The Bird & Beckett Cultural Legacy Project in association with Jazz in the Neighborhood presents:

Ray Skjelbred, piano
Clint Baker, trumpet
Riley Baker, drums

A sublime stroll through the history of early jazz and the stride era.

Many have had good things to say about Ray:

He plays so good it scares me. – Jess Stacy

Tremendous ability and imagination – Turk Murphy

Ray’s playing is the ultimate illustration of jazz as the “sound of surprise.'” – Hal Smith

No money can pay your true value – Barbara Dane

What an honor, Ray! I listen to this cd (Pass the Jug) so often and it gets better each time. How could it go wrong with the genius of Ray Skjelbred.- Ida Melrose, daughter of “Kansas City” Frank Melrose

…the nearest to Art Hodes I’ve ever heard. – John G. Featherstone (Storyville Magazine)

In Ray Skjelbred we have another two-handed pianist whose inspirational melodic vision is partnered by a driving left-hand that needs no bass or drums to prop it up. – Clarrie Henley (Jersey Jazz)

You are really a great musician and authentic jazzman. – John Simmen, Swiss jazz critic.

I really appreciate the depth and soul of your playing. – Bill Carter

Like any good Chicagoan he always plays hard for right now… – Richard Hadlock

The sheer range of Skjelbred’s mastery is impressive, but his application of jazz taste and historic awareness (in context of the styles) is equally dazzling. – William J. Schaefer (Pass the Jug review, Mississippi Rag)

 

Our presentation of The Ray Skjelbred Trio is a Guaranteed Fair Wage Fund event, where each musician will receive a $150 guarantee for their work. The Guaranteed Fair Wage Fund is a project of Jazz in the Neighborhood, established with the aim of raising gigging musicians’ wage standards so they can afford to stay in this very expensive city and region.

$20 cover charge. Sliding scale available to musicians, students and the like.