The Roots closed out the Festival International de Jazz de Montreal with a bang.
Montreal Rocks spoke with Ray Angry, aka Mr. Goldfinger, ahead of his performance with The Roots for the Festival International de Jazz de Montreal.
We speak of his origin story, the meaning of Mr. Goldfinger, how Producer Mondays saves lives, and we play a round of Fantasy Rock Band.
Ray is a pianist, producer and composer. In fact, he’s at that point in his career where it’s easier to name the artists he HASN’T worked with.
Montreal International Jazz Festival
What does it mean to Ray to be performing at this prestigious festival?
“It means that I’m alive. I can create music with my friends and share my musical experience with a beautiful audience. It’s exciting!”
It will be the first post-Pandemic show for Ray, outside the US.
Origin Story
Raymond Sebastian Angry was named after Johann Sebastian Bach, so classical music is in his blood.
What gift does Classical music give to the music we have today?
“I don’t like labels, but Classical music, in and of itself, to me is the sophistication of writing and composing that music, married with the sophistication of African rhythms and different styles of music around the world which I’m love it. I’m constantly learning.”
For Ray, it’s about “blending two worlds together. It means everything to me.”
While first being exposed to Classical music, it was his subsequent exposure to Gospel, growing up in the church, that gave him the “best of both worlds.”
In high school, Ray was exposed to Jazz, but it wasn’t till college that this genre of music opened a whole new musical universe for him.
It was in college that he met his heroes, like Chris Dave (drums), Wynton & Branford Marsalis.
They heightened his love for Jazz, and that was when he heard music differently.
“I’ve always been on my own little path, in term of music, because I was always curious and searching out music. Even when I was in college, I was the only kid in my class going out to the jam sessions.”
Dr. Raymond Angry Sr.
It was Ray’s father, Dr. Raymond Angry Sr that recognized an ember of piano talent in his son, and he added kindling to transform Ray into the blazing fire of talent he is today.
“My father was my greatest cheerleader. When I didn’t have confidence, he always gave me confidence.”
Ray was around 7 years old, when he attended a concert by Gospel pianist Dino Kartsonakis, front row, with his dad.
At one point, his father says: “My son plays piano.”
Ray just started lessons, but boosted by the confidence of his father, he went up and improvised something before the whole audience, and Dino.
“My father really pushed me. Even on his deathbed, he always instilled in me: Play like it’s your last time. That’s what I’ve being doing ever since.”
That is also what he did on Saturday!
Shai
Ray left college to tour with a band called Shai.
He was able to tour with Mary J. Blige, Bel Biv DeVoe, and SWV.
In the end, he learnt a valuable lesson:
“The road will always be there.”
So, he returned to finish getting his degree, and let the road wait a little for his return.
As a full circle moment, The Roots just played a show with Mary J. Blige.
Mr. Goldfinger
Goldfinger was a notorious Bond villain.
The James Bond film was banned in Israel after it was known that the actor who played Goldfinger, Gert Fröbe, had joined the Nazi Party.
In the age of Cancel Culture, it’s interesting to note that Gert left the party, before the Second World War and the ban was lifted once it was discovered that he likely saved the life of 2 Jews whom he hid.
It’s an interesting story of redemption and shows how actions, ultimately, speak louder than words.
Ray is not a villain. One could say he is a hero.
It could be said that he uses his fingers to produce gold records, but the real story of how he got his nickname is related to James Bond.
“I was working with Queen Latifah and Christian McBride called me a secret weapon.”
He was also working with Sophia, who had the idea to pitch a song to the James Bond franchise, who were filming the latest one.
“She just started calling me Mr. Goldfinger.”
They did write a cinematic Bond song, which never made it to the big screen, but the name stuck.
“Then I put two and two together, because I was working with so many people. To me, James Bonds represents the guy who is putting out the fires. That’s how I relate to the name.”
Ray is the guy to call when you are stuck musically. He can defuse any problem and be the hero of any musical project.
Maybe one day, he will get to work with the legendary Shirley Bassey whose voice is unmistakably linked to the James Bond soundtrack.
The Power of Music
Ray once said that music is energy, camaraderie, and community.
“Music is helping me right now.”
Ray recently lost two brothers to Covid.
“I’m so busy with things in my career, that I don’t have time to sit and process their death. Music is my therapy.”
When Ray is ready, he will take the time to process this devastating loss, but the music allows him to explore these feelings, and connect with others.
“There’s a purpose to my music. I want to fulfill that purpose, in the memory of my brothers and my family. My father would freak out if he saw the stuff that I’m doing now.”
Ray’s father has a vision of his son on stage, even pushing him onto one at an early age, and to see the stages that Ray is on today, such as the closing night of the Jazz Festival, would be the realization of his father’s dreams.
Community
Ray, The Council of Goldfinger, created Producer Mondays that will soon have an album behind the project, Ray having recorded 26 songs in 6 days.
This weekly event is really a gift to the community, but there is more happiness in giving than receiving, so Ray gets so much more back.
“What I get out of it, is I get the pleasure of working with incredible artists, creating music in the moment and meet people who share their stories with me.”
Some people will come with an open heart while others might come with the burden of their complicated lives.
“Being in that room, experiencing music being created in the moment in such a real and authentic way” will touch those who attend.
Ray tells of the story of Camille Trust, whose building security guard happened to randomly attend one of the events.
He would notice Camille working from 7 to 7 and had no clue that she would religiously sit in at Producer Mondays every week.
He saw her singing and was dumbfounded.
He spoke to her in tears sharing that he was going to commit suicide, but that moment changed his life. Being part of a community is an integral part of living.
“I see music as a tool to bring people together. That’s what I get out of it, I get to connect people.”
One challenge Ray has is getting artists to lose their fear of being creative in the moment.
“You would be surprised at how many people get anxiety: I don’t know how to write. I don’t know how to do it.
They get up there and they kill it.”
True growth is always just outside your comfort zone, so Ray is adept at getting people to trust him, and step just outside that line, where they are completely vulnerable. In that moment, creativity will be bestowed upon them, and they will shine. Ray uses Producer Mondays to put the spotlight on others, and it let the magic happen.
30 Rock
Performing for The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon is a nightly opportunity for Ray to perform on the fly.
One of his most vivid memories was when Prince performed Bambi on Jimmy Fallon and borrowed a prized 1961 Epiphone Crestwood from The Root’s Captain Kirk Douglas.
“He takes the guitar, kills it…then throws it up. By the time the guitar hits the ground, he’s already in his dressing room.
Kirk eventually was given money from Prince to repair his guitar and was inspired to write the song: Little Friend
Ray also remembers playing with Wendy & Lisa of The Revolution, along with Maya Rudolph at 30 Rock by the skating rink, as a Prince tribute at the finale of SNL this season.
“I felt like I was in Prince’s band. It was so beautiful.”
Collaboration Wishes
Who would Ray love to collaborate with, apart from the easy answer Bjork, based on his song Bjork City off the One Album?
Ray would love to work with Disney and Universal, to unlock his ability to work with all artists.
He cites Jazzmeia as an “incredible artist.”
In the early 2000s, “I really wanted to do a record with Pink. Such a fan of hers.”
He also mentions Katy Perry, and even Taylor Swift.
“I feel a kindred spirit with people that put their heart into the music. When I’m performing, it has nothing to do with me. Everything that I’m creating, it just comes from the universe, through me.”
Artists like Taylor and Beyoncé are also channels that tap into that same universe inspiration.
Fantasy Rock Band
When asked to create the ultimate fantasy rock band, Ray chose.
Lead Guitar/Vocals: Prince
Keyboards/Vocals: Sly Stone sharing lead vocals with Prince.
Guitar: Jimi Hendrix
Second Keyboards: Bernard Wright
Bass: Bootsy Collins
Drums: Clyde Stubbefield (James Brown)
The question brings Ray’s influences to the forefront, and he would even add Igor Stravinsky to the mix, honoring his Classical roots.
Conclusion
Ray is the antithesis of a super villain. His goal is to help others shine, with his brilliant creativity, and is always ready to help a fellow musician tap into the universe to channel some creativity in any project.
He has worked with the biggest names in the industry and continues to challenge himself nightly with The Roots as they back Jimmy Fallon.
His community for Producer Mondays grows weekly and has a direct impact on both the performers, and the audience.
Like a Martini, Angry, Ray Angry has shaken up the music industry by stirring Classical, Jazz and African rhythms for himself and a never-ending list of people he’s collaborated with.
He just might be at the top of his game, but the game is just starting.
Writer: Randal Wark is a Professional Speaker and MasterMind Facilitator with a passion for live music. You can follow him on Instagram, Twitter and YouTube. His Podcast RockStar Today helps musicians quit their day jobs with out-of-the-box advice from Ted Talk Speakers, Best Selling Authors and other interesting Entrepreneurs and Creatives. He created the Rock Star Today Music Business Jam Session for musicians. Randal is a collector of signed vinyl, cassettes and CDs.
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