Ron Davis Musician - All About Jazz

Updated: June 28, 2022

Born: August 22

“One of the great minds in jazz.” - Jazz FM

JUNO AWARD nominee RON DAVIS. Pianist, composer, CBC and BBC Radio repeat performer, international favourite, solo artist, critics’ choice.

Ron is a Canadian jazz visionary. His music blends genres and pushes boundaries, building on his jazz and classical training. He seeks new textures, new forms, new compositions, new formations and new ways of presenting his signature sound without losing a connection to audiences. The music is diverse in a characteristically Canadian way.

Ron has released 13 critically acclaimed albums. His 12th, SymphRONica UpfRONt was honoured with a 2020 JUNO AWARD (Canada’s Grammy or BAFTA awards) “INSTRUMENTAL ALBUM OF THE YEAR” NOMINATION.

Ron has travelled the world playing his innovative, fresh music. From Toronto to Tokyo to London to Edinburgh. He has given repeat performances on BBC Radio 3, and shows for Japanese royalty, audiences in Trafalgar Square for Canada 150 celebrations, and repeat invitations to the Edinburgh Festival Fringe.

Ron is the founder of SYMPHRONICA, which combines a stellar Canadian jazz ensemble with full symphony orchestra or string quartet, playing original compositions. The result is GENRE-DEFYING AND MUSICALLY ELECTRIFYING. 2020 saw SymphRONica launch its 7th season in Toronto.

After early classical studies at the Royal Conservatory of Music with Margaret Parsons Poole and William Andrews, Ron studied with Darwyn Aitken, a student of both Oscar Peterson, and classical great David Saperton (George Gershwin’s brother-in-law).

Ron is also a former University of Toronto French Professor. Ron also practices part-time as a lawyer and is a partner in the Fogler Rubinoff law firm. He plays for and has sat on the boards of numerous charities. He was Secretary of the Glenn Gould Foundation. Ron publishes articles on law, music, and linguistics.

Awards

JUNO Award Nominee
Independent Music Award Nominee
Canada Council, Ontario Arts Council, FACTOR Grants
Top Jazz Albums of the Year Designations for SymphRONica, Shimmering Rhythm, Mungle Music, So Much, The Bestseller, Subarashii Live

Tags

All About Jazz Articles

Album Review

Solo Duo Trio by Dave Nathan
Mungle Music by Jerry D'Souza
Subarashii Live by Jerry D'Souza
My Mother's Father's Song by Alain Londes

Articles Across the Web

...or were mentioned in an All About Jazz article.

“One of the great minds in jazz!” - Jazz.FM91

“Ron Davis’ SymphRONica is truly an ensemble like no other. Energetic, virtuosic, charming, worldly … excitingly unpredictable and fresh… virtuosity and drive …” - WholeNote

“Not like anything else out there. …Your mind will be blown … a sound which truly represents modern jazz music!” – OrcaSound

“…an astronomical experience, this reinvention of jazz for modern ears.” – The Student (Scotland)

“...blends genres and pushes boundaries… genre-defying…” - Jazz Chill Music • “No wonder he’s been called “one of the great minds in Jazz” by JazzFM and “an innovative force within the world of Jazz” by The National Post.” – TorontoMoon • “Four Stars… wonderfully wayward eclecticism… sumptuously floating … deftly ranging keyboard work … a wonderful excursion … a pulsing, slamming drive … enjoyably intimate, salon vibe.” – The Scotsman • “Virtuoso performance…consummate artistry, blending superior control and tonal lucidity with a cohesive sense of line and motion… jazz music could hardly be better served.” - WholeNote • “Four Stars… Davis’ ideas have some resemblance to Pink Martini… serious musical ability is juxtaposed with wit.” – The Herald, Scotland

“One of the great minds in jazz!” - Jazz.FM91

“Ron Davis’ SymphRONica is truly an ensemble like no other. Energetic, virtuosic, charming, worldly … excitingly unpredictable and fresh… virtuosity and drive …” - WholeNote

“Not like anything else out there. …Your mind will be blown … a sound which truly represents modern jazz music!” – OrcaSound

“…an astronomical experience, this reinvention of jazz for modern ears.” – The Student (Scotland)

“Absolutely superb…inspirational… some of the best classically-infused jazz on the planet.” – Patricia Silver – edfringe.com

“Superb (SymphRONica)” - The Royal Philharmonic Society, UK

“Endlessly inventive!” - Jazz.FM91

“Ron Davis has reaffirmed his position as one of the most tenacious and engaging musical artists in Canada.” – WholeNote

"Ron Davis is a name that is synonymous with creativity, inventiveness, eclecticism... an unclassifiable pianist, a great virtuoso, a genius composer..." – L’Express

“…astonishing technique, authentic heir of the greatest pianists of Toronto - "classic" Glenn Gould and jazz musician Oscar Peterson... breathtaking!” – Trud (Russia)

“His playing is reminiscent of Oscar Peterson or that of Jamie Cullum… A brilliant virtuoso.” – CBC - Espace Musique

“He has firmly established himself as an innovative force within the world of jazz.” – National Post

"The artistry of Ron Davis is revealed not solely by his playfulness on the piano, but all the more by his creative decisions as leader." - Wholenote

"Exceptionally gifted and eclectic, Toronto pianist Ron Davis seems like the living incarnation of the perpetuum mobile, buzzing from flower to flower following his successive projects as they emerge, straight from the heart." L'Express

“It's one thing to press play on your laptop and check out Ron Davis; it's another to see his magic in person.” – Examiner.com

“Pick of the day 2015 Pan Am Games performers” – Errol Nazareth

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