I’m so excited about the “Reflections of Brownie” shows that I’ve been doing lately. The music is very powerful in a live setting and the audience response has been great. My upcoming shows are posted on the Calendar here, so come on out and catch a show if there is one in your area.

In the meantime there will be a single from “Reflections” available for download in a few weeks. The project includes guest musicians Everett Harp, Brian Bromberg, Roy Hargrove, Micheal “Patches” Stewart, Rick Braun & George Duke to name a few. So be on the lookout for it and check back here.

Below is a little video from one of the Baked Potato shows.

I am so loving this music……..and I think you will too.

Peace & Blessings

video credit:pjoliva

To My Friends From Around The Globe

I’ve  gotten so many emails from some of you saying how you saw  me playing with Jean Luc Ponty back in the day.
I thank you for your kind words, and I want to let you know that I’ll be playing shows with Jean Luc in November……

Unfortunately  at present all the shows will be in South America. Brazil, Chile, & Argentina. The band for these performances will be old friends, Baron Browne on bass, Jamie Glaser on guitar, with William Comte on keys, Jean Luc, and me. There are no plans right now for U.S. dates but you never know, right?

In other news, I’m steady working on my tribute to my uncle Clifford Brown. I’ve recorded several tracks for the project with a little help from some friends including, George Duke, Brian Bromberg, Everette Harp, Rick Braun, and Philippe Saise. I will post some samples this fall. Thanks for stopping by and let’s stay in touch.

Peace & Blessings,
Rayford G

Rayford Griffin to tour with
Jean-Luc Ponty in November 2011

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Jean-Luc Ponty & his band will tour in South America in november 2011 with a project called THE ATLANTIC YEARS featuring William Lecomte (keyboards) and members of JLP’s American band from the 80s,  Rayford Griffin (drums), Jamie Glaser (guitar) and Baron Browne (bass). Please visit the JLP ‘Concerts Dates’ page for more details.
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A box set with 4 CDs entitled “ELECTRIC FUSION – THE ATLANTIC YEARS” has been released by Warner/Rhino in France in July. It contains a large selection of tracks from all JLP’s albums released by Atlantic Records between 1975 and 1997, and a booklet with photos and JLP’s comments on the entire period.

Related show

• Artist: Jean-Luc Ponty
• Tour: Jean-Luc Ponty North America Tour
• Date: Tuesday, November 15th 2011
• Time: 9:30pm
• City: Jean-Luc Ponty in Buenos Aires
• Venue: Gran Rex, Av
• Address: Corrientes 857
• Country: Argentina
• Add to Google Calendar | Download iCal

Rayford Griffin & Everette Harp
performing Free Fall

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Allow us to introduce you to one of the baddest drummers on the planet: Mr. Rayford Griffin and Mr. Everette Harp. Recorded at Jazz on the Pond.

Rayford nominated for
best percussionist category.

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The nominees have been announced for the inaugural American Smooth Jazz Awards to be held October 29 at the Blue Chip Casino Hotel & Spa in Michigan City, Indiana. Among the 18 categories are both male and female vocalists, instrumentalists, song, album and entertainer of the year. Excitement is mounting with news that Rayford has been nominated in the best percussionist category. Other nominees are: Harvey Mason, Alex Acuna, Lenny Castro and Russ Kunkel

Nominating ballots were sent to the top 30 smooth jazz radio stations in the U.S., along with significant producers of smooth jazz Internet and satellite music and top smooth jazz journalists nationwide. The top nominees in each of the categories will be placed online for public voting at americansmoothjazzawards.com