Updated: June 28, 2022
Born: August 22
“One of the great minds in jazz.” - Jazz FMJUNO 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
Ron Davis: My Mother's Father's Song
by Alain Londes
Digging deep into a family's history and heritage can reveal a goldmine of inspirational nuggets. This is exactly what Toronto-based pianist Ron Davis set out to do in his first all-trio recording, My Mother's Father's Song. His music has always drawn on the classical, swing and post-bop traditions of Art Tatum and Thelonious Monk. In this case there is also a strong embrace of his Polish heritage.My Mother's Father's Song is a very poignant and personal project, especially ...
read moreRon Davis: Subarashii Live
by Jerry D'Souza
Pianist Ron Davis is a player with many strengths. He is not afraid to pull several influences into his compositions and enrich them. He plays with a compelling passion, his journey marked by reflection as well as by abandon. He brings it all together, working in close harmony with his band to create an impressive musical palette.
Subarashii means great in Japanese and that is precisely what Davis says he felt after a tour of Japan. Back in ...
read moreRon Davis Trio: Mungle Music
by Jerry D'Souza
Having Art Tatum as an influence has been an apparently positive on Ron Davis. The man who is a poet, short story writer, a Ph.D. in French Linguistics, and a once-upon-a-time lawyer, in no particular order, made his professional debut (and first record) as a musician in 1970. He now takes a bow with this third, a tight trio date.
Davis’ compositions show his flair for melodic writing. The other tunes he chooses to round out this ...
read moreRon Davis with Drew Birston: Solo Duo Trio
by Dave Nathan
Ron Davis is a dinosaur in this day and age of high specialization and narrow cultural aspirations, in that he is a Renaissance Man. In addition to pursuing his favorite career, jazz piano, and performing regularly in the Toronto area, he also is a published poet and short story writer. He also practices law part time and teaches. His Renaissance disposition has found its way into an eclectic play list and the variety of combinations he has set himself up ...
read moreArticles Across the Web
...or were mentioned in an All About Jazz article.
- Review: SymphRONica UpfRONt - Ron Davis - WholeNote
- Review: SymphRONica UpfRONt - Ron Davis
- Music review: Ron Davis’ Symphronica, Scottish Arts Club - The Scotsman
- Ron Davis' SymphRONica - The List (UK)
- Review: RhythmaRon - Ron Davis
- Music review: SymphRONica, La Belle Angele, Edinburgh
- Profile: Classical jazz fusion on the Fringe
- Profile: The Laws of Jazz
Elio Villafranca With All-Star Band & String Quartet - March 31 At Aaron Davis Hall - "Cuba - Senegal: Letters To Mother Africa II"
Source:
Scott Thompson Public Relations
CUBAN PIANIST ELIO VILLAFRANCA- ALL-STAR BAND WITH STRING QUARTET & MORE. HEADLINES AT AARON DAVIS HALL ON MARCH 31ST Cuba- Senegal: Letters to Mother Africa II, acclaimed pianist-composer's ode to Cuba and Africa! City College Center for the Arts on Friday, March 31, at 7:30 p.m. Piano sensation Elio Villafranca heads to the City College Center for the Arts on Friday, March 31, with the latest in his popular “Letters to Mother Africa" concerts. The last one was named one ...
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Paulette McWilliams Performs Telling Stories at Aaron Davis Hall on December 14th
Source:
Thysha M. Shabazz
New York, NY: Jazz Diva sensation Paulette McWilliams has recorded and toured with some of the world’s greatest musical artists, such as: Quincy Jones, Luther Vandross, Michael Jackson, Whitney Houston, among others, and in commercials as a jingle specialist. Now, she is sharing her dynamic voice and solo work in two musical concerts, Telling Stories (also the name of her critically–acclaimed album) with The Nat Adderly Jr. Quartet on Friday, December 14, 2012 at 7PM and at 9PM at Aaron ...
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Sam Rivers and His Orchestra Saturday, November 10, 2007, 7:30 PM Marian Anderson Theater at Aaron Davis Hall
Source:
Jim Eigo, Jazz Promo Services
Columbia University Center for Jazz Studies in association with Community Works and New Heritage Theatre Group presents the fourth concert of the columbiaharlem jazzproject Sam Rivers and his Orchestra: Music Visionary in Three Parts Featuring a pre-concert interview with Mr. Rivers by Prof. Brent Edwards followed by performances by the Sam Rivers Trio and by his full 16-piece Rivbea Orchestra Saturday, November 10, 2007, 7:30 pm Marian Anderson Theater at Aaron Davis Hall 150 Convent Avenue at West ...
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Ron Davis: The Sayonara Concert
Source:
All About Jazz
RON DAVIS: THE SAYONARA CONCERT uchida fellow / visiting scholar in Japan Thursday October 26, 2006 7:30pm - The Jazz At The J Series Al Green Theatre at the Miles Nadal Jewish Community Centre 750 Spadina Ave. Toronto | www.mnjcc.org | 416.924-6211
In his last North American performance for 2006, pianist / composer / arranger / producer Ron Davis will be serving up his unique brand of instrumental entertainment, in the Sayonara ...
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Aaron Davis Hall to Host CUNY Jazz Festival May 11-12
Source:
All About Jazz
AARON DAVIS HALL TO HOST CUNY JAZZ FESTIVAL, MAY 11-12
Guest Artist Dave Liebman to Perform With Student Musicians
Musical groups representing five CUNY senior colleges, New York City's best public high school musicians and Japan's Shobi University will join with guest artist Dave Liebman for the 7th Annual CUNY Jazz Festival, May 11-12 at Aaron Davis Hall on The City College of New York campus.
The two-day event features performances by big bands and combos from The City College ...
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Ron Davis Quintet To Record New Live Album April 8th & 9th
Source:
All About Jazz
RON DAVIS QUINTET TO RECORD NEW ALBUM
JOIN US FOR A LIVE CD RECORDING!
Paul Hahn & Co. Pianos April 8th and 9th 7:00 PM
On Saturday April 8th and Sunday April 9th at 7:00 PM, the Ron Davis Quintet will be recording a live CD in performance at Toronto's historic and splendid Paul Hahn & Co. Pianos, 1058 Yonge Street, Toronto. Joining Ron Davis (piano) on stage will be Sasha Boychouk (clarinet and saxes), Richard ...
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25th Anniversary Season of Aaron Davis Hall Celebrates 50 Years of Eddie Palmieri
Source:
All About Jazz
New York, NY - ABSOLUT VODKA will add a special “spirit" to the celebration concert of Eddie Palmieri, legendary Latin jazz composer with sponsorship of this vivacious performer. The pianist and bandleader will return triumphantly to Aaron Davis Hall (ADH) for the first New York live performance of his current release Listen Here! Special guest artists will join Palmieri for two cross-cultural and cross-generational concert nights to celebrate his astounding legacy, his latest compositions, and his own birthday. ABSOLUT VODKA ...
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Ron Davis Trio Returns To Japan, Tours Indonesia
Source:
All About Jazz
Following on the success of their 2004 tour of Japan, the Ron Davis Trio are returning to Asia for a series of concerts at the Canadian Embassy in Tokyo, and for their first foray into Indonesia.
From November 17 to 27, the Trio (Ron Davis--piano; Drew Birston--bass; Aubrey Dayle--drums) will play and give workshops to music fans and jazz students across major Indonesian cities. The tour will introduce the country to the Ron Davis Trio's brand of energetic swinging music, ...
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Manhattan Borough President Declares October 1st "Aaron Davis Hall 25th Anniversary Day"
Source:
All About Jazz
“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
Count Basie
piano
Nat King Cole
piano and vocals
Fats Waller
piano
Earl Hines
piano
Art Tatum
piano
Dave Liebman
saxophone
Bill Cunliffe
piano
Teddy Wilson
piano
George Duke
piano
Roy Ayers
vibraphone
Herbie Nichols
piano
Roland Hanna
piano
Knoxville Jazz Orchestra
band / ensemble / orchestra
Travis Shook
piano
Phil Markowitz
piano
Kelly Jefferson
saxophone, tenorArtists who share similar musical characteristics to Ron Davis.
Willie "The Lion" Smith
piano
Art Tatum
piano
John Coltrane
saxophone
Thelonious Monk
piano
Phineas Newborn, Jr.
piano
Oscar Peterson
piano
Fats Waller
piano
Mary Lou Williams
piano
Glenn Gould
piano
