Ray Butcher Band

Trumpeter, pianist and composer Ray started playing the cornet at age eight, later moving to the trumpet. He studied classical trumpet at Peter Symonds college, Winchester, but became disillusioned and took up the piano. At Kingston University he made a living on the side as a cocktail pianist (having listened to Liberace!), culminating in dates at 'Stringfellows' nightclub, where he walked in and asked, as was his custom, 'do you need a pianist?'. Having left Kingston he moved back into jazz trumpet and joined the NYJO, and later spent a season on cruise ships.

Moving to Birmingham he played the trumpet in 'King Pleasure and the Biscuit Boys', but this ended in acrimony and he decided take a year away from music. Eventually he joined local players at the Medicine Bar, which led to an association with Venezuelan piano star Edgar Marcias. He has gigged around Birmingham ever since, and most notably has been invited to perform regularly with top pianist Tim Amann and the Xtet. The band features Miles Levin on drums, Tim Amman on piano and Sam Rogers on saxes, and Mike Green on Bass.