Raymond J. Downey (1953-2014)
Maintained a studio in the Pacific Northwest for several decades and leaves a legacy of music for various ensembles. The purpose of this website is to maintain his sheet music and recordings and give access to those interested in seeking out his works.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 BiographyAudio Player
A Musical Life
12 O’Clock Jazz Ensemble
Western Washington University
Bellingham, WA
1978-1981
Bach Cello Suite
Whatcom 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
Clearbrook Connection
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
Dick Powell Band
Blues
Bellingham, WA
1984-1985
Ray Downey- Saxophone, Patrick McFarland- Guitar, Dick Powell- Keyboards, Harmonica and Vocals, Don Dekker- Bass, Paul Wager- Drums
Eddie and the Atlantics
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
First Fantasie
Ray Downey
Solo Clarinet with Piano 1971
George Marty, Ray Downey
Geobopillogical Survey Team
Bellingham, WA
1979-1981
Stu Davis, Ray Downey and Paul Scea- Saxophone, Kevin McNeal- Piano and Trombone, Rick Jarvela- Bass, Jay Weaver- Drums
Groove Merchants
Jazz Band
Bellingham, WA
1987-1989
Ray Downey- Woodwinds, Hans Bremmer- Piano and Vocals, Greg Hamilton- Bass, LaVerne Walker- Drums and Vocals
Jazzin’ Together
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
Les Follies
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.
McChord Air Force Band
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.
Millie and the Mentshen
Klezmer Band
Bellingham, WA
2010-2014
Ken Bronstein- Oboe, Ray Downey- Woodwinds, Phil Heaver- Violin, Lou Lippman- Piano, Warren Palken- Percussion, Millie Johnson- Vocals
New Deal Rhythm Band
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
Orca Wailers
Clarinet Quartet
Bellingham, WA
2006-2008
Ray Downey, John Meloy, John Reay and Barry Ulman- Clarinet
Pete Lienonen Band
Seattle, WA
1980’s
Keith Baggerly- Trumpet and Flugelhorn, Ray Downey- Woodwinds, John Day- Guitar, Pete Lienonen- Bass
Ray Composing at Unfinished Home Studio
Ray Downey and Marcia Guderian Duo
Bellingham, WA
1987
Ray Downey- Woodwinds, Marcia Guderian- Guitar and Vocals
Ray Downey and Tim Matheis Duo
Bellingham, WA
2007- 2014
Ray Downey- Woodwinds, Tim Matheis- Guitar
Ray Downey Trio
Bellingham, WA (until 2014)
Ray Downey - Woodwinds
Bill MacDonough - Piano
Steve Johnston - Bass
Ray Downey Trio
Bellingham, WA (until 2014)
Ray Downey- Woodwinds
Gerald Beaton - Guitar
Steve Johnston - Bass
Ray Downey Trio
Bellingham, WA (until 2014)
Ray Downey- Woodwinds
Doug Gerry - Guitar
Steve Johnston - Bass
Ray with Back-up Orchestras
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.
Ray’s Student Recitals
Woodwinds
1987-2014
Saltwater Octet
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
Saxquatch
Saxophone Quartet
Bellingham, WA
1983-2014
Mark Kelly- Soprano Sax, Barry Ulman- Alto Sax, John Anderson- Tenor Sax, Ray Downey- Baritone Sax
Seattle Bands of the 1980’s
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
Soul Santa
Solo Saxophone Holiday Tunes
Allied Arts Christmas, Bellingham, WA
1985-1992
Ray Downey-Saxophone
Whatcom Symphony Orchestra
Bellingham, WA
1989-2014
Principal Clarinetist (1989-2011) Commissioned Arranger and Composer
Yambique
Latin Jazz
Bellingham, WA
2008-2009
Paul Chandler- Trumpet, John Meloy- Tenor Sax, Ray Downey-Baritone Sax and Flute, Mars Lindgren- Trombone, Bill Mac Donough- Piano, Tom Anastasio or Roger Yamashita- Bass, John Butorac, Kevin Candela and Steve Jones- Percussion, Tonya Kitterman- Vocals
Biography
Music Type
Original Compositions (76)Arrangements (150)
Music Instrumentation
Solos (6)Duets (48)
Big Band (18)
Jazz Combo (44)
Small Ensemble (1)
Small Ensemble (Brass) (18)
Small Ensemble (Winds) (46)
Small Ensemble (Strings) (3)
Small Ensemble (Vocal) (2)
Large Ensemble (4)
Recording (5)
Pop Orchestra (10)
Jazz Choir (2)
Horn Arrangement (17)
Large Ensemble (Brass) (1)
Large Ensemble (Winds) (1)