Phil Raney of Urban Jazz Coalition

"I've had a beautiful life...full of tremendous experiences...I'm just a firm believer that if you have faith in God, live your life the right way, and work hard, the Lord will make good things happen for you." - Phil Raney

Urban Jazz Coalition has been one of the hottest live performance ensembles on the Contemporary jazz scene for some time now, and they have created a major buzz on the national smooth jazz festival circuit over the past several years.

UJC has electrified audiences across North America while performing their energetic blend of R&B/Jazz Fusion at many of the nation’s most prominent festivals and concert venues including The Seabreeze Jazz Festival, Jazz Fest West, The Capital Jazz Fest, The Rehoboth Beach Jazz Festival, and numerous other prestigious concert venues. JazzTimes Magazine’s award winning columnist, Brian Soergel, described the band’s sound as “flush with rhythmic grooves, funky bass lines, and beautiful melodies.”

Urban Jazz Coalition has made a strong impression at terrestrial, satellite, and internet radio, propelling their last five CD releases to “Top 50” status on international airplay charts, and generating worldwide distribution of the group’s music catalogue.  UJC’s most recent project, “One Step Closer” (released July 2013) was also named one of the “Top 100 Records Of 2013” by the prestigious Groove Jazz Music Airplay Chart.     The band’s music has been featured in network television programming, international film soundtracks, advertising campaigns, and as part of an eclectic group of artists included on a Gospel/Jazz compilation project released by Capitol/EMI Records.

In addition to the acclaim UJC has earned as a self contained group, they have also become one of the most in-demand back-up groups in smooth jazz, having performed as sidemen for many top artists including Nick Colionne, Marion Meadows, Jeff Lorber, Peter White, Paul Taylor, Althea Rene’, Brian Simpson, Jackiem Joyner, Tom Braxton, Mike Phillips, Jazz In Pink, Lin Rountree, Four 80 East, Jessy J, Ken Navarro, Nils, Oli Silk, Elizabeth Mis, U-Nam, Paula Atherton, Matt Marshak & Marcus Anderson. 

When asked why this group has generated so much excitement in smooth jazz circles, former Radio & Records chart columnist Carol Archer was quoted as follows…

“A lot of artists aspire to sound as tight and as funky as The Urban Jazz Coalition, But these gentlemen really do pull it off…”

With the radio success of the band’s CD projects, and the positive buzz generated by their consistently energetic live performances, UJC continues to have the momentum rolling as they embark on another busy touring season.  

You won’t want to miss an opportunity to hear the group that everyone has been talking about…Urban Jazz Coalition!  

Booking Agency: Steve Butler @ Mighty Music, LLC…718-815-9447

UJC Contact: Phil Raney @ Continuum Music Group…614-202-8400

www.urbanjazzcoalition.net

For more information about The Idlewild Music Festival Visit www.idlewildmusicfest.org