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If you've seen the film "Ray," or caught the Ray Charles Orchestra any time in the past 20 years, chances are you've already heard Jeff Kaye. Now there's another way to check out his soulful, sassy trumpet playing: his debut CD, "Just Like Me". The disc places him among life-long friends, including pianist John Campbell and Charles' band-mates George Harper on tenor and Paul Kreibich on drums.
Living on the west coast since the 80's, Jeff is now part of the exciting and diverse musical community in Los Angeles, and has worked with jazz greats Lionel Hampton, The Clifford Jordon Big Band, Junior Cook, Diane Schuur, Bill Perkins, and Pete Christlieb.
Jeff was born in Chicago, and his first instrument was his father's instrument: the guitar. But a chance encounter with an old cornet set the stage for his musical career. His dad's record collection included healthy tastes of Dizzy Gillespie, Miles Davis and Count Basie and with a foundation like that there was little to hold him back. A prodigy through high school and a standout through his college years in Champaign, Illinois, Jeff wasn't long for the Midwest. After performing journeyman work in Chicago and various more exotic locales, he soon headed to New York City.
In 1984 Jeff joined the Ray Charles Orchestra, which was indeed a turning point. "It felt like the 'big time' - it was awesome going straight into the jazz chair that had once been Johnny Coles', which were some big shoes to fill, especially since his style was pretty strongly associated with Ray's sound." Jeff played regularly with Charles through 1992, gigged occasionally with the Genius of Soul during the next nine years, and was back with the band from 2001 until Charles became ill in 2003.
Recently, Jeff Kaye played on the soundtrack of the movie "Ray", and has performed with the Buddy Childers Big Band, Anthony Wilson, the orchestras of Bill Holman and Steve Huffsteter and the Jazz Coop.
For more info on Jeff or to buy his CD, please click below to go to his website.
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