This Fall Ray traveled to the small town of Arcata, 275 miles from San Francisco and nestled in the redwood forests of northern California.
Ray was in the town, whose population of 18,000 take great pride in being environmentally responsible, to conduct a five-day steelband workshop.
His local hosts were the Pan Dulce Steel Orchestra, a 32-member community steelband that is directed by John Salazar, Kate Lang-Salazar, and Michael Skweir.
During intense and what Salazar called “highly productive sessions,” Ray developed three original compositions with the group. Of course, those compositions were the highlight at the Pan Dulce fete celebrating the end of the workshop.
Pan Dulce is extremely grateful for Ray taking the time to journey so far to mentor the band. “He brought us exactly what we wanted…and more,” says Salazar, who runs a business that tunes, repairs and refurbishes marimbas, xylophones, vibraphones and orchestra bells. “We were just at that point where we needed to lift our techniques and arrangements to another level. And he did it so effortlessly.”
Ray's offered band members hands on coaching, and instructed them on a range of techniques, from sticking styles to rhythmic and phrasing nuance to section balance. “He brings rigor and insight to these workshops that make them invaluable,” says Salazar.
Not surprisingly, Ray found time to delight band members with his spirited renditions of his favorite calypsos, as usual, accompanying himself on guitar.
Ray will be returning to Arcata next April to perform with Liam Teague, Cliff Alexis and the Humboldt State's Calypso Band.