Ray Vanderby Hammond Combo - Orange Not Blue (2009)

Ray Vanderby was born in Sittard Holland in 1953 and is a self taught jazz musician on the Hammond organ; he can’t read music, has not done any formal jazz studies and plays by ear. He began playing in 1964 at age 12 and was the youngest semi-professional organist in Australia. Ray became a qualified piano tuner/technician and at age 20, was the in house session keyboard sideman for EMI 301 Studios Sydney. He worked with some of Australia’s top performers and in 1991 won first prize in the W.R.O.C./BMG Australia wide songwriting competition out of 2,500 entries. Ray has performed at the Cronulla, Newcastle Jazz Festivals as well as the Thredbo, Goulburn and Bluestone Blues Festivals. Over the years he has released original recordings in various genres, “Orange Not Blue” is his first jazz album, consisting entirely of Ray’s original compositions.

Ray Campbell veteran bassist cut his teeth on the early Sydney scene in the 1960’s and 70’s playing in the house band at the Latin Quarter with Stewie Speers, Jimmy Sloggett and Ricky May. He toured New Zealand in the 1972 production of "Hair" with Marcia Hines and Reg Livermore and was in the resident band for the hit New Zealand show "The Happen Inn". Gerry Ramage started playing trombone at school in 1966, then did the Jazz Studies program at the Sydney Conservatorium of Music under Howie Smith, Bill Motzing, Don Burrows and Dick Montz. He joined the ABC in 1975 and has played in most ABC orchestras throughout Australia. Gerry has worked with Johnny Dankworth, Cleo Lane, Shirley Bassey, Pavarotti, the Ed Wilson, Warren Daly, Ralph Pyl Big Bands and the James Morrison’s Big Bad Band.

Chris Ronan is the youngest member of the Ray Vanderby Combo and began playing sax at age 14 in 2006. He played with the Orange High School and Orange Regional Conservatorium stage bands. Chris was a member of the 2008 Beijing Olympic Orchestra and toured China with that ensemble playing for diplomats and performing on the Great Wall of China and in Tiananmen Square. Rob “Rocky” Rochelli is probably the Central West's most versatile drummer and percussionist. He has played with various bands over many years covering the styles of jazz, funk, latin, folk, country and rock. Rob has worked extensively in theatre both as a musician and Music Director; his influences are many and include the soul, latin, Afro Cuban genres as well as drummers Dave Mattacks and Dave Weckl.