Announcing JEFF RAY AND THE STAKES!

'APPALACHIA MEETS THE DELTA' is the first thing that pops into your head when you hear these guys. Zen Blues slide-guitarist and songwriter JEFF RAY joined up with NICK SALISBURY, one of the Midwest's grooviest and smoothest R&B-influenced bass players, to form the foundation of a twisted circus-like roots fest known as Jeff Ray and the Stakes.

The two musicians create their own rhythm section by equipping themselves with purely homemade attire… for Jeff, a portable wood front porch with a microphone underneath; for Nick, a foot-shaker contraption attached to a pair of Converse all-stars. Combining their homemade wears with Jeff's thumb-thumping resonator slide-guitar and Nick's gospel-meets-groove bass lines yields a sound that really moves.

Often, guest musicians and honorary members at their live shows join the group. Sometimes it's an auxiliary percussionist, sometimes a harp player… the spontaneity of the Stake's lineup adds an extra level of excitement and anticipation, making every show unique and every song different every time it's played.

Peace Stream Records announces the May 22, 2007 release of LAST GREAT WINTER, Jeff Ray’s third and most compelling album to date.  A blues-influenced tour de force of resonator slide-guitar, Ray weaves the grit of the Mississippi Delta into a tapestry of poetic americana.

After the release of his rockin’ multi-instrumental 2004 sophomore release, JUNE GENERATION, Ray embarked on a life of touring solo from the Midwest to the South where he found the inspiration for LAST GREAT WINTER.  Influenced by the Midwest resonator guitar scene, Ray picked up a National steel guitar and eventually landed opening slots for some of his biggest influences, including Chris Smither.  Drawing from those experiences, Ray left behind the studio band and found his solo groove on LAST GREAT WINTER.  On the album, he weaves his stylistic diversity with unmatched simplicity using only a resonator guitar, his voice, and a stomping foot that blends seamlessly into each song.  Jeff reveals with great clarity his unique style that he calls Zen Blues - a style marked by alternate guitar tunings and songs that unsuspectingly shift between thumb-thumping slide-guitar ballads to worldly folk-inspired jams.

Ray even throws in a few surprises, including a bluesy rendition of Bob Dylan’s “Maggie’s Farm” and a catchy version of Woody Guthrie’s timeless anthem “This Land Is Your Land”, one of the most surprising versions ever recorded.  Originally a protest song, “This Land Is Your Land” eventually morphed into a childhood sing-along, stripped bare of it’s most controversial verses.  But Ray returns this song to its original purpose and gives it new life by altering the melody, changing the rhythm, accentuating the forgotten verses, and even altering the final lines to give new meaning.

Jeff Ray continues to gain recognition as an emerging influence in the acoustic roots music scene.  In 2007 and 2008, he will be touring extensively in support of LAST GREAT WINTER taking the music to new audiences across the U.S.  As one of the most dynamic and stylistically unique acoustic recordings in years, the CD is already a fan favorite, and includes many favorites like "Higher Hilltops" and "Low Wage Mood".  But don't take our word for it, have a listen for yourself!

NEWS

08.30.2007
The Reader Weekly of Duluth, MN wrote a review on Ray's latest release LAST GREAT WINTER.  The article says that Jeff is "breath of fresh air for folk music in Minnesota."  Click here to read the review!

07.31.2007
Response to Jeff Ray's new album LAST GREAT WINTER has been overwhelming and continues to build... the CD is in rotation on a number of radio stations, including KCMP (89.3FM Minneapolis/St Paul), KFAI (90.3FM/106.7FM Minneapolis/St Paul) and KUMD (103.3FM Duluth), and was recently added to CDbaby.com's list of Editor Picks for the Slide-Guitar genre.  Check it out for yourself.

04.15.2007
Bottleneck Music and Peace Stream Records (Saint Paul, MN) are pleased to announce the upcoming release of Jeff Ray's third studio recording LAST GREAT WINTER!  Due out May 2007.

The blues-inspired record is Jeff Ray's most compelling CD to date.  A tour-de-force of resonator slide-guitar, Ray captures the grit of the Mississippi Delta and combines it with his pioneering slide-guitar work.

02.05.2007
Watch a video of Jeff Ray performing one of his newer songs "Lauralee" in Winona, MN at the Acoustic Cafe.

02.04.2007
Jeff Ray has joined forces with the St. Paul Guitar Studio as a guitar instructor for folk, blues, and country music styles.  The St. Paul Guitar Studio is located in the Lowertown arts district of St. Paul and offers guitar instruction for all levels and all styles.

09.12.2006
A recent issue of the Minnesota's online magazine access+ENGAGE featured Jeff Ray's music and offered a preview of his upcoming CD release.  They write that "while Ray's influences are clearly rooted in the blues and folk tradition, some of his songs surprise. His instrumental numbers, like "Samadhi", offer more contemplative than bluesy fare, more George Harrison than Chris Whitley. If you haven't checked out this talented musician's work, you owe it to yourself to give him a listen."

access+ENGAGE and MNartists.org is an online service formed by a partnership with the McKnight Foundation and the Walker Arts Center.

02.26.2006
Jeff finished recording all guitar tracks for his upcoming CD release.  Vocal track recording will begin sometime during Summer 2006.

11.09.2005
All of Jeff Ray's CDs are now available at Best Buy's online store BestBuy.com!!  If you have any gift cards laying around from the holidays, here's your chance to use them to support local independent music!

05.15.2005
Duluth's Reader Weekly reviews June Generation:
"With Jeff Ray's Sophomore CD June Generation... the routine review becomes an egregious task.  The various influences and mixture of sounds resembles so much, and yet becomes something very unique... Before you make assumptions on Jeff's sound though, "Alabama Goodbye" follows the Beatles to the Allman Brothers, if that is musically possible... Jeff Ray is a rising musician"

04.15.2005
Big News!  Jeff has finished writing a slew of new songs, most of which are played on the metal-body resonator guitar.  Listen for the new songs at live shows where the kinks are hammered out.  That being said, it won't be long and recording for a new CD will begin!  This time expect all acoustic, all solo guitar and vocals, and lots and lots of slide-guitar.  Bring your appetite!

03.13.2005
Jeff Ray has returned from a spectacular tour through the mid-south, opening for Chris Smither in Little Rock, AR as well as playing in Memphis, TN with the funk/jazz band "Red".  Thanks goes out to all the old Memphis crew that showed up at the show.

11.07.2004
Special thanks to musicians' Charlie Parr and Ian Alexy, and all the fans, for a great show last night at Beaner's in Duluth, MN.  It was heaven playing alongside the likes of some of Minnesota's finest musicians.