also coaches 4 Jazz combos and teaches Jazz history and trumpet. Ray Vega is an educator and has been invited to teach master classes on trumpet performance, jazz improvisation techniques, brass performance techniques, and afro-caribbean music. Vega also has a busy teaching schedule and is involved in the development of his own bands. The Ray Vega Quintet, bebop and beyond; The Ray Vega Latin Jazz Quintet. (following in the steps of Mongo and Barretto). Vega has performed at The American Museum of Natural History, The Museum of Modern Art (both NYC), and the Indianapolis Museum of Art (five consecutive years). Vega and his band have been on two European tours, as well as the Blue Note Cafe in Beirut (Lebanon) Vega was sponsored by the American Embassy in Beirut for three concerts while he was in Lebanon. Vega’s August 2008 trip to Australia was a major highlight of his career. He recorded and performed the Australian premiere of the Miles Davis/Gil Evans classic, Sketches of Spain. Vega was back in Adelaide to perform “Porgy and Bess”, an arrangement by Gil Evans for Miles Davis’ recording of the same name. -from Origin-Records.com
