Celebrate the rich musical legacy of Harlem with renowned NYC pianist Ray Gallon in support of the release his new trio album with legendary bassist Ron Carter and drum master Lewis Nash, “Grand Company”, available November 17 on Cellar Music. “Drop Me Off in Harlem”, the opening track on the album, is Ray’s arrangement of this classic Duke Ellington song, composed in 1933 during the Harlem Renaissance, soon after Ellington concluded his long residency as musical director of the famed Cotton Club. He will appear in Victoria with bass virtuoso Ken Lister, and multi-instrumental sensation John Lee on drums.

Harlem has played a huge role in Ray’s life and career. Aside from playing countless gigs at many leading Harlem venues, Ray is a long-standing full-time faculty member of the Jazz Studies program at The City College of NY, located in the heart of Harlem.

Rooted in bebop and blues, Ray’s expressive, swinging playing, as well as his distinctive compositions, meld old and new into a fresh, original style.

A mainstay of the NYC jazz scene for over three decades. Ray has played with a long list of jazz luminaries, including Lionel Hampton, Dizzy Gillespie, Art Farmer, Les Paul, Milt Jackson, Joe Williams, and Jon Hendricks, including performances at major international jazz festivals around the world, the Kennedy Center and the White House. Ray’s 2021 album “Make Your Move”, featuring bassist David Wong and drummer Kenny Washington, was critically acclaimed for bringing a refreshing new trio sound to mainstream jazz.