Label: Expansion Records
Genre: Jazz
StoreDate: Jun-00-2009
Source: CDDA
Grabber: Exact Audio Copy (Secure Mode)
Encoding Scheme: Lame 3.97 V2 VBR Joint-Stereo
Size: 111,6 MB
Total Playing Time: 79:28
Release Notes:
Tracklisting
01. Ray's Strut 05:43
02. Crystal Clear 04:43
03. Butterfly 04:54
04. Lullabye 05:09
05. Naima 06:12
06. Ashes To Ashes 05:21
07. Never Say Die 04:18
08. I Want To Talk About God (Feat. Jocelyn Brown) 04:55
09. Down Home 05:29
10. New York State Of Mind 05:30
11. When I Fall In Love 04:59
12. Summertime 05:53
13. Shady Lane 04:10
14. We Had To Say Goodbye 03:21
15. Christmas Time 04:32
16. Shady Lane (Remixed) 04:19
Biography:
Multi talented Ray Gaskins came up in Baltimore, MD. His gifts include singing, and proficiency on both keyboards and the saxophone. He`s performed all over the world working with Roy Ayers, Stuff, Brand New Heavies, Phyllis Hyman, and Jocelyn Brown (the disco diva). Ray and Jocelyn are cousins, his sister, Barbara Gaskin sang with. Ecstacy, Pain & Passion. Barbara Gaskins still sings under the professional name of Barbara Roy. Ray moved from Baltimore to New York to play the clubs and take advantage of the many opportunities for studio work. He delighted crowds at Ronnie Scott`s in New York by playing the sax and piano simultaneously, a feat that never fails to get a crowd up out of their seats. A few years ago Ray moved to London, England to take advantage of a more appreciative market. Club work for an artist with few albums as a leader was slim in the States, but booking agents overseas have kept him quite busy. He`s purchased a house, and plans on staying in England for a while. His last album Shady Lane on Barracuda Records has done well in Europe, and is available in the States on Bean Bag Records. It features Ray and his touring group: Deal Earl (bass), Tony Smith (guitar), Marquis Gilmore (drums), and Clay Copas (keyboards). Cameo appearances by several guests augment the quintet. Tragedy hit Gaskins prior to moving to London, his first wife died young, and subsequently Ray went through many personal problems including drugs and gaining weight. However, that was the past, and his priorities are straight now. He`s back to lifting weights, working out, and writing the songs that one day will take him to the top.
