Ricardo Jay

Ricardo Jay, the "True Romantic"

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Fresh off creating his new EP entitled True Romantic, Ricardo Jay is beaming with happiness. "I just finished creating the EP of my life," says Jay. "Although its only four songs, it sums up they way I feel right now about things: freedom, love, lIfe, relationships, and this journey through it all."

Indeed, True Romantic is certainly a diverse release; yet somehow very satisfying and whole, as the music lover will find out. True Romantic contains four songs composed by and performed by Jay in which he plays all of the instruments, displaying his personality and style. Additionally he is joined by trumpet player extraordinaire Jara Queeto on "Danza de La Luna" for some cool jazz flavor. This version of "Danza" is an update to the previously well-received instrumental version, which will be featured in the upcoming indie feature film "X's and O's". This time around, Jay adds some Chet Baker-esque vocals to the mix, to add to the romantic theme of the song, to the usual warm nylon-string guitars.

"Everything" is a song about the guy who has just that. "That song is about waking up and realizing that everything is possible -- anything and everything, and then its like, 'what are you going to do now?'" says Jay. "Who knows? But ultimately it seems to be about a girl. It was a fun song to make, a fun place to live in." The sparse beginning culminates in a dreamy and lush chorus, perfect for those sunny afternoons and daydreaming moments.

"Venus Song" is an interesting departure from Jay's known work. "I've always wanted to do an R&B song. I love the way you can do background vocals and have a lot of fun with sounds, and themes. Growing up on 80s music, I liked a lot of pop, but R&B was what I was into when I was young. All those groups like Shalimar, and Midnight Star were so much fun. This is kind of my take on that, but with my own lyrics and experience."

"Sweet Talkin Angel" is the last of the four, and may be the most unique. "I think of it as my cowboy song, about a girl who's out there looking for love, but its right inside of her." Enough said. All in all, the listener will be rewarded with an interesting and eclectic experience of the artist known as Ricardo Jay, as he reveals his intimate thoughts and dreams in this new collection of music. A True Romantic, he is.

WORLD, JAZZ, SOUL COLLIDE IN FORTHCOMING RELEASE

HOLLYWOOD, CA - The world may not know it yet, but A&R Select's Ricardo Jay is one of the music world's top purveyors of jazz, world music and old school soul, fusing these smooth, catchy sounds into a world jazz and world soul fusion that will take the country by storm. A&R Select is Hollywood's leading independent A&R firm and Ricardo Jay is Oakland, CA's new musical hero.

Jay has announced the impending release of a CD that will turn the world of genre-bending on its ear. "I have a full-length album to be released within the next two months," says Jay.

"The new CD, whose title has not yet been announced, bears all the classic flavors that draw music lovers to world and soul and jazz but combines them in ways that are always fresh and frequently startling," according to a spokesman for A&R Select.

With his music, Jay is looking to bring life back into people's lives. Too often people get bowled under by the daily grind and Jay hopes to bring back some spark with his music. "Music makes me feel truly alive. It is, in my experience, a pure expression of living,"Jay says.

He looks to reach out to people with his music and restore some of the gaiety that often goes missing. Music is Jay's way of making the world a better place. "I feel connected to the world, the universe, and the people in in through music."

Jay is quick to point out, however, that he is as much a beneficiary of his songwriting as the listeners are. "Creatively speaking, music is empowering and uplifting. This ability to give through music is unlimited, and the ability to create is a true gift." Through music, Jay seeks to express what he calls the "human experience". "I feel it is a wonderful way to communicate the human experience, and beyond that, a way to experience something totally new."

Creativity and originality are a vital part of the musical force to be found on the upcoming release. Jay holds himself to a standard of songwriting honesty  which means he writes what he feels and lets it go where it wants. He doesn't believe in stifling new ideas. "I also feel that music, when it comes from the heart, is something pure, and easy, and it will touch the hearts of others. So it is simply a matter of expressing this purity in the creative process. All of the creative tools work well when the music comes from the heart."

With his new CD, Jay will share by way of the songs themselves his feelings that music is a necessary and integral part of life. It's not something people can live without and experience wholeness, he believes. "My philosophy is that creating music is natural, and the creative process will flow if I am open to it. I adore beauty. So the music I am writing will always be beautiful in some way. It may be beautifully sad, triumphant, angry, or silly."

Of course, Jay insists that music is more than mere entertainment or distraction. It is as art that music finds its force and Jay sees art in all music. "Aesthetically [a song written from the heart] will be a work of art. I consider all music to be art, by the way - even the stuff on the radio."

Jay is already finding recognition for his hard work. "I have a song placement in an indie feature called "X's and O's" by filmmaker Kedar Korde for Platonically Productions." In addition, he has touring lined up as a major part of his schedule in 2007, with an eye to striking into Europe after he's wowed the states.

More information about Ricardo Jay is available by visiting www.ricardojay.com and www.arselect.com.