The Ray Downey Music Library contains works composed and arranged between 1970 and 2014. Ranging in scope from duets, trios, and quintets to Orchestral, Big Band, and Choral compositions, many were recorded during live performances, including Ray’s senior composition recital at Western Washington University in 1981.
Two compositions, Struttin’ Around Downtown and Concerto for Jazzers and Orchestra, were commissioned by the Whatcom Symphony Orchestra and recorded live at the Mount Baker Theatre. Eleven works for brass ensemble, composed between 2004 and 2014, were written for the International Chamber Music Contest at Humboldt State University in California. Of these, Another Sweet for Brass Octet (2004) and Scenes from San Juan Island (2006) each received a third-place prize: Three Gnomes from Sonoma (2007) and Wind Dancers (2012) received honorable mentions. In 2011 Ray was awarded second prize for Woods in Winter, a composition for soprano voice and woodwind quartet, written for the Longfellow International Composers Competition in Portland, Maine. Muses of Chalumeau written in 2012 for Clarinet Septet, was performed in London, England by the London Concert of Winds.
We hope you enjoy the material in this great body of work (music and recordings) and continue to be enriched by Ray’s music legacy.
Read BiographyWhatcom Museum of History and Art
Bellingham WA (10-4-2012)
Ray Downey- Saxophone, also played on concert but not featured on recording, Karen Vincent- Viola and Ray Kamada- Cello
Dixieland Band
Sumas, WA
1991-2014
Dale Steele- Trumpet, Ray Downey- Saxophone, Phil Henderson- Trombone, Walt Germaine- Guitar, Jeff Brown- Piano, Mark Lindenbaum- Tuba, Bob Brown- Drums
Blues
Bellingham, WA
1984-1985
Ray Downey- Saxophone, Patrick McFarland- Guitar, Dick Powell- Keyboards, Harmonica and Vocals, Don Dekker- Bass, Paul Wager- Drums
Rhythm and Blues
Bellingham, WA
1980-1983
Ray Downey- Saxophone, Jim Fricke- Guitar and Vocals, Paul Klein- Piano and Vocals, Oren Sreebney- Bass, Kurt Fricke- Drums
Bellingham, WA
1979-1981
Stu Davis, Ray Downey and Paul Scea- Saxophone, Kevin McNeal- Piano and Trombone, Rick Jarvela- Bass, Jay Weaver- Drums
Jazz Band
Bellingham, WA
1987-1989
Ray Downey- Woodwinds, Hans Bremmer- Piano and Vocals, Greg Hamilton- Bass, LaVerne Walker- Drums and Vocals
Jazzin’ Together
Tacoma, WA (1975-1976)
Dick Hoye - Trumpet and Flugelhorn, Ray Downey - Saxophone and Flute, Ben Marciano - Guitar, Doug Wilbert - Bass, Tony Ledonne - Drums and Cymbals
Rhythm and Blues
Seattle, WA
1984-1987
Les Follies Horns, Les Clinkingbeard and Ron Ussery- Tenor Sax, Ray Downey Alto and Baritone Sax, Julian Priester- Trombone. Horn arrangements by Ray Downey and Julian Priester.
724th Air Force Band McChord Air Force Base, Tacoma, WA (1972-1976)
Played woodwinds and wrote arrangements for a variety of Symphonic and Jazz Ensembles.
Klezmer Band
Bellingham, WA
2010-2014
Ken Bronstein- Oboe, Ray Downey- Woodwinds, Phil Heaver- Violin, Lou Lippman- Piano, Warren Palken- Percussion, Millie Johnson- Vocals
Seattle, WA
1977-1978
Gary Evens- Trumpet and Vocals, Jerry Ranger- Alto Sax and Clarinet, Ray Downey- Tenor Sax, Ed Reynolds- Baritone Sax, Lloyd Spoon- Trombone, Kevin Chalk- Piano, Bill Majkut- Bass, Michael Trullinger- Drums, Linda Asher- Vocals
Clarinet Quartet
Bellingham, WA
2006-2008
Ray Downey, John Meloy, John Reay and Barry Ulman- Clarinet
Seattle, WA
1980’s
Keith Baggerly- Trumpet and Flugelhorn, Ray Downey- Woodwinds, John Day- Guitar, Pete Lienonen- Bass
Bellingham, WA
1987
Ray Downey- Woodwinds, Marcia Guderian- Guitar and Vocals
Bellingham, WA (until 2014)
Ray Downey - Woodwinds
Bill MacDonough - Piano
Steve Johnston - Bass
Bellingham, WA (until 2014)
Ray Downey- Woodwinds
Gerald Beaton - Guitar
Steve Johnston - Bass
Bellingham, WA (until 2014)
Ray Downey- Woodwinds
Doug Gerry - Guitar
Steve Johnston - Bass
Northwest Washington (until 2014)
1978-2014
Ernestine Anderson, Natalie Cole, Dee Daniels, Bernadette Peters, Johnny Mathis, The Temptations. Arranged and conducted shows for Ernestine Anderson and Dee Daniels.
Swing Band
Bellingham, WA
1998-2014
Lanny Jacobs- Trumpet and Flugelhorn, Mark Kelly- Alto Sax and Flute, Ray Downey- Tenor Sax and Clarinet, Max Jones or Bob Hiorns- Trombone, Nick Hoffman or Tom Miller- Guitar, Bill MacDonough- Piano, Tom Anastasio- Bass, Grant Wilson or Mike Bajuk- Drums, Alicia Dauber, Cheryl Jewell and Grant Wilson- Vocals
Saxophone Quartet
Bellingham, WA
1983-2014
Mark Kelly- Soprano Sax, Barry Ulman- Alto Sax, John Anderson- Tenor Sax, Ray Downey- Baritone Sax
Composers and Improvisors Orchestra, Seattle Concert Band, Keith Baggerly and the Roadside Attraction, Jr. Cadillac, John Holte Swing Band, Sweet Talkin’ Jones with Ron Ussery. Also performed with Anthony Braxton, Gary Peacock, B.J. Thomas, Toshiko Akiyoshi, Julian Priester, and Fredrick Fennel
Ken Colvin Swing Band, Point Roberts, WA
Solo Saxophone Holiday Tunes
Allied Arts Christmas, Bellingham, WA
1985-1992
Ray Downey-Saxophone
Bellingham, WA
1989-2014
Principal Clarinetist (1989-2011) Commissioned Arranger and Composer