Home » Jazz Musicians » Ron Westray
Ron Westray
Professor Ron Westray’s professional contributions encompass a stunning list of achievements in the areas of performance, composition, recording, and publishing. Since the early nineties he has performed as trombonist or lead trombonist with the most prestigious jazz ensembles in the world, including the Mingus Big Band, New York’s Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra, The Wynton Marsalis Septet, Irving Mayfield, The New Orleans Jazz Orchestra, and the Marcus Roberts Ensemble, in hundreds of performances around the globe.
His compositions for jazz big band, jazz orchestra and smaller jazz ensembles range from original works to arrangements and/or adaptations of pre-existing works, some published by Walrus Music Publishing, some through his own company Wooden Flute Publishing. Jazz at Lincoln Center has commissioned two of Westray’s works: Chivalrous Misdemeanors (selected tales from Cervante’s Don Quixote) funded through a grant from The Greenwald Foundation (via JALC), receiving a Pulitzer Prize nomination, and the jazz suite Scenes in the City: The Music of Charles Mingus.
In addition to his schedule with the LCJO, Ron has recorded as a sideman on labels such as Columbia, Sony Classical, and RCA Novus. Ron's accomplishments in the field have gained him exposure in publications such as Ebony, Essence, Downbeat, JazzTimes, Life Magazine and The New Yorker. Mr. Westray has performed at jazz venues such as The Village Vanguard, The Jazz Standard, The Iridium, The Blue Note, Sweet Basils, Blues Alley to name a few. Ron has appeared in concert with Ray Charles, Bob Dylan, Willie Nelson, Stevie Wonder, Roy Haynes, Nicholas Payton, Branford Marsalis and the like. Westray is associated in a variety of roles on recordings for more than a dozen labels: as leader, producer, performer, composer, arranger, or in combination.
Ron is currently an Associate Professor at York University (Toronto, CA) and also serves as the Oscar Peterson Chair in Jazz Performance.
Awards
* Performs regularly with The Wynton Marsalis Septet * Performs regularly with New York's Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra * Currently Associate Professor at York University (Toronto, Canada) * Serves as the Oscar Peterson Chair in Jazz Performance
Gear
Trombone
Tags
Ron Westray: Life In Reverse. Tales of a Very Stable Narcissist
![Read "Ron Westray: Life In Reverse. Tales of a Very Stable Narcissist" reviewed by Hans Christian Hagedorn](https://s3.amazonaws.com/allaboutjazz/photos/profile/musician/d68767992899354043e4dd539b01e871.jpg)
by Hans Christian Hagedorn
Life In Reverse. Tales of a Very Stable Narcissist Ron Westray 426 Pages ISBN: 9781839980398 First Hill Books / Anthem Press2021 Jazz trombonist Ron Westray (Columbia, SC, 1970) is a prestigious, unique, and generously gifted musician and composer, a brilliant educator, and most of all, an intelligent, witty and warm-hearted man. And all of these qualities blossom in his writing, as we can observe in his autobiography, Life In Reverse. Tales of a ...
read moreRon Westray / Thomas Heflin: Live from Austin
![Read "Live from Austin" reviewed by Josep Pedro](https://s3.amazonaws.com/allaboutjazz/coverart/2010/ronwestray_thomasheflin_livefromaustin_jr.jpg)
by Josep Pedro
A live recording is always a great chance to experience some of the core principles of jazz. Improvisation and spontaneity arise when musicians feel free and comfortable with the tunes and arrangements. A collaborative effort between trombonist Ron Westray and trumpeter Thomas Heflin, Live from Austin was recorded in 2009 at the Elephant Room, one of the few jazz venues in the Texas capital, while both musicians were involved with the University of Texas. This recording not ...
read moreKnowledge Speaks, But Wisdom Listens - Ron Westray's "Jimi Jazz"
![Knowledge Speaks, But Wisdom Listens - Ron Westray's "Jimi Jazz"](https://s3.amazonaws.com/allaboutjazz/photos/profile/musician/d68767992899354043e4dd539b01e871.jpg)
Source:
Karen Frieske
Blue Canoe Records has released Jimi Jazz from jazz wonder Ron Westray. Westray’s fresh solo take on Jimi Hendrix classics blend bop with contemporary horn and makes it accessible to all listeners. Professor Ron Westary’s professional contributions encompass a stunning list of achievements in the areas of performance, composition, recording and publishing. Since the early nineties he has performed in hundreds of performances around the globe as trombonist or lead trombonist with the most prestigious jazz ensembles in the world, ...
read more
Primary Instrument
Trombone
Willing to teach
Advanced only
Credentials/Background
Currently Ron Westray is an Associate Professor at York University in Toronto Canada. In addition to teaching at the University, Ron is also available for private lessons.
Clinic/Workshop Information
Ron Westray brings a sense of youth and a historical perspective to his clinics.