DECEMBER 4, 2016 (BELLVIEW, IOWA) -- New York saxophonist Ray Blue and Dick Watson of Iowa City have been performing together for more than twenty years in Duo, Trio and Quartet formations. They will be performing together again on Sunday, December 4th as the Ray Blue / Dick Watson Duo at the Flatted Fifth Blues and BBQ, Potter’s Mill, 300 Potter’s Drive in Bellvue, Iowa from 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. They will be presenting popular jazz standards and songs from the great American song book. This performance is a rare opportunity to hear these two master musicians as they reunite in an intimate setting as a duo.
Ray Blue’s music can be described as a fusion of straight ahead jazz, Blues and warm melodic storytelling. Ray is a New York bred saxophonist and composer, who performs and conducts workshops and master classes internationally. He is a graduate of Wm. Penn University (Distinguished Career Award / 2010) and the University of Iowa. He is also an inductee to the New York Blues Hall of Fame/ 2013 as a Master Blues and Jazz Artist.
Over the years this award winning New York based saxophonist has shared the stage and studio as leader and sideman with John Gilmore, Dr. Art Davis, Benny Powell, Kirk Lightsey, Bernard Purdie, Steve Turre, Reuben Wilson, Danny Mixon, Wycliff Gordon, Eddie Henderson, Charles Davis, Wayne Dockery, Clifford Adams, John Patton, Ted Curson, Joe Lee Wilson, John Betsch, Calvin Hill, Michael Cochrane, The Sun Ra Arkestra, Cotton Club All Stars, Harlem Blues and Jazz Band and many others.
Dick Watson grew up in Indianola, Iowa. He began studying classical piano at age 8 and at age 13 he added jazz instruction. Dick attended Park College in Parkville, Missouri and the University of Iowa where he graduated. Dick has played most of the last 25 years with his trio performing in clubs, concerts and local festivals. His festival performances include the Bix Festival in Davenport and the Cedar Basin Festival in Cedar Falls, Iowa. Dick has played with Al Jarreau, David Sanborn, Boots Randolph, Roy Clark, Al Hirt, Smokey Stover, Rusty Jones, Bill Allred, Pee Wee Matese, J. R. Monterose, Ira Sullivan and Dave Bennett among others.
For further information, contact Ray Blue at (646) 319-8008.
