Ray Montford

Like the human condition and the incredible beauty of nature, Ray Montford’s melodic original tunes are fuelled by a wild and raw beauty, inspiring haunting sonic canvasses that are equally rich in imagery, as they are powerful.  With his fingerstyle technique, his compositions defy categorization and blend various forms and styles, including  folk, rock, jazz, blues, country, world and roots.  Incorporating a textured sound all his own and sense of economy in phrasing, Ray is a soulful player who lets his instrument sing, wringing emotion from every note. In the end, it's all about conveying an emotion and taking the listener away.

Ray Montford’s new and long-awaited seventh studio album, Share My Sky, is the acclaimed guitarist’s first recording in six years. Exploring the themes of loss, grief, trauma, compassion, forgiveness and love, Montford has expanded his sonic range and compositional depth to offer his most personal and emotional statement to date. Collaborating with singer/songwriter Lynn Moffatt, he co-wrote Deliver Me, a song that embodies the universal feelings of loneliness and belonging, while specifically shining light on the fate of refugees who strive to land in a safe place - a topical theme in these troubled times. The strong presence of singers Sheena Turcotte and Anouk Michelle-Grégoire on this recording (a first in Ray’s career) lends tremendous poignancy to songs Alive and Let Your River Flow, while the album’s profoundly reflective title track, composed upon his return from Bali, rates as one of the most evocative melodies the guitarist has ever written.

Born in Ottawa, Ray began learning by ear and woodshedding with the great rock records of that era.  After studying audio engineering, production, and performance in the Music Industry Arts program at Fanshawe College and doing a term in the music program at Humber, he began writing and recording his own music, and by 1995 was dedicating most of his priorities in that discipline. Between 1994-'97, he was the guitar player for the Rankins and from 1997-'99, Mary Jane Lamond.  His compositions have been heard on National CBC radio and have been licensed for various television series. For more than 20 years Ray and his rhythm section featuring some of Canada's best players, have played for audiences and loyal fans at music festivals, clubs, theatres, house concerts and private parties. They toured parts of Europe in 2001, shared the stage with the Tony Levin Band (alumnae of Peter Gabriel) in 2003 and sold out the Young Centre for the Performing Arts in Toronto for the release of A Fragile Balance in 2007. Recently, they played the Oakville Centre for the Performing Arts to a sold-out audience, the Oakville Jazz Festival (2010 & 2012), Markham Jazz Festival (2012), and the Canadian Guitar Festival (2009, 2011 & 2014). 

Ray has gratefully received support from the Ontario Arts Council, Toronto Arts Council, Factor and External Affairs as well as sponsorship from Totem Acoustic and Paradigm for his compostions, recording and performances. He has been a juror for the Toronto Arts Council's Composer Program and twice for the Gemini awards. Periodically, he scores original music to picture.

Discography *Share My Sky (2018) *Vintage Is Now (2012) *Live Sessions (2010) * A Fragile Balance (2007) * Shed Your Skin - 10th Anniversary Edition (1997 - 2007) * Live Imagery (2006) * Many Roads (2003) * One Step Closer (2000) * The Early Sessions (1991-2004).

"As hypnotic as a highway at night, always-moving, always-changing scenery, the kind of music you hear on an old car radio in the middle of nowhere." - Ottawa Sun