Ray Gelato is truly an international star. His energetic, jazzy vocals, acclaimed tenor sax playing, and swingin' band, The Ray Gelato Giants, have caused a sensation around the globe. In the past year, Gelato and his crew have performed at knock-out shows and festivals in Italy, America and the U.K. They opened for Robbie Williams at The Royal Albert Hall in London, and were chosen by Bryan Adams to entertain his birthday guests. And to top it all off, Ray was invited to play at the coolest party in town: Paul McCartney's wedding!

Wait… it gets better! Ray was also recently invited — for the second time — to play for the Queen of England at her private party at London's Ritz Hotel after her Majesty singled the band out as her favourite. The Giants consist of some of the finest young musicians around, and the energy that Ray and the boys give on stage must be seen to be believed. The Queen certainly had a ball, and you're sure to have one too!

Giants in name, Giants in musicality. These swingin' guys are among the finest players on the scene today! Meet The Ray Gelato Giants:

Danny Marsden - trumpet
Danny got his musical education at The Guildhall School of Music and Drama. He is recognised as one of the best, and most versatile players around. Danny has played in many top West End shows, including Chicago, Fame, and My Fair Lady. He has also worked in many of the country's top big bands and orchestras, such as The Glenn Miller Orchestra UK, BBC Radio Big Band, The Syd Lawrence Orchestra, and The Moscow State Symphony. Danny is also versatile enough to cross over into the pop field. Some of his work includes "The Spice Girls" and "The Brand New Heavies". Danny has made several appearances with the Giants before becoming a permanent fixture. These include Umbria Jazz 2000.

Richard Busiakiewicz - piano
Richard started playing the piano at the age of six, and by his late teens was performing frequently in top London hotels and restaurants and starting to become known on the jazz scene. In the late '80s he was part of the Tommy Chase band, then led his own quintet, and in '93 became a regular member of the Spike Robinson quartet, all of which involved extensive touring and TV and radio broadcasts. As well as being in demand to play with British jazz artists, he has also been in demand to perform with many top visiting American musicians, including Scott Hamilton, Warren Vache, Bob Wilber, Art Farmer, Harry Allen, Ken Peplowski, and many others. He still continues his session work alongside working with the 'Giants' which he joined in 1994.

Alex Garnett - alto & tenor saxes
Son of acclaimed British sax player, Willie Garnett, Alex also started learning the sax at an early age. In his mid 20s (although his boyish looks have resulted in the nickname of "Young Man with the Horn", or the "Young Son") he has made a name for himself on the London jazz scene, and is regularly featured in the 'Echoes of Ellington' big band, and together with Ray fronts "The Tough Tenors". Alex joined the Giants in '96.

Andy Rogers - trombone
Andy was born in Wolverhampton and moved to London in 1992. After playing in the National Youth Jazz Orchestra he went on to play in various other big bands including the Echoes of Ellington Orchestra where he met Ray Gelato. He has been a regular in many West End shows and has also performed with artists as diverse as Buddy Greco, Frankie Vaughn, Aswad and Eternal. Andy's main interest though is jazz and over the years he has been fortunate enough to play with some of the Jazz greats including Bobby Shew, Benny Carter, and Dizzy Gillespie.

Clark Kent - acoustic bass
"Clark" was given his stage name by the audience back in 1983 when he first started working with Ray in "The Chevalier Brothers", and the name has stuck ever since. In the very early '80s before he worked with Ray, his first professional band was a rock'n'roll band called "The Stargazers" which had some success in the U.K. charts. The working partnership with Ray, both musical and business, has continued from '83 to the present time. In recent years he has also renewed his contact with another ex-Stargazer and made several successful swing/rock'n'roll albums, most notably with "The Big Six".

Steve Rushton - drums
After a couple of short periods with the band in the past, this time Steve is here to stay, with his rocket-propelled drumming the driving force of the Giants' truly explosive sound. As well as incredible drumming, the stage presence emanating from this one guy is far more than most bands can produce, and his version of the Gene Krupa classic 'Sing, Sing, Sing' has to be seen as well as heard to be believed!

News and reviews:
'There was a titanic tenor sax battle between Gelato and Alex Garnett, a sing-along vocal, instrumental breaks, and off-beat clapping for the audience, and that was just in the first number!!' - Alyn Shipton, The Times (Sept ‘04)

Paul McCartney chose Ray Gelato to perform at his wedding, Bryan Adams and Richard Branson requested him for their private parties. Her Majesty the Queen twice asked for Ray to perform for her and her guests. Even Robbie Williams requested Ray to open for him at his “Swing When You're Winning” concert at the Royal Albert Hall. Ray Gelato is a maestro of swing and jazz, an entertainer and saxophone player of the first degree.

2004 was a bumper year for Ray Gelato. He signed a multi album major record company deal and released the acclaimed ‘Ray Gelato' album described by Music Week Magazine as “A well made and brilliantly sung 15 track album”. Since then Ray has been busier than ever. At the beginning of the year Ray performed his self penned track “A Pizza You” on ITV's This Morning. Due to overwhelming viewer demands the producer's asked the band back to perform the live favourite “Just a Gigolo” on the show for an unprecedented second time in two weeks. Other national TV appearances included performances on Top of the Pops 2, the Terry & Gaby Show, BBC News and Good Food Live where Ray demonstrated his talents as a chef.

Summer 2004 saw Ray and his powerful 7 piece band touring around the UK and Europe playing at all the major festivals in Spain, Germany, Greece, Switzerland and a ground breaking 7th successful 10 day residency at the Umbria Jazz Festival in Italy. The Times commented, “On the big stages of the summer's outdoor festival circuit, the boundless energy of Ray Gelato makes the band one of the most popular in Europe” The Times.

Back in the UK, Ray and the band continued to expand their ever-growing fanbase. He was asked to perform at the 2004 BBC Proms in the Park in front of an excited audience of 40,000 in Hyde Park, London alongside The Corrs and the BBC Symphony Orchestra. What followed was a sold out weeklong residency at Pizza Express in Dean St London. The critics loved it: “...arguably the only British jazz group with a proper stage show.” commented Jack Massarik of the The London Evening Standard and “…he invests his singing and sax playing with buckets of emotion…” noted David Cheal of the Daily Telegraph.

The rest of the 2004 has seen Ray and the guys continue to wow and win over audiences with shows around the UK and a United States East Coast tour. In October Ray performed at Ronnie Scott's Club's 45th anniversary concert at The Barbican in London alongside Cedar Walton, Mingus Big Band, Elkie Brooks and Liane Carol. December 13th 2004 will be the first show of a 3-week residency at the legendary jazz venue Ronnie Scott's Club in London's Soho.

2005 will see Ray and the bands live activity continue to go from strength to strength with a 15 date UK tour of major regional theatres culminating at The Bloomsbury Theatre in London on 14th April. The band will also be playing at the major festivals in the UK, Europe, Canada and the US. Ray's new album ‘Ray Gelato' is out now.