Updated: August 18, 2019
Born: July 27, 1964
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.”
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Album Review
- Standards and Other Songs by Peter J. Hoetjes
- Akustik InventYours by Tyran Grillo
- Flubby Dubby by Edward Blanco
Take Five With...
Album Review
- The Dream I Had by Geannine Reid
- The Dream I Had by Franz A. Matzner
- Concrete Jungle by Dave Nathan
Articles Across the Web
- Black Grooves, Reviews of New Black Releases, "Standards And Other Songs"
- Medium Review, "Standards And Other Songs"
- Musical Memoirs Review, "Standards And Other Songs"
- Midwest Record Review, "Standards And Other Songs"
- Acoustic Guitar Magazine Feature Ron Jackson: Winter NAMM 2016
- Acoustic Guitar Magazine Feature, Video Lesson: Five Jazz Masters on Rhythm Changes
- Acoustic Guitar Magazine Feature, Weekly Workout: How to Pick Like Jazz-Great George Benson
March 26, 2009
Debut of Ron Jackson as Composer at Prolific Arts Music
March 22, 2009
Jazz Guitarist Ron Jackson Tours Spain
December 19, 2008
Release Party January 3rd for Guitarist Ron Jackson's New CD, "Flubby...
March 22, 2005
Ron Jackson and Friends with special guest Dr. Lonnie Smith
January 09, 2005
Ron Jackson To Record Latest Album Live
November 02, 2004
James Blood Ulmer, Ron Jackson & Aubrey Dayle at La Sala Rossa in...
October 31, 2004
Ron Jackson and NJPAC/WBGO Jazz for Teens
October 31, 2004
Greg Lewis Trio featuring Ron Jackson "Every Friday"
September 26, 2004
MY ID PROJECT with special guest James Blood Ulmer featuring Aubrey...
September 07, 2004
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
“His guitar work recalls, by turns, Pat Metheny’s sleek modernity and Wes Montgomery’s riffy elation…..a guitarist of mature yet inventive dexterity…..Jackson is a brilliant guitarist and composer.” Nick DeRiso, ReviewYou.com
‘Kuncheza Blues’...standout solos by Cecil Bridgewater, Redman (Dewey), and guitarist Ron Jackson.” JazzTimes on Randy Weston's Uhuru Africa Concert
“...he opens with 'Shadow of Your Smile' with a chord melody approach and we know we are in for a treat...he has a very mature approach and his tasteful harmonies set the stage...We hear great octave playing (thumb) and exciting double stops, long clean lines and bursts of syncopated riffs by Ron
Primary Instrument
Guitar
Location
New York City
Willing to teach
Advanced only
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. $75 1 Hour $60 45 Minutes $40 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

piano

piano

saxophone

guitar, electric

drums

guitar

trumpet

voice / vocals

bass

trumpet

band/orchestra

guitar, electric

guitar

trumpet

saxophone
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