Bio and Quotes
Jay Rattman is a freelance improvisor, composer and woodwind multi-instrumentalist based in New York City, originally from Stroudsburg, PA. With a discography of over 60 records with artists as varied as Phil Woods, the Anna Webber-Angela Morris Big Band, Rachael & Vilray, The New Wonders, The EarRegulars, Stefon Harris, Railroad Earth, and Chet Lam, his musical sensitivity and spontaneity have placed him in demand in a wide range of settings from contemporary classical chamber music to early jazz, klezmer, creative improvised music, straight ahead jazz and everything in between. He has performed at most of the major jazz clubs in New York in addition to the Newport Jazz Festival, the Coachella Festival, the Bern Jazz Festival, Red Rocks Amphitheater, the Late Show, and the Tonight Show. He recently released two albums of original music, In the Towns, and A Decorated Fish for Your Wall.
“Did you see the size of the saxophone on that guy? Crazy! Crazy!”
“A giant of the future.”
“I don’t want any of that poetic shit. I want eighth-notes!”
“…it‘s a vehicle for some remarkable clarinet playing by Jay Rattman. A lapsed clarinest myself, I marvel not only at his ability as a soloist, but also his section work as the lead voice later in the piece.” “Taken at an adults only’ tempo, it features wonderful ensemble playing and another terrific turn by Jay Rattman on the clarinet.”
“The salutes to Jones (titled ‘Hank Jones’) and D’Amico (‘Ballad for Hank’) sound gentle and tender but never mournful, with the second of those so lovely that it could be a setting for dancing close, holding on to someone you love. Jay Rattman’s sweet clarinet in that number enriches that. Further, Rattman contributes a jumping baritone solo in ‘Before I Left’… Moreover, Rattman, again on clarinet, comes up with intricate beauty in a soulful take on ‘You Don’t Know What Love Is’…”
“…clarinetist Jay Rattman, who also plays soprano with a trumpet—like, Sidney Bechet-inspired attack.”
“Jay Rattman offered a beautifully understated baritone sax solo on the evening’s opener, ‘Look to the Sky,’ which made it clear that he understands bossa’s quiet fire.”
“Whatever your clarinetist is getting paid, it should be doubled.”
“I used to play saxophone, but I gave it up in college.”