Born in Brooklyn, New York in 1946, Ron began his musical journey at age eleven studying accordion with Alexander Matos. At age sixteen, after hearing Dave Brubeck play live at Carnegie Hall, Ron discovered his passion for jazz piano. He studied improvisation with the legendary Lennie Tristano. A self taught composer, Ron formed a trio and played jazz clubs in New York’s Greenwich Village in the late sixties. During this period he performed with Sonny Rollins, Joe Henderson, Enrico Rava, Renee McClean, Roland Kirk and Art Farmer. In 1970 Ron married and moved to the Michigan’s Upper Peninsular where he started a family and the Wintergreen Natural Foods business. In 1981 Ron moved to Homer, Michigan, and began employment with Trojan Heat Treat Company. Starting as a furnace operator, Ron grew the company’s sales and employees and in 1986 became President and remains in that position currently.
Ron serves on the faculty of Hillsdale and Kalamazoo Colleges, teaching jazz piano, improvisation, theory and composition. He is a member of ASCAP, IJAE and the American Composers Forum. Active in the ‘Arts’ in his community he serves on the Homer Arts Advisory Council, and directs the Homer Community Choir. A recent project, A Tribute to “Kind of Blue,” Essence of Green, was featured at the 2006 Irving Gilmore International Keyboard Festivals Noon Series Concerts. The performance included the legendary drummer Jimmy Cobb, the last remaining member of the Miles Davis “Kind of Blue” ensemble, along with his group Jazz X. (Ten)
Ron is currently working on “Black and White”, For Ten Jazz Legends. This work contains original Lyrics and pays tribute to Ron’s inspirations. It includes Jimmy Cobb and Jazz X on the recording. He is also author of “Deltadiatonics”, The Marriage of Major and Minor, the Synthesis of Classical and Jazz Harmony.
Ron has recorded two solo piano Compact Discs, Allegro, a series improvisation on folk songs and compositions by Dr. Shinichi Suzuki, and Appassionato, an Italian suite, written and recorded between 2002 and 2004.
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