My musical passion lies mainly in deep rhythms and music with contrast and richness.
For several years I found this beauty through folklore music of Venezuela and Brazil and
Latin Jazz. I've branched out quite a bit and currently perform in an array of bands and styles
that I all love.
When I'm playing South American music it is usually Brazilian choro, samba, bossa, and
Venezuelan folklore styles of joropo, merengue, parranda and others.
I play a mix of string instruments including
fingerstyle guitar, mandolin, octave mandolin, Venezuelan cuatro and bandola Llanera.
One of my passions is to write new guitar arrangements
to traditional folklore music, and to experiment with mixing
traditional Brazilian and Venezuelan rhythms with modern
danceable grooves. I hope that my spin
on these styles is an enjoyable and interesting new perspective.
"David [has a] well-studied mastery
of South American musical territory... a romantic's ear for melody...
with aggressive and passionate picking."
--
Monterey Coast Weekly
"David Ray is an exciting, thoughtful player
who brings great craft and insight to his music... He immediately steps
into the foremost ranks of jazz and Latin-based mandolinists."
--
Mandolin Magazine
"Many people have recorded my song 'Misturada' throughout the last thirty
years, but I am happy to tell you that your recording is one of the most
unique and 'happening' that I have heard. Your entire CD is a pleasure to listen
to. Flora and I have been enjoying everything, specially the chorinhos."
--
Airto Moreira
Current Projects
Solo guitar: Venezuelan folklore. A project growing for the last few years,
I'm planning a recording and series of shows with a great
group of musicians, playing rich instrumental arrangements of Venezuelan folklore and other
South American music.
I've been performing regularly with singer-songwriter Shimshai
in the West Coast and in Hawaii.
I also perform with Cuyuy, a South American band playing folk music
from the Andes, mixed with some boleros. This is a Sonoma County based band
composed of musicians that have been friends for several years. Each is from a different
South American country and their reportiore covers nearly the whole continent.
