Ron Brendle

Ron Brendle

Musicians | Instrument: Bass | Location: Charlotte

Ron Brendle is one of the most inventive and creative bass players I've ever encountered. When he came in to play on a film score I composed I didn't write out a part for him. I knew everything he would come up with would be highly original yet still fit the score perfectly. Rock solid.
—William Goodrum

Updated: June 9, 2022

Born: July 4, 1955

Ron Brendle, a freelance bassist in the Charlotte area since 1981, was recently recognized by Charlotte Magazine as "Best Bassist." His innovative compositions and improvisational style have also earned five awards as "Jazz Artist of the Year" by Creative Loafing Magazine. Ron was the recipient of two North Carolina Arts Council Jazz Composer Fellowship Grants, which helped to produce his CDs Hypermobility and Photograph.

Ron's composition Not Forgetting was used in the motion picture The Architect and his compositions Hypermobility and Freeway were featured on two JazzSouth Sampler CDs.

As a first-call bassist in the area, Ron has performed and recorded with many notable jazz artists of international stature, including Nneena Freelon, Clark Terry, Andrew Hill, Charlie Byrd, Charlie Rouse, and Mose Allison. His latest recordings include projects with Loonis McGlohon, Mike Campbell, and Frank Kimbrough.

In addition to maintaining an active career as a free lance bassist, Ron co-founded Big Octave, which performs original compositions and arrangements with an instrumentation of saxophone, drums, and bass: this group enjoys an appreciative audience base in the Charlotte area. Ron also performs numerous educational outreach concerts each year as part of the Charlotte Jazz Society and as bassist with Viva Klezmer.

Ron graduated from Appalachian State University with a Bachelor Degree in music. He studied bass with Charlie Haden at the Atlantic Center for the Arts in New Smyrna, Florida.

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11
Album Review

Scott Sawyer: Night Visions

Read "Night Visions" reviewed by Troy Dostert


As a North Carolinian, guitarist Scott Sawyer may not enjoy the visibility of his counterparts in better-known jazz meccas, but fans of contemporary jazz guitar shouldn't pass him up. With some smart songwriting instincts and a knack for finding talented bandmates, not to mention possessing terrific guitar chops, Sawyer delivers on the promise of a career dating back to the 1980s that has involved sideman work with everyone from Nnenna Freelon to alt-rocker Chris Stamey. But Sawyer's had several releases ...

2
Album Review

Ron Brendle Quartet: A Tribute to the Bassists of Jazz

Read "A Tribute to the Bassists of Jazz" reviewed by Martin McFie


Ron Brendle pays his own tribute to the music of the greatest bass players, bringing the heartbeat bass line of jazz out onto the front line in his new album A Tribute to the Bassists of Jazz. Brendle continues his mission to reveal and revere the great jazz compositions by bass players by bringing them together, all in one recording. The bassist's perspective is different; they hear the melody while playing mirroring sounds. Bassists' compositions start from their own world, ...

116
Album Review

Ron Brendle Trio: Photograph

Read "Photograph" reviewed by Michael P. Gladstone


Ron Brendle may not be a household word in New York, Chicago, or West Coast jazz clubs, but he is regarded as the leading bassist in the vicinity of Charlotte, North Carolina. Brendle has been the recipient of several awards in this regard and has collaborated with pianist Frank Kimbrough, another North Carolina native, on several albums over the past few years. This new release, although recorded in 2002, is their fourth effort on Brendle's own LoNote label. ...

125
Album Review

Ron Brendle/Frank Kimbrough: Autumn

Read "Autumn" reviewed by Dave Nathan


There is a definite North Carolina flavor to this release. Bassist Ron Brendle has been a resident of the Charlotte area since 1981 and pianist Frank Kimbrough was born in the State. In addition, one of the tunes on the play list is the product of the recently departed North Carolinian, Loonis McGlohon, erstwhile pianist and Alec Wilder collaborator. Maybe it's the commonality of birth place/residence that helps explain the synergy that exists between these two exceptional jazz artists. Whatever, ...

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94

Recording

Ron Brendle and Mike Holstein New CD "Rhizome"

Ron Brendle and Mike Holstein New CD "Rhizome"

Source: All About Jazz

Jazz bassists Mike Holstein and Ron Brendle have released a new album as a duo. The album, entitled Rhizome, was released this month by Brendle's LoNote Records. Brendle, who studied with Charlie Haden at the Atlantic Center for the Arts in Smyrna, Florida, has performed along side jazz greats such as Charlie Byrd, Clark Terry, Frank Kimbrough, and Mose Allison. Holstein is equally qualified as a seasoned pro with performance credits including Randy Brecker, Don Braden, Kendra Shank, and Ingrid ...

107

Recording

Bassists Ron Brendle and Mike Holstein Release "Rhizome"

Bassists Ron Brendle and Mike Holstein Release "Rhizome"

Source: Michael Ricci

Adventurous music from two acoustic basses is the latest offering from LoNote Records. Bassists Mike Holstein and Ron Brendle have been working as a duo since 2005 when they first played at the Jazz Composer's Forum in Asheville, NC. Both musicians, who have worked individually as sidemen with many jazz musicians of note, bring a set of all original music to this recording, ranging in styles from funky to free. Click here to listen to sound samples from Rhizome.


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