Home » Jazz Musicians » Ron Kobayashi

Ron Kobayashi

Pianist and composer Ron Kobayashi has performed with a variety of musical artists including Mel Torme, Kenny Burrell, Peter Frampton, Tom Scott, Margaret Whiting, Peter White, Najee, Wilton Felder and comedian Bob Saget.  For five years Ron served as musical director for the Hollywood Diversity Awards where such stars as Chris Rock, Mark Ruffalo and George Lopez were honored.  Ron has made numerous television appearances including on The Johnny Yune Show, The Jerry Lewis Telethon, The CBS News with Dan Rather, American Stars, the CBS Television series All Rise and with Jackee Harris on "Life After" on the TVONE Network.  In 1992, Ron performed for President Bill Clinton.

Ron and his Trio (with Baba Elefante on bass and Steve Dixon on drums) have been together for more than 27 years playing festivals, concert halls and jazz clubs throughout California, Arizona, Nevada, Florida and New York. Some of the venues include the Playboy Jazz Festival Pasadena, the Long Beach Jazz Festival, the Yuma, Arizona Jazz Series, the Orange County Performing Arts Center and the Barclay Theater in Irvine, CA. They have recorded five CDs and one DVD to date receiving airplay around the world, and reaching Top 10 status on KAWC Radio in Arizona.  Original compositions from the Trio's discs were used in the motion picture "Sam and Janet" starring Gary Busey. The Trio was voted Best Jazz Group in Orange County, CA by readers of the OC Weekly in 1996, and was nominated for Best Jazz Group in Orange County in 2012 by the Orange County Music Awards.  In 2005, Ron was awarded "Role Model and Inspiration for Asian Americans in the Field of Music" by the Orange County Asian Business Association.

Ron has been a music educator for more than 30 years.  He currently teaches at the Orange County High School of the Arts, Biola University and Vanguard University (both in Southern California), as well as privately.  Ron has been a clinician at numerous Jazz festivals and presents regular lectures on Jazz at public libraries and museums throughout Southern California.


Tags

34
Album Review

Mark Lewis: Sunlight Shines In

Read "Sunlight Shines In" reviewed by Jack Bowers


Saxophonist/flutist Mark Lewis, who has returned to his native Washington state after years of making beautiful music around the world, escorts a quartet of talented West Coast musicians through eleven of his upbeat compositions on Sunlight Shines In, with trumpeter Nolan Shaheed sitting in on two numbers. Although Lewis' tunes won't widen any horizons, they are resolutely earnest and congenial and provide a pleasurable listening experience. Lewis plays alto sax on six tracks, flute on four, tenor ...

125
Album Review

Ron Kobayashi Trio: No Preservatives

Read "No Preservatives" reviewed by Dave Nathan


It's a pleasure to hear an album that is recorded as it was played. With just a minor dubbing adjustment on one track, what you're hearing on the latest album from the Ron Kobayashi Trio is precisely what they played in the studio. There's no “creative" mixing which, in my view, is akin to revising history constructing something quite different from what actually happened which is the forte of many of today's so called young lions of jazz. Kobayashi has ...

129
Album Review

Ron Kobayashi Trio: No Preservatives

Read "No Preservatives" reviewed by Dave Nathan


It's a pleasure to hear an album that is recorded as it was played. With just a minor dubbing adjustment on one track, what you're hearing on the latest album from the Ron Kobayashi Trio is precisely what they played in the studio. There's no “creative" mixing which, in my view, is akin to revising history constructing something quite different from what actually happened which is the forte of many of today's so called young lions of jazz. Kobayashi has ...

Read more articles
93

Performance / Tour

The Ron Kobayashi Trio Takes Center Stage at the OC Pavilion

The Ron Kobayashi Trio Takes Center Stage at the OC Pavilion

Source: All About Jazz

The world class OC Pavilion is pleased to welcome to the main stage the Ron Kobayashi Trio on July 14th at 8:00 PM. Doors to the OC Pavilion and Ambrosia Restaurant open at 5:00 PM for dinner and cocktails. The Ron Kobayashi Trio consists of three uniquely talented musicians from the Southern California area. Pianist and leader Ron Kobayashi has performed with Mel Torme, Margaret Whiting, Eric Marienthal, Phil Upchurch, Teddy Edwards, Tim Weisberg, Kenny Burrell, Paula Kelly Jr., Herb ...

Primary Instrument

Piano

Location

Los Angeles

Willing to teach

Intermediate to advanced

Credentials/Background

Available to teach on Thursday and Friday. Currently doing jazz clinics for Fullerton Elementary School District. Taught privately for 20 years in Orange County, CA. Have coached jazz piano performance at California State University Fullerton, CA Have coached jazz piano performance at Biola University in La Mirada, CA

Photos

Music

Recordings: As Leader | As Sideperson

Sunlight Shines In

Audio Daddio
2023

buy

No Preservatives

Carpet Cat Records
2001

buy

Videos

Get more of a good thing!

Our weekly newsletter highlights our top stories, our special offers, and upcoming jazz events near you.