Ray Clemens

Ray Clemens

Private lessons available for: Bass

Ray has a passion for a wide spectrum of different music and helped me expand my horizon. I enjoyed his positive and helpful approach, encouraging us to actively listen to each other and build on each other’s idea. Ray’s willingness to listen deeply to each of us and give constructive feedback, encouraging us to work on dynamics throughout the quarter, was super helpful. He nudged us towards taking chances and trying out new ideas, helping us make strides towards sounding cohesive and supporting each other as a combo.

Overall, being in Ray’s combo was great fun, and I really enjoyed myself. I have already signed up for another quarter with Ray.

Marianne Gonterman

Upright bassist Ray Clemens studied jazz at the Idyllwild Arts Academy in California and at the New School for Social Research in New York, honing his craft under the tutelage of masters like Marshall Hawkins, Buster Williams, and Peter Paulsen.  An accomplished teacher in his own right, Ray has a wide range of instruction experience, in all age groups and ability levels, ranging from private instruction, to small ensemble and orchestra.

Along his travels through time and space, he has played with many great players including: Harry Pickens, Bob Mintzer, and Arnie Lawrence. He’s performed at the Kimmel Center, World Café Live, the Roxy, Blue Note, Dazzle Jazz, and the Kennedy Center. Ray has composed more tunes than he can count and appeared on 18 albums, that he knows of…

These days he can be seen around Seattle with Don’t Move.

Ray Clemens

Ray has a passion for a wide spectrum of different music and helped me expand my horizon. I enjoyed his positive and helpful approach, encouraging us to actively listen to each other and build on each other’s idea. Ray’s willingness to listen deeply to each of us and give constructive feedback, encouraging us to work on dynamics throughout the quarter, was super helpful. He nudged us towards taking chances and trying out new ideas, helping us make strides towards sounding cohesive and supporting each other as a combo.

Overall, being in Ray’s combo was great fun, and I really enjoyed myself. I have already signed up for another quarter with Ray.

Marianne Gonterman