Ron Hart received his BFA in Music Composition from Ohio University and continued his post-graduate work in Composition and Film Scoring at UCLA in 1978. Ron has played and recorded with a variety of music artists, beginning at age 19 with Dionne Warwick. His work as a jazz pianist continued with saxophonists Sonny Stitt and Richie Cole, bebop guitarist Bill deArango (Dizzy Gillespie, Charlie Parker), trumpeter Harry “Sweets” Edison (Count Basie), bassist/producer Larry Klein (Joni Mitchell, Herbie Hancock), Jorge Strunz (Strunz & Farah), South Indian violinist L. Subramaniam, and many others.
In 1981 ShadowLight Records released the Landress/Hart Group’s LP, “Dancing Moments,” a jazz/fusion album featuring Ron on piano and keyboards. The album received heavy airplay on commercial jazz stations as well as college radio.
“The Light Beyond the Atoms,” CD, released in 2008 on Ron’s indie label, PureBeam Music, is a suite of original music featuring Ron on grand piano with synthesizer orchestration. A selection from the album was featured on Hearts of Space online radio and can be found in their archives under Program 889 “Wistful.” Also appearing on that show are jazz greats Herbie Mann, Chick Corea, Gary Burton and Jan Garbarek.
In October, 2011 PureBeam Music released a newly recorded CD entitled “April in Paris” by Ron Hart on piano and upright bassist Gary Fitzgerald. This exciting mainstream and progressive jazz album features dynamic interplay between these two inspired musicians. A uniquely playful jazz treatment of Hit the Road, Jack as well as five other standards (April in Paris, Sidney’s Soliloquy, Night and Day, Angel Eyes and My Romance ) and five originals provide many unexpected moments.
Cashbox Magazine listed the CD in their Jazz Top 50 during April, May & June, 2012. DownBeat Magazine included "April in Paris" in their September, 2012 issue.
Ron and Gary appeared at the Arcosanti Jazz Festival in June, 2013 and played with alto sax great Richie Cole there in addition to their duo performances.
In June, 2021 PureBeam Music released Ron's classical music album, "Reflections of Lake Shrine (and other original classical music works)" featuring a five-movement suite of orchestral music, an ambient suite, chamber music and soundtrack cues.
All albums can be streamed on Spotify, Apple Music, and all major streaming services.
Awards
Ron Hart was included in the 1992-1993 edition of Who’s Who
in Entertainment as a composer, musician and record company
executive, and received the Albert Nelson Marquis Who's Who
Lifetime Achievement Award in 2018.
JazzReview.com
Reviewed by Brian S. Lunde
April in Paris / Ron Hart and Gary Fitzgerald
"If Ron Hart and Gary Fitzgerald are not quite household
names in jazz, they have still made a fine contribution to
the jazz library of piano and bass recordings.
Ray Charles made "Hit the Road, Jack" a raucous, foot-
tapping R&B hit. Here, Hart and Fitzgerald slow it down to a
bluesy walk. Fitzgerald opens and closes with straight-time
quarter notes that evoke our "Jack" hitting the road
reluctantly, just putting one foot in front of the other. In
the middle, however, Fitzgerald builds the song by stepping
first into eighth notes, then a nice double-time walking
bass line. A very fresh treatment of this song.
Hart and Fitzgerald have given us some very enjoyable jazz
on April in Paris. If you enjoy trios, give this record a
try and you'll appreciate the simpler but still swinging
sound of piano and bass."
Read more
JazzReview.com
Reviewed by Brian S. Lunde
April in Paris / Ron Hart and Gary Fitzgerald
"If Ron Hart and Gary Fitzgerald are not quite household
names in jazz, they have still made a fine contribution to
the jazz library of piano and bass recordings.
Ray Charles made "Hit the Road, Jack" a raucous, foot-
tapping R&B hit. Here, Hart and Fitzgerald slow it down to a
bluesy walk. Fitzgerald opens and closes with straight-time
quarter notes that evoke our "Jack" hitting the road
reluctantly, just putting one foot in front of the other. In
the middle, however, Fitzgerald builds the song by stepping
first into eighth notes, then a nice double-time walking
bass line. A very fresh treatment of this song.
Hart and Fitzgerald have given us some very enjoyable jazz
on April in Paris. If you enjoy trios, give this record a
try and you'll appreciate the simpler but still swinging
sound of piano and bass."
Hearts of Space online radio catalog
Reviewed by Stephen Hill - founder, program director & host:
The Light Beyond the Atoms / Ron Hart
“This is the piano and synthesizer album we’ve been waiting
for. Ron Hart combines the virtuosity and soulfulness of
Keith Jarrett with the softness and warmth of classical
music. In this fine suite, he’s taken his most inspired
concert improvisations on grand piano and added synthesizer
orchestrations to create a unique blend of spontaneity and
structure. The rich string tones and multi-colored ambiences
of the synthesizer enhance and complement the piano in a
completely natural sounding integration. The lyricism and
balance of this music is very appealing. You’ll find
yourself returning to Ron Hart’s music again and again.”
Keyboard Magazine, November 1981
Reviewed by Jazz Reviewer Jim Aikin:
Dancing Moments — Landress/Hart Group
“Keyboardist Ron Hart plays plenty of lead synthesizer on
this self-produced fusion LP, as well as some nice solos on
piano. Good charts, ably performed.”
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