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FREE First Friday Concert feat. Hazy Ray, Raspa & Larynx
February 7, 2014 @ 8:00 pm - 11:00 pm
Grand Stafford Theater presents the Free First Friday Concert Series featuring:
HAZY RAY
The story of Hazy Ray started with the half jazz-half soul, alternative compositions of singer/songwriter Joshua Ray. Adding trombone phenom, Mike Hayes, to the mix not only yielded a name for the project, but also injected a strong blues element that was previously a rare occurrence in Ray’s music. The blues was a surprise to Ray much like Mike’s energetic and addictive stage presence. In April of 2011, Hayes and Ray were joined by adding “Flecktone”-inspired double-bassist, Mitch Curtis. This influence is undoubtedly the source of the unison line transitions and runs found in the band’s new tunes “Stay and Fight” and “My Song”. After adding Curtis, Hazy Ray began a rampage of 30 live performances in 40 days, which started in New Orleans, Louisiana and concluded by recording their first album, “Deep and Shallow”, at Wire Roads Studios in Houston, Texas. During that process, guitarist Ryan Noormohamed came in to the mix; laying down shredding solos on “Deep and Shallow” and “Rainy Day”. “It is rare that you meet a musician who wants to be part of a group project AND has no limits.” said Josh Ray of Ryan. At the conclusion of the recording process, drummer Saint John Wesley took a leave of absence and Houston native Willie McCullen would take his place. McCullen brings the perfect percussive match to Ray’s writing style with a seemingly unlimited bag of chops that will turn any drummer’s head. At the end of 2011, the band relocated to New Orleans and with them took Willie McCullen. Hazy Ray has begun its viral spread through Louisiana by landing on bills with singer/song-writer John Lefler of Dashboard Confessional, Everclear, and Grammy award winning Rapper/Actor Ludacris. After releasing “Deep and Shallow” in the spring of 2012, Hazy Ray continued to play regular live shows in Baton Rouge, New Orleans, Houston, and College Station. The 2012 summer revealed a need for expansion of the group’s operation, Alabama and Tennessee answered that call. Hazy Ray has now added Nashville to its list of regular cities and with two tours in line for 2013, Hazy Ray is excited to get out and play music to the masses.
Hazy Ray on Facebook | Hazy Ray on Twitter | Official Website
Raspa
After years of friendship, the members of Raspa finally decided to pool their musical talents and form a band. Originally just a guitar, some hand drums and a trombone, Raspa grew to what is now a band of eight. Through the musical stylings of artists like Bob Marley, Sublime, and Bob Schneider, Raspa fuses funk, hip-hop, reggae, and original lyrics to form their own authentic sound. The upbeat melodies and positive vibes are guaranteed to have you smiling while your body grooves to the music.
LARYNX
After humble beginnings in the small town of College Station, Texas the Band now known as “Larynx Music” began what they thought would be a slow and steady growing process. Playing their original music at various open mic nights, and other events in the college town home of Texas A&M University, Larynx’s music went viral and made it way across the map… On Monday August 20, 2012 Larynx Music recorded their first single “The One” along with “Circles” for their First EP ” Cosmic Love ” at ” New Fiction Studios” in Dallas, Texas with Producer Bryan David. This platform propelled their music off the ground like never before… Larynx Music seeks to inspire and to make the listener feel the pleading vocals, and thoughtful arrangements of every song. Their music will surely tap at you heart until you let them in.