Jay Rice

Great weekend of music with Christian McBride and Ursa Major. He always makes my bass sound great!

Jay Rice – Bassist with VINX (2007–2008)

🎵 Artist / Band: VINX (Vincent De’Jon Parrette)
📍 Locations: Georgia, Boston, international recordings
📅 Years of Collaboration: 2007–2008
🎸 Jay Rice’s Role: Bassist on recordings (Hip Ole Memoirs of a Black Man Volumes 1 & 2) and live performances

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Overview

Jay Rice performed as bassist for internationally acclaimed musician VINX, contributing to both studio recordings and live performances. He is verifiably featured on VINX’s Hip Ole Memoirs of a Black Man Volumes 1 & 2.

While other bassists were spotlighted after 2008, Jay Rice is clearly performing on these recordings, verified through audio, photos, and VINX’s personal recognition. This collaboration gave him the opportunity to work with an artist whose career includes collaborations with Sting, Stevie Wonder, Herbie Hancock, Sheryl Crow, and Branford Marsalis, as well as high-profile tours, commercial projects, and educational work.

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Major Performances & Studio Work
• Studio: Bass recordings on Hip Ole Memoirs of a Black Man Volumes 1 & 2
• Live: Studio sessions and select live performances with VINX
• Professional Context: VINX’s international projects exposed Jay Rice to major-level production standards and high-profile professional collaborations

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Why This Matters
• VINX is a globally respected, multi-genre musician, educator, and mentor, whose work spans recordings, tours, film, commercials, and international workshops.
• Jay Rice’s involvement demonstrates his ability to perform and record at the highest professional level, complementing his collaborations with Derek Schanche, Spencer Day, and other major-level artists.
• This partnership forms a career-defining chapter for Jay Rice, bridging Boston’s regional scene with international, major-label professional music networks.

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Supporting Evidence
• Recordings: Hip Ole Memoirs of a Black Man Volumes 1 & 2
• Photos & Videos: Studio sessions and live performances (personal archives)
• VINX Credentials: Collaborations with top artists, Berklee professor, international workshops
• Press & References: VINX’s official website, social media, album credits, festival listings

https://vinx.com/album/1786972/50-memoirs-of-a-hip-ole-black-man-vol-2?fbclid=IwZnRzaAQXGmpleHRuA2FlbQIxMQBzcnRjBmFwcF9pZAo2NjI4NTY4Mzc5AAEej3E6xH-1u92aHTrrv7kQTF37DWAfbSJGp9nveDQVWRvhhSohXWEbzvWIMnE_aem_tvnQycifaMMCL5QIXvFvzA

Derek Schanche / Señor Happy – Jay Rice Collaboration (2006-2008)

Artist / Band: Derek Schanche (sometimes performing as Señor Happy)
Location: Boston, Massachusetts; national projects
Years of Collaboration: 2006–2008
Jay Rice’s Role: Live bassist; guitar in CBS-produced Rules of Engagement theme video (unreleased)

Overview

Derek Schanche is a major-label recording artist signed to CBS Records and an ASCAP award winner for the Rules of Engagement theme song. His work has also been featured on the commercially released 90210 CD with Señor Happy. These accomplishments position Schanche as a nationally recognized professional in the music industry.

Between 2006 and 2008, Jay Rice performed as the live bassist for Derek Schanche, participating in multi-year shows and regional performances. He contributed to a mix of original compositions and covers, providing consistent professional musicianship that complemented Schanche’s nationally recognized repertoire.

Venues and Performances
• Paradise Lounge, Boston: recurring multi-year shows
• Middle East, Cambridge, MA: Boston music landmark venue
• TT the Bear’s, Cambridge, MA: key Boston-area performances
• Additional regional Boston-area venues as part of Schanche’s ongoing performance schedule

Major-Level Collaborations and Career Impact
• Jay Rice appeared on guitar in the CBS-produced Rules of Engagement theme video (unreleased), showcasing experience in major-label production and national-level media projects.
• Jay Rice has also performed live with Spencer Day, a Billboard-charting, nationally touring artist, and recorded internationally with VINX (Hip Ole Memoirs of a Black Man, Volumes 1 & 2).
• These collaborations collectively demonstrate that Jay Rice operates at a high professional tier, capable of performing alongside nationally and internationally recognized artists.

Professional Context
• Derek Schanche’s major-label signing, ASCAP recognition, and soundtrack credits make him a prominent figure in the national music industry.
• Jay Rice’s involvement with Schanche reflects his ability to perform, adapt, and contribute at the top level of professional music, from live regional performances to major-label productions.
• This collaboration is a clear example of Jay Rice’s portfolio of top-tier work, connecting Boston’s live music scene to nationally and internationally recognized projects.

Evidence / Supporting Material
• Photos: Live performances, including Paradise Lounge shows
• Video: CBS-produced Rules of Engagement music video (unreleased)
• Press Mentions: Boston Herald listings, ASCAP award references, local and national coverage
• Professional References: Personal archives, artist pages

https://m.youtube.com/watch?feature=youtu.be&fbclid=IwZnRzaAQoJuRleHRuA2FlbQIxMQBzcnRjBmFwcF9pZAo2NjI4NTY4Mzc5AAEebPTX7Y97odaN3EcJpqIFQwp8y40ueq-psPj8DkWBCHkkrB5aLXQw3L9365Q_aem_YOR80deXGgtw66gwZ6dNYQ&si=0xIF82RHWSWoaFkr&v=ZFmocuhu1dM

Skyfoot live with Jay Rice – The Eternal Bend tour era (2012)

Port City Music Hall, Maine

Skyfoot is a Boston-based indie/jam rock band with an established catalog, touring history, and documented distribution across major music platforms. By the time of their 2012 release The Eternal Bend, the band had built a reputation for piano-driven songwriting, layered arrangements, and a live sound that expanded well beyond their studio recordings.

Following the album’s release, Skyfoot toured the Northeast, presenting material from The Eternal Bend in venues known for hosting national and regional touring acts. Their performance at Port City Music Hall in Maine captures the band during this active touring cycle, supported by a full rhythm section and expanded live arrangements.

Skyfoot lineup – The Eternal Bend era (2012 live performances)
• Eric McEwen – piano, organ, Rhodes, lead vocals
• Matt Drummey – electric guitars, backing vocals
• Aaron Morey – drums and cymbals
• Jay Rice – bass (major-label recording artist; touring musician)

For these shows, Jay Rice, a major-label recording artist through his recorded work with VINX on releases distributed via Sony/Columbia-associated channels, performed on bass. His playing provided a dedicated low-end foundation that allowed the band’s live arrangements to open up dynamically. Locking in tightly with Aaron Morey’s drumming, Rice added groove, stability, and forward momentum while supporting McEwen’s keyboard-led harmonic structures and Drummey’s guitar textures.

The live recordings from Port City Music Hall document Skyfoot in stride during the The Eternal Bend era:
• Piano-driven compositions expanding organically onstage
• Bass and drums forming a cohesive rhythmic core
• Guitar textures and backing vocals adding depth and contrast
• Songs stretching beyond studio versions without losing structure

The accompanying photos reflect the atmosphere of the night—warm stage lighting, focused musicianship, and the presence of a touring band deeply familiar with its material.

Skyfoot’s catalog from this period remains available and documented across Bandcamp, Spotify, and major retailers such as FYE, with additional regional press coverage including CentralMaine.com, reinforcing the band’s visibility and reach during this era.

🎶 Live recordings – Port City Music Hall, Maine (2012):

• https://youtu.be/yiBE_NpoYeg
• https://youtu.be/RaBUqTR74t8
• https://youtu.be/GaynyuN_DyQ
• https://youtu.be/mSSYkdhvlW4
• https://youtu.be/qLWFMmzvHD4

📸 Photos: Skyfoot live at Port City Music Hall — The Eternal Bend tour era

Billboard-charting artist Spencer Day is a singer, songwriter, and pianist known for blending classic pop, jazz, and theatrical storytelling. His releases have appeared on Billboard’s Jazz and Traditional Jazz charts, placing him among nationally recognized artists in the modern traditional-pop and jazz space.

After emerging in the late 2000s, Day reached a major touring stride in the early–mid 2010s, performing nationally and internationally at theaters, performing arts centers, jazz festivals, and curated concert series. His live shows are known for polished musicianship, strong narrative flow, and tight, professional band arrangements.

During this Billboard-charting touring era, Jay Rice performed live with Spencer Day as part of Day’s touring band, contributing bass in concert settings. Rice is not only a touring musician but also a recorded artist with major-label–connected credits, including performances on recordings by VINX, the Grammy-nominated vocalist and percussionist whose career includes releases on Sony/Columbia and long-standing major-label distribution. Jay Rice appears on VINX’s commercially released Hip Ole Memoirs volumes, which are widely available on major streaming platforms.

Performing with a Billboard-recognized artist like Spencer Day while also appearing on commercially released recordings tied to a Grammy-nominated, major-label artist reflects a high level of professional credibility across both live performance and recorded music.

https://youtu.be/iXzgeRFQB8c?si=HofwggxpF_KudgVi

https://youtu.be/R2OStEs_REs?si=Gb2DGIqwuB3fA2Po

Photos from live performances also show them together onstage, reflecting a working touring collaboration rather than a one-off appearance.