From his early days in 1948 with the Maxin Trio, Ray Charles's influence on popular music is clearly present on countless records from a myriad of artists covering blues, jazz, R & B and soul on up to the present. RayVille is focused on keeping this music alive on stage.
RayVille has been expanding its repertoire to include classic renditions from a wide variety of iconic artists including; Nat King Cole, James Brown, Eddie Floyd, Al Green, Billy Joel and Gregg Allman.
In February, 2025 RayVille released a new double album entitled "Live In Vienna", which also features an ever-growing catalog of its own original big band titles streaming on Spotify, Apple, YouTube Music, etc.
The Musicians
Joey Green
Vocals
Joey Green has been playing keyboards & singing since the 1970's. He has recorded and performed in a wide variety of cover & original bands in Massachusetts, Florida, New York and more recently Vienna, Austria. He co-founded the RayVille Big Band in 2013 with trombonist & composer Alex Lag.
Dorothea Jaburek
Vocals
After touring the United States in 2017, Dorothea travelled to New York where, on a scholarship, she studied with the well-known a capella group “New York Voices”. In 2018, Dorothea returned home to Vienna, Austria. She currently works as a solo vocalist, support vocalist/arranger and vocal trainer. She is a member of “Jazzphoniker”and performs throughout Austria with well-known national & international artists. Photo: Maria Frodo
Renate Reich
Vocals
Renate Reich is a jazz vocalist & composer who has studied “SLS” vocal techniques with Seth Riggs in Los Angeles, receiving her certification in 2003. She has collaborated with Sheila Jordan, Bob Stoloff (Berklee) and Michelle Weir (UCLA). Renate received her vocal jazz diploma in Vienna, Austria. As a soloist and support singer, she has worked with major figures in the music and comedy world. She continues to perform in jazz clubs, cultural associations and festivals throughout Europe, South Africa, La Reunion, Russia and the United States. Renate is very much in demand composing and arranging original music for her Quintet „Renate Reich Fivetett“ and to date has released six solo albums. Her most recent effort, entitled “Bad Habits” was released in September, 2025. Photo: Gustavo Allidi
Daisy Hearts
Vocals
Franco-British singer Daisy Hearts brings the soul of chanson française and the warmth of jazz to Vienna with a voice that echoes Édith Piaf and a stage presence that feels almost otherworldly. Her sold-out show at Das Vindobona has established her as one of the Vienna’s most captivating performers—an artist whose authenticity inhabits every note.
Harry Tanschek
Drums
Harry is an accomplished and very much sought-after drummer who studied at the University of Music Department Jazz in Graz, Austria with Wolfgang Tozzi & Günter Meinhart. Harry also studied at the Berklee College of Music in Boston, Massachusetts (USA) with Casey Scheuerell & Kenwood Dennard.
Gidon Ochsner
Guitar
Gidon Ochsner is a multi-faceted guitarist very much “at home” in a wide variety of musical styles, including Gypsy Rock, Balkan, Jazz, Blues & Rock. In 2014, he joined Harri Stojka’s "Hot Club de Vienne" with performances at the European Jazz Festival and Montreux. He founded the band "Gewürztraminer" which tours regularly throughout Europe.
Uli Datler
Piano
Uli was born & raised in Hollabrunn, Lower Austria. He started piano lessons at age of 8, and joined his first band when he was 12. He studied jazz and composition at the University of Music and Performing Arts in Vienna.
Martin Jank
Baritone Sax
Saxophonist and flautist Martin Jank was born in Vienna. He is an accomplished big band arranger, focusing on Jazz & Blues genres. His passion is Baroque music--a musical genre in which he plays the flute. Martin also leads a jazz quartet as well as his own big band.
Gerhard Tauber
Bass Guitar
Gerhard grew up in Vienna, Austria, and began performing professionally with The Vienna Boys Choir at the age of 10. With the choir, he toured Scandinavia, South Africa & the USA. He studied electric bass at the Conservatory of Vienna---immersing himself in jazz, blues, and R & B. He has performed alongside Johnny Logan, Joy Fleming, Dennis Jale & Andy Lee Lang.
Feli Pistorious
Alto Sax & Flute
Feli Pistorius studied flute at the Conservatory of Music in Vienna. She is a multi-talented musician who plays saxophone, piano and cello. Feli teaches at music schools in Vienna and performs regularly as a freelance musician in the Greater Vienna region.
Adam Ladanyi
Trombone
Helmut Strobl
Alto Sax, Clarinet, Flute
Born 1960 in Vienna, Helmut has studied Saxophone and Theory at Vienna Conservatory. He has performed for over 40 years with several bands all over Europe, including Ray Charles, Harry Edison, Art Farmer & Joe Zawinul,…..
Sophie Hassfurther
Tenor Sax
Sophie Hassfurther is a vibrant force in the jazz and improvised music scene, deeply committed to experimentation. Based in Vienna, she's an accomplished performer on saxophone, flute, and clarinet, as well as a composer and sought-after educator. London Jazz News lauded her CD "Mind Like Water" as 'an intense and different experience'.
Alwin Miller
Tenor Sax
Alwin Miller is a multi-talented musician/composer who plays saxophone, clarinet, flute, and piano. He is well versed in classical, jazz, blues, R & B, soul and even rock music. Moreover, he teaches as well as directs some of Austria's most popular and well-visited summer theater events in his "off-season" from teaching!
Alex Lag
Trombone/Composer/Arranger
Alex Lag studied musicology at the University of Vienna, as well as “Jazz Trombone” with Bobby Dodge at the Conservatory of the City of Vienna PU. He is a co-founder of RayVille and is an extremely gifted compositionist and big band arranger. Alex studied “Jazz Composition” with Ed Partyka and Andy Middleton at the Conservatory of the City of Vienna. He has also participated in Masterclasses & Concerts with: Roland Neuwirth, Bobby McFerrin, Dave Liebman, Andy Middleton Quartett, Bo Nielsen & Don Menza. Website:
Herbert Gurmann
Trumpet
Jan Kolaja
Trumpet
Born in Vienna, Jan Kolaja is the lead trumpeter and section leader of the RayVille Big Band. He also plays with many of Vienna'a most popular big bands including, the Vienna Big Band Project, Swingdance Big Band, Brucklyn Bigband, Golden Melodies Orchestra, Original Swingtime Bigband, Wolfgang Steubl Bigband, Vienna Ballroom Orchestra & the Alex Ehrenreich Bigband.
Gerhard Cernek
Trumpet
Gerhard was born and raised in Vienna, Austria. He studied music at the Joseph Haydn Konservatorium and The University of Graz. In 1999 he completed an MFE in Trumpet Education at U-California/Irvine in California. Gerhard has performed with Tom Kubis and Bill Holman. Or • 1989 IGP I, • 1991 Jazz Diploma Trumpet Vienna Johannesgasse • 1998 IGP II, University Graz • 1999 MFE Trumpet Education, UCI Irvine, CA • Teaching Experience… • Prinzipal Position since…
Stefan Fellner
Trumpet
Stefan Fellner, is a gifted & versatile jazz trumpet player. He studied at the Anton Bruckner Private university in Linz. His passion for big band music is noteworthy. He performs regularly in various jazz orchestras and big bands and is also the founder of "Big Band Theory". Stefan Fellner has worked with renowned artists such as: James Morrison and Thomas Gansch. He has been performing with The RayVille Big Band since 2015.
Events
This 18-piece powerhouse BIG BAND will return to "Reigen-Live" as a 21-piece BIG Band with the welcome addition of three wonderfully talented & lovely ladies to groove you to for an epic evening of Swing, Blues, R&B, Jazz & Rock big band music celebrating the legacy of Ray Charles!Read More
- Date:10/03/2026 20:30 - 10/03/2026 20:30
- Location Hadikgasse 62, Vienna, Austria (Map)
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- 127 Jameson Hill Road, Clinton Corners, NY, USA
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