Ron Jackson

Versatile and sophisticated jazz guitarist Ron Jackson has performed, recorded and taught music in over 30 countries. With a varied career as a performer, composer and arranger, Highlights include shows and tours with artists such as Taj Mahal, Jimmy McGriff, Larry Coryell, Benny Golson, Oliver Lake, Russell Malone and Mulgrew Miller. Ron has been featured as a leader in jazz festivals all over the world, including the North Sea Jazz Festival, Edinburgh Jazz Festivals and Winter Jazzfest, NYC.

Born in the Philippines, lived in many states as a kid, then settled in Harvard, Massachusetts, west of Boston, Ron was initially influenced by rock guitar greats like Jimmy Page, before falling under the spell of jazz and following the style and career of jazz guitar luminaries like Pat Metheny and George Benson. After attending Berklee School of Music on scholarship, studying jazz composition and arranging, Ron spent two formative years in the mid-1980’s living and playing guitar with the lively expat jazz community in Paris, France. Ron moved to New York City where he remains an active participant in Gotham’s always vibrant jazz scene. A master of the six, seven and twelve string guitars, Ron appeared on over 40 albums by such artists as Hal Singer, Graeme Norris, Ron Blake, Gisele Jackson and T.K. Blue, before founding the independent record label Roni Music in 2003 which has since released some of his eight of his albums as a leader including The Dream I Had (2003), Flubby Dubby (2008) and Akustik InventYours (2014). His latest project, Jazz Standards and Other Songs (2019) is an alluring mix of familiar jazz numbers and innovative adaptations of songs from other genre’s like his trendsetting arrangement for jazz trio of Drake’s “Passion Fruit.”

Ron was grateful to be selected as the winner of the 1996 Heritage International Jazz Guitar Competition. He has also been a recipient of the 2012 Donald Knutson Memorial Development Fund and the 1991 and 2000 Meet the Composer Performance Fund. He endorses, Eastman Guitars, Kremona Guitars, Aria Classical Guitars, Paul Reed Smith Guitars and Godin Guitars.

An acclaimed music educator, Ron currently teaches guitar at Jazz at Lincoln Center, The New School, Midori and Friends, and is the founder and director of the website www.practicejazzguitar.com. Ron has held master classes, concerts and workshops at Jazz at Lincoln Center-Jazz in the Schools, The Thelonious Monk Institute of Jazz, Escuela Creativa Musica in Madrid, Spain and California State University.

Tags

Album Review

Concrete Jungle by Dave Nathan
The Dream I Had by Franz A. Matzner
The Dream I Had by Geannine Reid

Take Five With...

Take Five With Ron Jackson

Album Review

Flubby Dubby by Edward Blanco
Akustik InventYours by Tyran Grillo
Standards and Other Songs by Peter J. Hoetjes

"Standards And Other Songs" Gets 3 and 1/2 Stars in Downbeat Magazine!

"Guitarist Ron Jackson plays with the sterling technique and measured swing of a Tal Farlow or Bucky Pizzarelli.” - DownBeat

"In Jackson’s hands, these tunes remind us that yes- terday’s pop song is today’s standard.” - DownBeat

“Standards and Other Songs” is a work of pure art.” -Musical Memoirs

"it’s what he does with melody and structure that has me in awe.” - Carol Banks Weber Medium

"Well done throughout." Chris Spector, Midwest Record Recap

“Standards and Other Songs” is a solid piece of work that showcases the talents of master guitarist Ron Jackson while offering an assortment of jazz standards and instrumental arrangements of classic rock, soul and contemporary R&B songs.” -Brenda Nelson-Strauss, Black Grooves, Reviews of new black releases

"Standards And Other Songs" Gets 3 and 1/2 Stars in Downbeat Magazine!

"Guitarist Ron Jackson plays with the sterling technique and measured swing of a Tal Farlow or Bucky Pizzarelli.” - DownBeat

"In Jackson’s hands, these tunes remind us that yes- terday’s pop song is today’s standard.” - DownBeat

“Standards and Other Songs” is a work of pure art.” -Musical Memoirs

"it’s what he does with melody and structure that has me in awe.” - Carol Banks Weber Medium

"Well done throughout." Chris Spector, Midwest Record Recap

“His guitar work recalls, by turns, Pat Metheny’s sleek modernity and Wes Montgomery’s riffy elation…..a guitarist of mature yet inventive dexterity…..Jackson is a brilliant guitarist and composer.” Nick DeRiso, ReviewYou.com

‘Kuncheza Blues’...standout solos by Cecil Bridgewater, Redman (Dewey), and guitarist Ron Jackson.” JazzTimes on Randy Weston's Uhuru Africa Concert

“...he opens with 'Shadow of Your Smile' with a chord melody approach and we know we are in for a treat...he has a very mature approach and his tasteful harmonies set the stage...We hear great octave playing (thumb) and exciting double stops, long clean lines and bursts of syncopated riffs by Ron. George Benson, Wes and Barney Kessel sneak in, but we really hear Ron Jackson, a relative newcomer to the jazz guitar, who is going somewhere with a jump start.” Just Jazz Guitar

“...an exciting and individual minded player...he showed equally good taste in execution as he did in selection.” The Herald, Edinburgh, Scotland

“...virtuoso technique and mellow tone that Jackson coaxed from his instrument.” Sunday Times Perth, Australia

“With pianist Benny Green, bassist Lonnie Plaxico and drummer Cecil Brooks III, Jackson is in fast company — a challenge he meets with dexterity, a fine tone and convincing expression.” JazzTimes

”Ron Jackson is my kind of guitar player. He represents his music with neatly picked runs and elegant phrasing. He projects the art of jazz guitar in the traditional manner by obvious nods to Wes and Charlie, but adopts a contemporary attitude with Metheny, Scofield and Klugh adding their influences.” Jazz Journal International

“Ron Jackson makes a strong debut...he's no boring genuflection of the past.” Jazziz

“Ron Jackson has studied the art of modern jazz guitar from Wes Montgomery to Sonny Sharrock...he approached ballads with a sensitivity that reminds me vividly of Grant Green's style.” Cadence Magazine

“Jackson displays blues suffused grit and lively single not daring-do. He's a comer who bears watching.” New Music Report

“Well known in the right circles, Ron Jackson is quietly one of the best jazz guitarists in music. Ask any big name musician who has taken part in the New York Jazz scene, and they will know exactly who Ron Jackson is.”

Wildy Haskell, ReviewYou.com

“Jackson proved himself to be an excellent leader on repertoire that was often demanding. He has a warm tone on guitar with an ability to play rapid fire lines.” The Western Australian

“Ron Jackson is a New York jazz guitarist who can do it all. ….his very fiery and imaginative solo, the chords, single-lines, and octaves are bouncing off the wall. …The breakneckspeed and intensity of the soloing keep you on the edge of your seat.” JH, Vintage Guitar Review

“Ron Jacksons music is absolutely beautiful! Definitely recommended!” A-J Charron Guitarnoise.com

“Jackson is a brilliant guitarist and composer”, 5 out of 5 stars Grady Harp, Major Sounds Small Ensemble, Major Sounds

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Primary Instrument

Guitar

Location

New York City

Willing to teach

Beginner to advanced

Credentials/Background

Ron is an experienced music educator and guitar instructor and is a faculty member at the of The New Jersey Performing Arts Center, Wachovia Jazz For Teens Program, Music Outreach, The Brooklyn Conservatory, St. Albans Congregational Church Music Program, Jazz at Lincoln Center-Jazz in the Schools and The New York Pops Create A Symphony Program. He has taught and lectured at And the Prins Claus Conservatoire, “New Comes to Groningen” program in Groningen in The Netherlands Duke University, The National Summer Guitar Workshop Jazz Summit, The New School, New York University, at Jazzmobile, as well as in clinics in France, Escuela Creativa Musica, Madrid Spain, The United Kingdom, Australia and Portugal. Ron is also available as a private instructor. Ron Jackson’s Guitar Lesson Rates and Policies For private and online lessons. $125 1 Hour $100 45 Minutes $75 30 Minutes Travel Fee: Rates vary depending on your location. Payments must be paid in full in advance. 5 lessons or 10 lessons Paypal, Cash,Postal Money Order or Cashiers Checks Accepted. 24 hour non-refundable cancellation fee. If I cancel within 24 hours, we can reschedule. Lessons expire 3 months after payment.

Clinic/Workshop Information

Primary Instrument

Guitar

Location

New York City

Willing to teach

Beginner to advanced

Credentials/Background

Clinic/Workshop Information

Class Description The Fundamentals of Improvisation and How to use them in your playing immediately. This is based mainly on the Barry Harris System of Improvisation, which is Be-Bop based, but also from my experience teaching improvisation to young students. Your Goal In This Masterclass is to start improvising, using real jazz phrases (not blues phrases but be-bop), on Jazz Blues Progression in C, C Jam Blues Rhythm Changes, like "I Got Rhythm" Bb a standard, "I'll Remember April" in G By the end the class, you should be able to make jazz licks or phrases on these tunes (As well as on any tune) if you follow this curriculum. I will demonstrate with a jazz trio. Everyone must bring their instruments and play during the workshop. You will have a chance play with the trio as well. Everyone is Welcome! For guitarists, I will give you specific ways to practice your scales and phrases on the fingerboard. Class Topics 1.) Knowing and Memorizing Your Scales a.) The Minor Pentatonic and Blues Scale b.) The Major and Melodic Minor Scales c.) The Major and Melodic Minor Scales and Their Modes d.) The Most Commonly Used Scales In Jazz, The Major, Dorian, Mixolydian, Lydian Dominant, Altered. e.) The Be-Bop Scales, Major, Dorian, Dominant (Mixolydian) and Melodic Minor, The Placement of The Chromatic Passing Tone in These Scales which makes it a Be-Bop Scale. f.) The Rhythmic Placement of Your Scales on Chord Changes and Progressions. g.II-Min7-V7 Licks (Dorian to Mixolydian) and how to use them. h.) The Use of 1,2,3,5 Phases to get through difficult, fast chord progressions. 2.) The Importance of Phrasing, Timing and The Placement of your Improvisational Phrases. 3.) Memorizing Basic Chord Progressions that common to most Jazz Standards and memorizing them a.) I maj7-VImin7-IImin7-V7 b.) IImin7-V7 c.) IImin7-V7-I maj7 d.) I min7-VImin7b5-IImin7b5-V7b9 e.) IImin7b5-V7b9 f.) IImin7b5-V7b9, Imin7 g.) Imaj7-II7 4. Basic Phases that are easy and logical that can use to play Changes. 5.) Why it's important to try to play scales, licks, and tunes in all keys. 6.) The Importance of Listening, Memorizing Tunes, Memorizing Scales and Playing with people.

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