Ron Davis Musician - All About Jazz

Updated: August 8, 2024

Born: August 22

“One of the great minds in jazz.” - Jazz FM

JUNO AWARD nominee RON DAVIS. Pianist, composer, CBC and BBC Radio repeat performer, international favourite, solo artist, critics’ choice.

Ron is a Canadian jazz visionary. His music blends genres and pushes boundaries, building on his jazz and classical training. He seeks new textures, new forms, new compositions, new formations and new ways of presenting his signature sound without losing a connection to audiences. The music is diverse in a characteristically Canadian way.

Ron has released 13 critically acclaimed albums. His 12th, SymphRONica UpfRONt was honoured with a 2020 JUNO AWARD (Canada’s Grammy or BAFTA awards) “INSTRUMENTAL ALBUM OF THE YEAR” NOMINATION.

Ron has travelled the world playing his innovative, fresh music. From Toronto to Tokyo to London to Edinburgh. He has given repeat performances on BBC Radio 3, and shows for Japanese royalty, audiences in Trafalgar Square for Canada 150 celebrations, and repeat invitations to the Edinburgh Festival Fringe.

Ron is the founder of SYMPHRONICA, which combines a stellar Canadian jazz ensemble with full symphony orchestra or string quartet, playing original compositions. The result is GENRE-DEFYING AND MUSICALLY ELECTRIFYING. 2020 saw SymphRONica launch its 7th season in Toronto.

After early classical studies at the Royal Conservatory of Music with Margaret Parsons Poole and William Andrews, Ron studied with Darwyn Aitken, a student of both Oscar Peterson, and classical great David Saperton (George Gershwin’s brother-in-law).

Ron is also a former University of Toronto French Professor. Ron also practices part-time as a lawyer and is a partner in the Fogler Rubinoff law firm. He plays for and has sat on the boards of numerous charities. He was Secretary of the Glenn Gould Foundation. Ron publishes articles on law, music, and linguistics.

Awards

JUNO Award Nominee
Independent Music Award Nominee
Canada Council, Ontario Arts Council, FACTOR Grants
Top Jazz Albums of the Year Designations for SymphRONica, Shimmering Rhythm, Mungle Music, So Much, The Bestseller, Subarashii Live

Brother Jack McDuff: Ain't No Sunshine

Read "Ain't No Sunshine" reviewed by Pierre Giroux

by Pierre Giroux
April 18, 2024

At The Gallery, Seattle Washington 1972, Brother Jack McDuff, master of the Hammond B-3 organ, showcased his unparalleled talent, backed by a tight-knit ensemble of seasoned musicians. The result is a never-before-released live recording in a deluxe limited-edition hand-numbered 180-gram 2-LP set, produced by record executive and tenor saxophonist Cory Weeds. The amazing sounding group that complemented McDuff's playing was comprised of Leo Johnson, tenor saxophone, flute and clarinet, Dave Young, tenor and soprano saxophones, Vinnie ...

442

Album Review

Ron Davis: My Mother's Father's Song

Read "My Mother's Father's Song" reviewed by Alain Londes

by Alain Londes
June 30, 2010

Digging deep into a family's history and heritage can reveal a goldmine of inspirational nuggets. This is exactly what Toronto-based pianist Ron Davis set out to do in his first all-trio recording, My Mother's Father's Song. His music has always drawn on the classical, swing and post-bop traditions of Art Tatum and Thelonious Monk. In this case there is also a strong embrace of his Polish heritage.My Mother's Father's Song is a very poignant and personal project, especially ...

159

Album Review

Ron Davis: Subarashii Live

Read "Subarashii Live" reviewed by Jerry D'Souza

by Jerry D'Souza
December 2, 2007

Pianist Ron Davis is a player with many strengths. He is not afraid to pull several influences into his compositions and enrich them. He plays with a compelling passion, his journey marked by reflection as well as by abandon. He brings it all together, working in close harmony with his band to create an impressive musical palette.

Subarashii means great in Japanese and that is precisely what Davis says he felt after a tour of Japan. Back in ...

104

Album Review

Ron Davis Trio: Mungle Music

Read "Mungle Music" reviewed by Jerry D'Souza

by Jerry D'Souza
May 18, 2004

Having Art Tatum as an influence has been an apparently positive on Ron Davis. The man who is a poet, short story writer, a Ph.D. in French Linguistics, and a once-upon-a-time lawyer, in no particular order, made his professional debut (and first record) as a musician in 1970. He now takes a bow with this third, a tight trio date.

Davis’ compositions show his flair for melodic writing. The other tunes he chooses to round out this ...

108

Album Review

Ron Davis with Drew Birston: Solo Duo Trio

Read "Solo Duo Trio" reviewed by Dave Nathan

by Dave Nathan
June 1, 2002

Ron Davis is a dinosaur in this day and age of high specialization and narrow cultural aspirations, in that he is a Renaissance Man. In addition to pursuing his favorite career, jazz piano, and performing regularly in the Toronto area, he also is a published poet and short story writer. He also practices law part time and teaches. His Renaissance disposition has found its way into an eclectic play list and the variety of combinations he has set himself up ...

Articles Across the Web

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Performance / Tour

Ron Davis: The Sayonara Concert

Source: All About Jazz
September 28, 2006

RON DAVIS: THE SAYONARA CONCERT uchida fellow / visiting scholar in Japan Thursday October 26, 2006 7:30pm - The Jazz At The J Series Al Green Theatre at the Miles Nadal Jewish Community Centre 750 Spadina Ave. Toronto | www.mnjcc.org | 416.924-6211

In his last North American performance for 2006, pianist / composer / arranger / producer Ron Davis will be serving up his unique brand of instrumental entertainment, in the Sayonara ...
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Performance / Tour

Ron Davis Quintet To Record New Live Album April 8th & 9th

Source: All About Jazz
April 6, 2006

RON DAVIS QUINTET TO RECORD NEW ALBUM

JOIN US FOR A LIVE CD RECORDING!

Paul Hahn & Co. Pianos April 8th and 9th 7:00 PM

On Saturday April 8th and Sunday April 9th at 7:00 PM, the Ron Davis Quintet will be recording a live CD in performance at Toronto's historic and splendid Paul Hahn & Co. Pianos, 1058 Yonge Street, Toronto. Joining Ron Davis (piano) on stage will be Sasha Boychouk (clarinet and saxes), Richard ...
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Performance / Tour

Ron Davis Trio Returns To Japan, Tours Indonesia

Source: All About Jazz
November 8, 2005

Following on the success of their 2004 tour of Japan, the Ron Davis Trio are returning to Asia for a series of concerts at the Canadian Embassy in Tokyo, and for their first foray into Indonesia.

From November 17 to 27, the Trio (Ron Davis--piano; Drew Birston--bass; Aubrey Dayle--drums) will play and give workshops to music fans and jazz students across major Indonesian cities. The tour will introduce the country to the Ron Davis Trio's brand of energetic swinging music, ...
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“One of the great minds in jazz!” - Jazz.FM91

“Ron Davis’ SymphRONica is truly an ensemble like no other. Energetic, virtuosic, charming, worldly … excitingly unpredictable and fresh… virtuosity and drive …” - WholeNote

“Not like anything else out there. …Your mind will be blown … a sound which truly represents modern jazz music!” – OrcaSound

“…an astronomical experience, this reinvention of jazz for modern ears.” – The Student (Scotland)

“...blends genres and pushes boundaries… genre-defying…” - Jazz Chill Music • “No wonder he’s been called “one of the great minds in Jazz” by JazzFM and “an innovative force within the world of Jazz” by The National Post.” – TorontoMoon • “Four Stars… wonderfully wayward eclecticism… sumptuously floating … deftly ranging keyboard work … a wonderful excursion … a pulsing, slamming drive … enjoyably intimate, salon vibe.” – The Scotsman • “Virtuoso performance…consummate artistry, blending superior control and tonal lucidity with a cohesive sense of line and motion… jazz music could hardly be better served.” - WholeNote • “Four Stars… Davis’ ideas have some resemblance to Pink Martini… serious musical ability is juxtaposed with wit.” – The Herald, Scotland

“One of the great minds in jazz!” - Jazz.FM91

“Ron Davis’ SymphRONica is truly an ensemble like no other. Energetic, virtuosic, charming, worldly … excitingly unpredictable and fresh… virtuosity and drive …” - WholeNote

“Not like anything else out there. …Your mind will be blown … a sound which truly represents modern jazz music!” – OrcaSound

“…an astronomical experience, this reinvention of jazz for modern ears.” – The Student (Scotland)

“Absolutely superb…inspirational… some of the best classically-infused jazz on the planet.” – Patricia Silver – edfringe.com

“Superb (SymphRONica)” - The Royal Philharmonic Society, UK

“Endlessly inventive!” - Jazz.FM91

“Ron Davis has reaffirmed his position as one of the most tenacious and engaging musical artists in Canada.” – WholeNote

"Ron Davis is a name that is synonymous with creativity, inventiveness, eclecticism... an unclassifiable pianist, a great virtuoso, a genius composer..." – L’Express

“…astonishing technique, authentic heir of the greatest pianists of Toronto - "classic" Glenn Gould and jazz musician Oscar Peterson... breathtaking!” – Trud (Russia)

“His playing is reminiscent of Oscar Peterson or that of Jamie Cullum… A brilliant virtuoso.” – CBC - Espace Musique

“He has firmly established himself as an innovative force within the world of jazz.” – National Post

"The artistry of Ron Davis is revealed not solely by his playfulness on the piano, but all the more by his creative decisions as leader." - Wholenote

"Exceptionally gifted and eclectic, Toronto pianist Ron Davis seems like the living incarnation of the perpetuum mobile, buzzing from flower to flower following his successive projects as they emerge, straight from the heart." L'Express

“It's one thing to press play on your laptop and check out Ron Davis; it's another to see his magic in person.” – Examiner.com

“Pick of the day 2015 Pan Am Games performers” – Errol Nazareth

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