About SoulRay Music
SoulRay Music is a music performance content label established in New York City in 2006. This is a new revolutionary place for emerging artists who implement new perspectives on contemporary music making. Whether it is corroborating with other arts forms or creating whole new concert platforms, SoulRay Music artists successfully deliver their messages to dedicated audiences through the idea of “perfect 5th” as their core musical elements. SoulRay (Sol, Re) is the sound of perfect 5th.
The Perfect 5th (or 5i)
The perfect 5th or 5i is SoulRay Music’s main production and content development philosophy that is conceptualized by the founder and bassist Ray Soul’s notion of ‘SWING.’
SoulRay Music Artists
Keira Harman, Trombone
Critically acclaimed Trombonist and composer, Keira Harman is one of the most sought-after trombonists of her generation who has enjoyed a multitude of accolades and high-profile performances alongside world-class musicians.
Growing up in Edmonton, Alberta Canada, she began her musical endeavors at the age of 13 when she started playing trombone. Having already studied classical piano since the age of 10, she quickly mastered the technical demands of the trombone. Her high academic achievements and abilities garnered her scholarships and early acceptance to the University of Alberta to study classical trombone.
Keira’s desire to study music internationally led her to the esteemed Jackie Mclean Institute in Hartford, Connecticut. She received a scholarship and was one of only two students accepted to study with renowned Grammy nominated trombonist, Steve Davis.
In 2014 Keira was selected as a teacher at the Litchfield Summer Jazz Workshop, one of the leading jazz educational programs in the country. She worked as an educator and played amongst musicians including drummer and composer, George Schuller, bassist, Sean Pentland, pianist, Julian Shore and guitarist, Dave Stryker.
Following five semesters at the Jackie Mclean Institute, Keira auditioned for The New School in New York, to transfer her studies and complete her undergraduate degree. New York is well regarded as the jazz capital of the world and provides the most inspiring and enriching environment in which to grow artistically. Keira received a Presidential Scholarship to attend the internationally renowned program, whose alumni includes three time Grammy Award winner Robert Glasper and Grammy Award nominee, Brad Mehldau.
In 2015, Keira was invited to join the New York Youth Jazz Orchestra, a highly competitive ensemble made up of New York's finest musicians under 21. During this time, she performed with Robin Eubanks at at Dizzy’s Coca Cola Club, one of the city’s premier jazz venues and home to multi Grammy award winning Wynton Marsalis’ Lincoln Centre Jazz Orchestra. Robin Eubanks has been voted by Downbeat and Jazz Times as one of the leading improvisers on trombone. Keira performed at The Garage as a featured soloist alongside guest artist, Mike Fahie, the lead trombonist in Grammy Award winning Darcy James Argue’s big band, Secret Society.
Throughout 2017, Keira’s career in New York as a professional musician soared exponentially, and she was regularly invited to be a featured guest with many illustrious small groups and big bands. Some of these included Charlie Persip Big Band, Bobby Sanabria Big Band, Terraza Seven Big Band and the Stan Rubin Jazz Orchestra.
In August of 2017, upon acceptance into the renowned Global Jazz Institute at Berklee College of Music, Keira relocated to Boston, Massachusetts to undertake her Masters Degree in Jazz. Berklee’s Global Jazz Institute is regarded as the top institute in the country for jazz performance. This program selects just 20 individuals from auditions around the world, who are at the very highest level of performance. Keira received a full scholarship to attend this prestigious program.
Keira toured and performed at the Dominican International Jazz Festival in 2017. She performed together with two-time Grammy nominated clarinetist, Anat Cohen and world-renowed, George Garzone. Her group also conducted masterclasses throughout the festival.
Keira’s strong sense of community and philanthropic nature has led to her involvement in a number of outreach programs in Boston. These programs have utilized Keira’s extraordinary abilities in performance, composition, as well as her incredible skills as an educator. Examples of communities that the outreach programs have worked in include Boston prisons and Susan Bailey‘s Assisted Living. .
After completing her Master’s degree, Keira recorded and released an album of her own compositions. The album entitled, ‘Threads of Being’, received glowing reviews by jazz critics around the world. Upon graduating from the Global Jazz Institute, Keira’s outstanding ability was recognized and she was awarded the prestigious “Matt Marvulio” prize.
In August of 2018, Keira’s was invited to be the lead trombonist with Wally's Jazz Orchestra, one of the most in-demand big bands in Boston who are regularly featured at the historical Wally’s Jazz Club. In addition to her exceptional abilities as a soloist and section player, Keira also has been composer in residence with the orchestra.
In 2018, Keira was awarded the opportunity to continue her musical pursuits with generous funding from Berklee College of Music as a Post-Masters Fellow. She joined an illustrious group of individuals who have been recognized for their outstanding ability and dedication to their craft. This was a rigorous selection process that afforded the successful recipients funding to continue work on projects that will make lasting contributions. During this time, Keira began working with the Grammy Award-winning drummer, Terri Lyne Carrington.
Keira’s abilities have also been recognized by the esteemed artist and educator, Lisa Lindy. Lisa, leads one of the most outstanding jazz programs in the country. Her courses have participated in both the Wynton Marsalis Essentially Ellington program and The New School’s, Charles Mingus Festival. Keira has been a guest artist and teacher for these programs, conducting several workshops and masterclasses. Her first workshop was a several day event celebrating and discussing women and jazz, both from a historical understanding and from her own perspective.
In early 2019, Keira’s Jazz Octet recorded and released its first EP and has subsequently performed this music in several venues in Boston. It has received extensive airplay from jazz blogs including ‘Concrete Symphony Blog’ and radio stations such as ‘Home Cooking Jazz’. The group which performs many of Keira’s compositions, presents Keira as an elite improviser and compelling composer, performing provocative fusions of Jazz, improvisation and minimalist classical music.
Keira’s recent advocacy for working professional women in jazz lead to collaborating with pianist, Jason Moran who is a USA Prudential Fellow and MacArthur Fellow. As a result of this collaboration, Keira was invited to be one of the main interviewees in a 2019 documentary film titled ‘All About Love’. This documentary focuses on the realities and issues pertaining to being a working woman in a predominantly male dominated music scene. Keira appeared throughout the documentary, providing insight for aspiring young female artists and relaying her experiences. Keira’s commentary demonstrates her exceptional musical talent and her inspirational message as a current successful working musician.
Seulgi Hwang, Bass
Seulgi Hwang, bassist and composer seeking artistic way of human being. Seulgi Hwang started playing piano at age of 5, but never serious about music until 16 when she composed music for the first time. She attended Dong-ah Institute of Media and Art as composition major, but quickly realized that she has passion to perform her own music. Few years of practicing bass, she received scholarship to attend Berklee College of Music in 2011 and 2016 for her bachelor and master degrees. While she had studied with Danilo Perez, Terri Lyne Carrington, John Patitucci, Joe Lovano, Ben Street and more with her great colleague, she opened her eyes to see what the real mission is as an artist. Now she is on her journey to find out more and act more.
