BIO

As a musician versed in many musical styles and cultures, Ray Ippolito continues to experience a most incredible life as a performer, educator, producer, arranger, music director, composer in the US as well as Japan, Brazil, Nepal, Venezuela, India, and Canada.

Ray has performed and/or recorded with such well renowned artists as:

· 10,000 Maniacs · Al MacDowell (Ornette Coleman, Public Enemy) · Alan Parsons Live Project Band · Alex Grey · Angelique Kidjo · Annada Prasanna Pattanaik (Butto) · Arif Sag · Arnie Lawrence (Dizzy Gillespie, Charles Mingus, Blood Sweat and Tears) · Atilla Engin · Azouhouni Adou · Baba Maal · Baba Olatunji · Bettye LaVette · Blues Traveler · Brian McKnight · Charlie Burnham · Charlie Musslewhite · Cheb i Sabbah · Chuck Rainey · Col Bruce Hampton · Daniel Pearl · Daniel Pinchbeck · Dave Drewitz (Ween) · Dave Eggar · David Blaine (yup) · David Newman · Didi Gutman (Brazilian Girls) · Donna Delory · Dr. John · Eddie Henderson · Eumir Deodato · Frank Colon (Pat Metheny/Weather Report) · Future man · Gilad (Al DiMeola, Olodum) · Gaura Vani · Godfrey Townsend · Graham Haynes · Gregoire Marret · Ilhan Ershain (Wax Poetic) · Jai Uttal · Jason Corsaro · Jeff Coffin(Bela Fleck and the Flecktones) · Jim Belushi · John Avila(Oingo Boingo) · John Kruth · Jerry Marotta · Jonathan Marin (Groove Collective) · Kizumba of Bahia · Krisna Das · Los Lobos · MC Yogi · Mark Whitfield · Masood Ali Khan · Matt Moldover · the Mayapuris · Michael Franti · Mickey Hart and Bill Kreutzmann · Mike Gordon (Phish) · Modern English · Muzz Skillings (Living Colour) · Natalia Clavier (Thievery Corporations) · Oz Noy · Particle · Paul Caldwell / Sean Ivory · Radhanath Swami · Reed Mathis · Reggie Washington · Richie Havens · Sharon Gannon · Shiva Rea · Shyam Das · Seb Taylor · Stephen Perkins (Janes Addiciton) · Steve Gorn · Steve Kimock · Steve Reid · String Cheese Incident · The Mutaytor · The Spin Doctors · Tim LeFebre · Tony Scher · Van Romaine (Steve Morse/Dixie Dregs) · Vijay Iyer · Wah! · Walter Kronkite (yeah… really) · Will Champlin (Grammy award winner, the Voice) · Yungchen Lhamo

Some of the prestigious venues Ray has performed at are:

Carnegie Hall, Symphony Space, Lincoln Center, Madison Square Garden, BB King's, 2006 Jammy Awards, Grand Central Station Earth Day Festival,  Alex Grey's Chapel of Sacred Mirrors, the Capitol Theater, Telemundo (Latin TV music show), Asayan TV (Tokyo, Japan), Carnival with Kizumba, BURNINGMAN, Bhakti Fest, Turkish and Indian Earthquake Relief Concerts, Tibetan Benefit, North American Choral Group, Seeds of Peace (Israeli-Palestinian org) at St John the Divine's, committee member/workshop artist for the Bergen County Teen Arts Festival, Adjudicator for the North American Steel Band Competition, Music Director for the Turkish Embassy 2003, benefit for Voices in the Wilderness and many others.

Ray has recorded and produced music that has been featured in international dance festivals, Relix Magazine, several TV networks (A&E, Biography Channel, Discovery Channel, Travel Channel, Oprah and others), VH1's song of the year, and many others... 

Studying at such prestigious institutions as Berklee College of Music and Musicians Institute (Honors Degree), as well as private studies with Scott Henderson, Wayne Krantz, Harold Blanchard, Atilla Engin, Arnie Lawrence, Lionel Loueke and Vic Juris, has afforded Ray the deep knowledge of a formal education that has been the backbone of his music career.

Ray’s teaching experience spans private/ group lessons, master classes, festivals and industry clinics for Fishman, Gibson, Steinberger, Alesis, and Pearl, makes his connection to the music industry all the more vast. He boasts a LONG list of his students accomplishments such as Grammy winners, X-Factor winners, song/score for top feature films, international recording/performing stars, music school owners and much more.