Saxophonist and composer Keith Pray has traveled from the West Coast to Europe playing with hundreds of gifted musicians, and has shared the stage with some of the giants of the business: Paul Anka, Benny Golson, The Temptations, Ray Vega, Mark Vinci, Jerry weldon and Ralph Lalama to name a few. For 8 years, he resided and preformed in New York City and played with artists from multiple disciplines including R&B, jazz, Latin and big band. Now relocated to NY's Capital Region, Keith performs regularly and has taught saxophone at SUNY College at Oneonta, jazz arranging, jazz history and applied saxophone at Schenectady County Community College and currently teaches instrumental music for the Schenectady City School District while also directing the Proctors Summer Jazz Institute and the Youth Brass Band Mentorship Program.
Keith has taken the city’s eclectic culture and infused it into his original performances and compositions. This blend can also heard and felt when he teaches individuals or holds clinics at all levels including high school and college. Whether one hears Keith perform or learns from him, his love for music and respect for the different genres is loud and true.
His unique style and talent has allowed him to perform and record across the spectrum of today’s music. Having worked on dozens of recordings he was honored to be a featured soloist on the Grammy Nominated Entres Amigos by Alex Torres and the Latin Kings. Keith’s style can be attributed to the influences from the greats deep in the Jazz tradition, including Cannonball Adderly, Lockjaw Davis, Maceo Parker, Earl Bostic, Johnny Hodges, Willis Jackson and Jackie Mclean as well as many others.
With five albums under his name, Keith continues to write and record his music and maintains a busy performance schedule.
Keith has also been seen on ABC’s Good Morning America and The View and Food Network’s Food Nation. Other performances of note include the Newport Jazz Festival, Albany’s Riverfront Jazz Festival, 103.1 Smooth Jazz Festival, Albany’s Tulip Festival, Larkfest, Fleet Blues Fest as well as a featured artist at A Place for Jazz.
Keith has taken the city’s eclectic culture and infused it into his original performances and compositions. This blend can also heard and felt when he teaches individuals or holds clinics at all levels including high school and college. Whether one hears Keith perform or learns from him, his love for music and respect for the different genres is loud and true.
His unique style and talent has allowed him to perform and record across the spectrum of today’s music. Having worked on dozens of recordings he was honored to be a featured soloist on the Grammy Nominated Entres Amigos by Alex Torres and the Latin Kings. Keith’s style can be attributed to the influences from the greats deep in the Jazz tradition, including Cannonball Adderly, Lockjaw Davis, Maceo Parker, Earl Bostic, Johnny Hodges, Willis Jackson and Jackie Mclean as well as many others.
With five albums under his name, Keith continues to write and record his music and maintains a busy performance schedule.
Keith has also been seen on ABC’s Good Morning America and The View and Food Network’s Food Nation. Other performances of note include the Newport Jazz Festival, Albany’s Riverfront Jazz Festival, 103.1 Smooth Jazz Festival, Albany’s Tulip Festival, Larkfest, Fleet Blues Fest as well as a featured artist at A Place for Jazz.