Pianist/composer Ray d'Inverno has played in every format from solo to big band. He currently leads his piano trio "The Ray d'Inverno Trio'', the latin-jazz band "Bossa Rio'', the tribute band "Blue of a Kind'', jointly leads the "Ray d'Inverno/Lee Goodall Quartet'' and is a member of Andy Urquhart's "Mango Santamaria'', Dave Quincey's "Hot House'' and Rod Paton's "Cornucopia''. Originally greatly influenced by Bill Evans and subsequently Keith Jarrett, he has emerged in more recent years find his own voice. He was voted top modern soloist in the Dunkirk International Jazz Festival (then Europe's leading competitive jazz festival) in both 1978 and 1979 playing with Tim Colwell's "Jazz Friends'', and returned the subsequent year to win it with his trio who subsequently appeared on French national TV. He has had numerous broadcasts on British radio and he appeared with his big band, the "Southampton Musicians' Co-operative Big Band'', on national TV before they embarked on an 11-day national tour playing with the highly acclaimed "European Quartet'' with Tony Oxley (drums), Rob van den Broeck (piano), Gerd Dudek (reeds) and leader Ali Haurand (bass). His trio has backed many jazz stars including Al Cohn, Al Grey, Jerome Richardson, Spike Robinson and Ali Ryerson (from the USA) and many British jazz stars including Leonart Andersson, Gilad Atzmon, Alan Barnes, Roger Beaujolais, Chris Biscoe, Anton Brown, Tony Coe, John Etheridge, Frank Holder, Mornington Lockett, Mark Lockheart, Henry Lowther, Tina May, Jim Mullen, Mark Nightingale, Andy Panayi, Dick Pearce, Don Rendall, Alan Skidmore, Andy Sheppard, Stan Sulzmann, Theo Travis, Art Themen, Gerry Underwood, Ray Warleigh, Don Weller, Bobby Wellins, John Williams and Norma Winstone.

He is an established composer and has had a number of commissions including an Arts Council of Great Britain Bursary for his suite for jazz quartet and string quartet "Four by Four'' which has been performed at three jazz festivals. A subsequent commission was for a choral work "April Rise'', written for a leading London choir and which has been performed in London, Paris and Florence. He received another commission for a choral work "Childs Songs'' which involved both jazz and minimalist elements and which was shortlisted for an international composers award. He was commissioned to write a millennial choral work entitled "Requiem for the 20th Century" which was performed in 2000. The performance was recorded and the resulting CD has enjoyed significant sales. He is also a long-serving jazz educator, promoter and administrator, including being past chairman of Jazz South, which was concerned with jazz provision covering the whole of the South and South East of England.

Ray was classically trained as a pianist and turned to jazz at the age of 16. Within a couple of years he had opened a jazz club in Bushey, North London and his trio backed many visiting British jazz musicians (including Tubby Hayes). Other notable events include the appearance of his trio in the 1981 Bracknell jazz festival (then Britain's leading jazz festival) to pay tribute to the late Bill Evans. In fact they also appeared in a special British memorial concert with the John Horler trio to mark the tenth anniversary of Bill Evans. (For a review of this concert, see the American bi-monthly publication "Letter from Evans'', volume 2, No.3, 1991 and for an interview with Ray in the next issue). He has appeared in a significant number of jazz festivals in this country and on the continent. In 1992 his trio appeared in the Atina Jazz Festival in Italy opposite "Joe Zawinul's Syndicate'' to considerable critical acclaim. In 1998 he received an Arts for Everyone Lottery bursary to complete two albums with Lee Goodall, fund a small tour and a series of workshops. He mostly plays on the South Coast, but his trio has played regularly in the Royal Festival Hall, London as part of the foyer jazz series.

Recent recordings (post 1990):-

Tape Cassettes

"A tribute to Bill Evans'' Ray d'Inverno Trio & John Horler Trio.
Bargate Radiotrax, BARX 31, (1990).
"First Outing'' Ray d'Inverno's Tonal Centre.
Bargate Radiotrax, BARX 38, (1990).
"The Jarrett Standards Concert'' Ray d'Inverno Trio.
Bargate Radiotrax, BARX 43, (1991).
"Songs of Blessing'' University College Chamber Choir, conductor David Drummond.
Bargate Radiotrax, BARX 55, (1992) (includes "April Rise'').
"A Dat Date at Dill's'' Ray d'Inverno's Tonal Centre.
Bargate Radiotrax, BARX 71, (1992).
"Single Takes'' Ray d'Inverno's Tonal Centre.
Bargate Radiotrax, BARX 94, (1993).
"The Bloomsbury Chamber Choir Delights'', conductor Christopher Cox.
Bargate Radiotrax, BARX 103, (1994) (includes "Childs Songs'').
"Jazz-Is'' Andy Urquhart's Jazz-Is,
Bargate Radiotrax, BARX 145 (1995).

CDs

"Naima'' Andy Urquhart's Jazz-Is,
AMPS 315 (1997).
"Wanted ... dead or alive'' Ray d'Inverno Trio,
AMPS 319 (1997).
"Fullness of Time'' Ray d'Inverno and Lee Goodall,
AMPS 327 (1998).
"Future Positive'' Ray d'Inverno/Lee Goodall Quartet,
AMPS 328 (1998).
"Cocinando'' Ray d'Inverno's Bossa Rio,
AMPS 336 (1999)
"In our own sweet way'' Ray d'Inverno Trio,
AMPS 341 (1999)
"Requiem for the 20th Century'' by Ray d'Inverno,
AMPS 352 (2000).
"Blue of a Kind'' Ray d'Inverno Sextet,
AMPS 361 (2001).
"Live at the SJC'' Jim Mullen + Hot House,
AMPS 382 (2001).
"Reflective Practices'' Ray d'Inverno Trio,
AMPS 411 (2002).
"Ray d'Inverno's 60th Birthday Concert featuring Andy Sheppard''
Ray d'Inverno Trio, Blue of a Kind, Mark d'Inverno, Lee Goodall, Andy Sheppard, Birthday Big Band.
AMPS 432 (2003).
"Here and Now'' Hot House,
AMPS 446 (2004).
"Wise One'' Ray d'Inverno/Lee Goodall Quartet,
AMPS 466 (2004).
"Tina May and Stan Sulzmann in concert with the Ray d'Inverno Trio''
AMPS 487 (2006).