Ray Charles’ 85th Birthday Celebration

Ray Charles' 85th Birthday Celebration with Jeremy Sassoon's 'Ray Charles Project'

Join us at The Jazz Cafe this September as we celebrate what would have been the 85th birthday of ‘The Genius’ Ray Charles.

Ray Charles virtually invented soul music by bringing together the fervour of gospel, the

secular lyrics and narratives of blues and country, the big-band arrangements of jazz, and the rhythms and improvisational possibilities from all of them. His music was both sophisticated and spontaneous, and over the course of his 50-year career, Charles penned dozens of classic R&B and rock numbers.

Jeremy Sassoon’s Ray Charles Project reenvisions ‘The Genius’ with a set that include Ray

Charles classics (Georgia on my Mind, What I’d Say, I Gotta Woman, Hallelujah I Love Her So)

and some lesser known, but equally compelling musical gems from the catalogue (The

Jealous Kind, I Don’t Need No Doctor, Hardhearted Hannah,)

The Ray Charles Project showcases the UK’s finest jazz blues and soul musicians, featuring a stunning 4-piece brass section and 3 backing vocalists, the Jaelettes. All arrangements are courtesy of tenor saxophonist/MD Iain Dixon (BBC Big Band, Michael Brecker, Bryan Ferry).

Reviews:

“…an exceptional alliance of art and entertainment that would bring joy to audiences at any

club, festival or party”

Manchester Jazz Festival

“Such an atmosphere made the sold-out crowd applaud wildly for each tune and soak up the

infectious feel-good vibe”.

London Jazz News

Links:

http://www.jeremysassoon.com/theraycharlesproject.html