"I am loving this mouthpiece, Tenor DV 7*...serious piece man. I´ve taken time to get to know it and it is just what I need and have needed for some time. As you said, it is reed friendly and it takes minimal effort to play on it. There is a freedom in moving around the instrument and notes jump out with clarity and evenness in the upper and lower registers. My sound is round and warm, old school, and I am still right at home. My Mark VI and the DV 7* are wonderfully compatible. I’ve just got an endorsement with GB Saxophones, a new company in Metz, France, check their link on my web site. I am playing their Series 30 tenor and that horn is playing and sounding remarkably well."

Ray Blue grew up in Peekskill, New York and now lives in Berlin and New York City. Ray grew up playing clarinet and saxophone in school orchestras, concert, jazz big bands as well as r&b/soul bands. Ray studied with Paul Jeffreys, Charles Davis and Sonny Sherrock while taking advisement from Ornette Coleman and mentoring with Arthur Blythe and others.

Over the years, he’s been both student and teacher. He relishes both roles. Ray is an educator/clinician, consulting and performing in colleges, universities and public schools internationally. Ray makes annual visits to China to conduct Jazz Education Workshops and Master Classes. Ray provides Private Instruction, Big Band Coaching, Jazz Ensemble and Saxophone workshops and Master Classes.

Ray has established the Cross-Cultural Connection, Inc. a non-profit cultural and educational organization that presents and promotes jazz, education and diversity. As part of the project, Ray performs concerts, gives presentations and workshops in countries such as South Africa, Zambia, Tanzania Germany, Finland and the United States.

In addition to leading his own band, Cross-Continental Spirit, Ray is a mainstay with Spirit of Life Ensemble, a New York based band. He worked with the Sun Ra Arkestra, Cotton Club All Stars and other bands that included such musicians as Clifford Adams, Steve Turre, Gary Bartz, Ted Curson, Eddie Henderson, Joe Ford, Joe Lee Wilson, Noel Pointer, Ed Pasant, John Gilmore and former teacher Charles Davis. As a leader John Patton, Wycliff Gordon, Ed Cherry, Michael Cocherane, Bruce Cox, Art Davis, Beldon Bullock, Doc Powell, Calvin Hill, Chip White, Andy McKee, Reggie Moore, Larry Willis, Bobby Battle, Victor Jones, Sipho Kunene and others have shared the stage and/or recording studio with Ray.

Festival performances as leader and featured artist include: North Sea Jazz Festival-Cape Town and Macufe Festival-Bloemfontain, South Africa; European Union Annex Festival-Dublin, Ireland; Audi Jazz Festival-Brussels, Belgium; Berlin Fringe Jazz Festival and Koepenick Jazz Festival-Berlin, Germany; Macao Jazz Festival-Macao and Midi Music Festival-Beijing, China; Newport in New York Festival-New York and New York State Black Arts Festival-Albany, New York; Bayonne Jazz Festival-Bayonne and Foix Jazz Festival-Foix, France; Pori Jazz Festival-Pori, Finland and more.