Ray Obiedo

Ray Obiedo (born January 27, 1952, in Richmond, California) is an American contemporary jazz guitarist.

Biography Obiedo grew up in Richmond, California, and began playing guitar at age 16. Initially he played both jazz and R&B. He has appeared on records by Herbie Hancock, George Duke, Bob Mintzer, Grover Washington Jr, Lou Rawls, The Whispers, Johnny "Hammond" Smith, Pete Escovedo, Sheila E. and Julian Priester. He was the leader of the jazz fusion group Kick and the rock band Rhythmus 21.

In 1989 he signed with Windham Hill Jazz Records, with whom he released five albums in eight years. Obiedo made his solo debut with 1989's Perfect Crime, followed two years later by Iguana; with 1993's Sticks and Stones, he reached the Top Ten on Billboard 's Contemporary Jazz charts. After 1995's African-influenced Zulaya, he resurfaced two years later with Sweet Summer Days featuring vocalist Peabo Bryson. Ray's most recent releases are under his own Rhythmus Records label, 2015's There Goes That, The Latin Jazz Project Vol 1 in 2017, Carousel (2020), The Latin Jazz Project Vol 2 in 2022 and the 2024 release of Twist.

Discography As leader Perfect Crime (Windham Hill, 1989) Iguana (Windham Hill, 1991) U.S. Top Contemporary Jazz Albums No. 10 Sticks & Stones (Windham Hill, 1993) U.S. Contemporary Jazz No. 7 Zulaya (Windham Hill, 1995) U.S. Contemporary Jazz No. 22 Sweet Summer Days (Windham Hill, 1997) Modern World (Domo, 1999) There Goes That (Rhythmus, 2014) Latin Jazz Project, Vol. 1 (Rhythmus, 2016) Carousel (Rhythmus, 2019) Latin Jazz Project, Vol. 2 (Rhythmus, 2021) Twist (Rhythmus, 2024) Slight Accent (Rhythmus, 2026)

With Bill Summers & Summers Heat Cayenne (Prestige, 1977) Feel the Heat (Prestige, 1977) On Sunshine (Prestige, 1978) Straight to the Bank (Prestige, 1978) Call It What You Want (MCA, 1981) Jam the Box (MCA, 1981) Seventeen (MCA, 1982)

With Pete Escovedo Solo Two (Fantasy, 1977) Happy Together (Fantasy, 1978) The Island (Esgo, 1982) Yesterday's Dreams, Tomorrow's Memories (Esgo, 1985) Flying South (Concord, 1995) E Street (Concord, 1997) E Music (Concord Picante, 2000) Live at Stern Grove (Concord, 2012) Back to the Bay (Esco 2018) Anthology (Esco 2023)

With Herbie Hancock Feets, Don't Fail Me Now (CBS, 1979) Directstep (CBS Sony, 1979) Butterfly with Kimiko Kasai & Herbie Hancock (CBS Sony, 1979) Tokyo Sunlight (Megadisc, 2002)

With Sheila E. Sex Cymbal (Warner Bros., 1991) Writes of Passage (Concord, 2000) Heaven (Concord, 2001)

As sideman, producer Johnny "Hammond" Smith Forever Taurus (Milestone) 1976 Bobbi Humphrey Tailor Made (Epic) 1977 Julian Priester Polarization (ECM) 1977 (as composer/sideman) Eddie Henderson Mahal (Capitol) 1978 Paul Jackson Black Octopus (Toshiba-EMI) 1978 George Duke Master of the Game (Epic) 1979 Michael Paulo Tats in the Rainbow (Trio-Kenwood) 1979 Mark Soskin Rhythm Vision (Prestige) 1980 The Waters Watercolors (Arista) 1980 Rodney Franklin Endless Flight (CBS) 1981 The Whispers Love Is Where You Find It (Solar) 1981 Carrie Lucas Still in Love (Solar) 1982 (as co-producer/composer/sideman) Holly Near Speed of Light (Redwood) 1982 Cornelius Bumpus Beacon (Broadbeach) 1983 The Whispers Love for Love (Solar) 1983 (as co-producer/composer/sideman) Linda Tillery Secrets (Redwood) 1985 (as producer/composer/sideman) R.O.A.R. R.O.A.R. (CBS) 1985 L.J. Reynolds Tell Me You Will (Fantasy) 1987 Brenda Russell Kiss Me With the Wind (A&M) 1990 Lou Rawls It's Supposed to Be Fun (Blue Note) 1990 Rad Venus Drops (Soulciety) 1993 Claudia Villela Asa Verde (Taina) 1994 Marc Russo The Window (JVC) 1994 Rad Gotta Be (Soulciety) 1994 David Garibaldi The Funky Beat (1 & 2) (Manhattan) 1996 (as composer & sideman) Grover Washington, Jr. Soulful Strut (Columbia) 1996 David K Mathews Down With It 1998 (as producer/engineer/sideman) The Whispers Love for Love (Solar) 1998 (as co-producer/composer/sideman) Braxton Brothers Now & Forever (Windham Hill) 1999 Delfonics Forever New (Volt) 1999 Marion Meadows Next to You (Heads Up) 2000 (as co-producer/composer/sideman) Tom Grant Tune It In (Windham Hill) 2000 (as producer/engineer/sideman) Zigaboo Modeliste Zigaboo (JZM) 2000 Freda Payne Come See About Me (Volt) 2001 Marion Meadows In Deep (Heads Up) 2002 Rad Live Live in Paris (7 Bridges) 2003 Intuit Intuit (Compost) 2004 (as co-producer/engineer/sideman) Intuit Planet Birth (Compost) 2004 (as co-producer/engineer/sideman) Joyce Cooling This Girl's Got to Play (Narada) 2004 (as engineer/sideman) Joyce Cooling Revolving Door (Narada) 2006 (as engineer/sideman) Doc Kupka Doc Goes Hollywood (Strokeland) 2008 Rad Live in Japan (7 Bridges) 2008 Intuit Voyage No. 2 (In + Out) 2011 Amikaeyla Being in Love (Rootsjazz) 2012 (as co-producer /engineer/sideman) George Duke Complete 1970's Epic Albums (Epic) 2012 Pacific Mambo Orchestra Pacific Mambo Orchestra (PMO) 2012 Chloé Jean Fairy Tale Fail (Rhythmus Records 2023)