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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.

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Album Review

T.K. Blue: The Tide of Love

Read "The Tide of Love" reviewed by Pierre Giroux


T.K. Blue is an artist who is proficient on both the alto saxophone and flute; he has released a striking album entitled The Tide of Love that offers a diverse and engaging musical journey through various genres of the jazz spectrum. In this session, he is accompanied by several superb musicians, including Grammy-nominated Stefon Harris on vibes, along with pianist James Weidman, bassist Gavin Fallow, drummer Lenny Robinson and guitarist Ron Jackson. The group recorded an album of creativity, originality, ...

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Liner Notes

Organ Monk: Uwo In the Black

Read "Organ Monk: Uwo In the Black" reviewed by Howard Mandel


Organ Monk is the inspired--some might say “mad"--project of Brooklyn-based keyboardist Greg Lewis to play the unique compositions of Thelonious Monk as they've never been played before. Lewis throws down Monk's memorable turns of melody and digs into his harmonic insights, mostly at groovin' rhythms, on the Hammond C 3 organ. It's tempting to say Lewis' style on that inimitable instrument is “all stops out"--because he's more than mastered the complex multi-manual and foot-pedaled contraption. He's become an exciting innovator ...

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Take Five With...

Take Five with Ron Jackson

Read "Take Five with Ron Jackson" reviewed by AAJ Staff


Meet Ron Jackson: World-renowned, Seven String Jazz Guitarist, composer, and arranger, Ron Jackson has performed, recorded, and taught music in over 30 countries. Jackson is likely the only African American seven-string jazz guitarist alive. His goal is to bring awareness to the instrument through education, music, and events. As a musician, Jackson has been featured as a leader in jazz festivals all over the world, including the North Sea Jazz Festival, Edinburgh Jazz Festival, and Winter Jazzfest. His ...

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Radio & Podcasts

Hot Lips Page & Ted Nash

Read "Hot Lips Page & Ted Nash" reviewed by Joe Dimino


The 675th Episode of Neon Jazz is focused on jazz guitar. We start the hour with Ron Jackson and material off his latest 2019 release Standards and Other Songs. We also hear from Pat Metheny, George Russell and Alvaro Rojas. As the 2020 pandemic continues to rage across the planet, we hear from modern jazz musicians and their ideas on getting back onto the stage and how we will feel about it. You'll also hear new music from Immanuel Wilkins, ...

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Album Review

Ron Jackson: Standards and Other Songs

Read "Standards and Other Songs" reviewed by Peter J. Hoetjes


Ron Jackson may have the bluesiest seven-string guitar in New York City. He peppers a carefully deliberate swing throughout every track on Standards And Other Songs, joined by Nathan Brown on acoustic bass and Darrell Green at the drum kit. As suggested by its simple title, the album is a collection covering a broad range of music, ranging from the 1920s to the modern era, from vintage jazz standards to pop, rock, and even rap hits. The melody ...

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Album Review

Ron Jackson: Akustik InventYours

Read "Akustik InventYours" reviewed by Tyran Grillo


Guitarist Ron Jackson, known as a composer, performer, and educator in a wide range of contexts in his present headquarters of New York City, has enjoyed an adventurous life. Born in the Philippines to a military family, he moved many times as a child, music being his constant companion. Though now known for his work as a jazz aficionado, Jackson always had a soft spot for the acoustic guitar. Moved by the unplugged adventures of Steve Howe, Leo Kottke, Michael ...

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Album Review

Greg Lewis / Organ Monk: Uwo in the Black

Read "Uwo in the Black" reviewed by Dan Bilawsky


Many a jazz musician visits the territory of pianist Thelonious Monk for a short spell, but organist Greg Lewis seems to have signed up for an extended stay. His Organ Monk (Self Produced, 2010) proved to be a completely original and exciting take on the music of the man affectionately and reverently called the High Priest of Bop, but Lewis didn't linger on this success. He buckled down and put together a sequel that is every bit as enjoyable, though ...

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Music Industry

Debut of Ron Jackson as Composer at Prolific Arts Music

Debut of Ron Jackson as Composer at Prolific Arts Music

Source: All About Jazz


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Performance / Tour

Jazz Guitarist Ron Jackson Tours Spain

Jazz Guitarist Ron Jackson Tours Spain

Source: All About Jazz


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Performance / Tour

Release Party January 3rd for Guitarist Ron Jackson's New CD, "Flubby Dubby"

Release Party January 3rd for Guitarist Ron Jackson's New CD,  "Flubby Dubby"

Source: All About Jazz

WHAT: Release party for Guitarist Ron Jackson's new CD, “Flubby Dubby"

WHEN: Saturday, January 3, 2009 from 7:30pm-10-30pm

WHERE: Rose live music 345 Grand Street (btwn Havemeyer/Marcy) 11211 Williamsburg, Brooklyn 718.599.0069 Featuring Ron Jackson - Guitar Greg Lewis - Hammond Organ Teodross Avery - Tenor Saxophone Bruce Williams - Alto Saxophone Gordon Lane - Drums

Produced by guitar great and mentor Melvin Sparks, Ron's ...

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Performance / Tour

Ron Jackson and Friends with special guest Dr. Lonnie Smith

Ron Jackson and Friends with special guest Dr. Lonnie Smith

Source: All About Jazz

Kari-On Productions Kari Gaffney, Publicist P.O. Box 436 Evans, GA. 30809 706.294.9996,br> [email protected]

Press Release Immediate Release

New Jersey Performing Arts Center Presents Guitarist, Ron Jackson and Friends with special Guest, Organist, Dr. Lonnie Smith

Ron Jackson: www.ronjackson.com Date: May 14, 2005 Time: 7:00 pm Location: New Jersey Performing Arts Center NJPAC ...

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Event

Ron Jackson To Record Latest Album Live

Ron Jackson To Record Latest Album Live

Source: All About Jazz


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Performance / Tour

James Blood Ulmer, Ron Jackson & Aubrey Dayle at La Sala Rossa in Montreal

James Blood Ulmer, Ron Jackson & Aubrey Dayle at La Sala Rossa in Montreal

Source: All About Jazz

Legendary jazz and blues guitarist James Blood Ulmer will appear as part of MY ID Project along with Aubrey Dayle and Ron Jackson. Ulmer is renowned for his distinct combination of free style jazz with bottom bumping funk and gut-bucket blues. Ulmer has recorded with Ornette Coleman, Rashied Ali, David Murray and Oliver Lake. Joining James will be Nationally acclaimed Jazz Guitarist Ron Jackson. Jackson's resume is so vast it is hard to capture it all on paper. He was ...

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Education

Ron Jackson and NJPAC/WBGO Jazz for Teens

Ron Jackson and NJPAC/WBGO Jazz for Teens

Source: All About Jazz

NJPAC/WBGO Jazz for Teens Sponsored by Wachovia and Dodge Foundation Created by NJPAC in conjunction with New Jersey's own jazz radio station, WBGO-Jazz 88.3 FM, Jazz for Teens is an extraordinary program designed to introduce New Jersey's teenage musicians to the spontaneity and excitement of an essential American art form - jazz! Budding musicians work with outstanding professional jazz musicians in exploring the history, techniques, and styles of jazz through both class work and performances. Jazz for Teens includes selected ...

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Event

Greg Lewis Trio featuring Ron Jackson "Every Friday"

Greg Lewis Trio featuring Ron Jackson "Every Friday"

Source: All About Jazz


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Performance / Tour

MY ID PROJECT with special guest James Blood Ulmer featuring Aubrey Dayle + Ron Jackson

MY ID PROJECT with special guest James Blood Ulmer featuring Aubrey Dayle + Ron Jackson

Source: All About Jazz

James Blood Ulmer, Legendary jazz and blues guitarist Ulmer will appear as part of MY IDProject on September 30 along with Aubrey Dayle and Ron Jackson. Ulmer isrenowned for his distinct combination of free style jazz withbottom bumping funk and gut-bucket blues. Ulmer has recorded with Ornette Coleman, Rashied Ali, David Murray and Oliver Lake. His performance at Lula Lounge with celebrated percussionist Aubrey Dayle and guitarist Ron Jackson will be his first appearance in Toronto in 8 years.

Line ...

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Event

Valery Pomonarev Quartet featuring Ron Jackson

Valery Pomonarev Quartet featuring Ron Jackson

Source: All About Jazz


"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

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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

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