RON DAVIS
rondavismusic.com
“...very well may be the most gifted pianist in Canada!” – rivetingriffs.com
Moving effortlessly between musical genres, projects, and influences, pianist Ron Davis has been touring since 1997, and has several international tours under his belt. But with a catalogue of seven recordings and dozens of compositions, the man refuses to be pinned down. Is he a jazz purist, a savvy pop interpreter, an academic technical perfectionist, an avant garde composer? Yes. All this and more.
On any given night, Ron's solo set might include classic Art Tatum and Thelonius Monk jazz gently laced with different yet contextually linked pieces such as Coldplay's "Viva la Vida," Arlen and Mercer's "My Shining Hour," and James Taylor's "Don't Let Me Be Lonely Tonight." Davis reads the audience and provides the right balance by making a point to break up the texture and keep everyone on the edge of their seat.
Ron's playing is lyrical, his runs filled with harmonic delight and abandon. The joy he feels in performing is palpable. He likes nothing so much as sharing and connecting with his audience, introducing them to his favourite composers and pieces, sometimes re-interpreted with a sardonic twist. He delivers a magnificent melange of jazz, instrumental, experimental, pop, and a touch of blues all in a solo set.
Playing fast and loose with influences and styles only works well when a musician is able to draw upon a solid musical foundation, and Ron Davis is no exception. He began playing piano at a young age. His talent truly began to crystallize in his teens after studying at the Royal Conservatory of Music. Later, his mentor was the late Darwyn Aitken, a giant in the musical world who passed along lessons learned at the hands of piano legends David Saperton (classical) and Oscar Peterson (jazz).
Ron’s roots are buried deep in swing, stride and post-bop jazz. He cites Oscar Peterson and other jazz piano giants Art Tatum, Thelonious Monk and Phineas Newborn as his inspirations; indeed, his playing is reminiscent of theirs but his energetic, clean and straightforward style is more cosmopolitan and uniquely his own.
“I like calling my music instrumental entertainment," says Davis, “because it's accessible to all, but retains the integrity jazz fans recognize. My music - all music - is ultimately about enjoyment."
Ron's ambitious and innovative CDs Subarashii Live (2007 ) and Shimmering Rhythm (2005) garnered international acclaim and appeared on several Top 10 Jazz Recordings lists, as did his 2004 Mungle Music CD. The pop-influenced So Much (with vocalist Lori Cullen) was a 2003 Jazz Album of the Year - Canadian Music Week Independent Awards nominee.
Ron is active on the international jazz scene. He's also had other lives. He practiced law from 1984 to 2002. In 1993 he earned his PhD in French linguistics at the University of Toronto, where he was Assistant Professor for several years. He has also published poetry and numerous articles. In 2006, he was awarded the Japan Foundation's prestigious Uchida Fellowship for the Performing Arts. He was also granted the position of Visiting Scholar at Tokyo's Hosei University. All this followed on the heels of his successful tours of Japan, in 2004 and 2005. Ron has also toured China, Hong Kong, and Thailand as well as extensively throughout North America.
Ron serves on the Board of The Glenn Gould Foundation. He has beein vinvilved with numerous charities. Ron is a savvy, prolific user of social media. He is married to the lovely and highly-hyphenated Daniela Nardi, the award-winning, Italian-Canadian, singer-songwriter of jazz-pop. The couple call Toronto home.
DISCOVER RON DAVIS. REDISCOVER MUSIC. ON CD. ON THE NET. ON STAGE. ON THE PAGE.
Discography:
"My Mother’s Father’s Song" (2010- Minerva Road / Davinor Records 600977)
Critics' Pick- Toronto Star (CD release concert)
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"The Bestseller" (2008 - Davinor 233377/Minerva Road Entertainment)
Ron Davis - piano
Sasha Boychouk - clarinet
"Ron Davis' "The Bestseller" CD with Sasha Boychuk is a true work of art." (Ralph Benmergui- Jazz.FM)
"Splendid new recording... killer playing" (Toronto Sun)
Best of 2008 (JAZZ.FM, SoundProof)
#1 on the Earshot and ChartAttack Radio charts!
Real bestsellers are always love stories. Ron Davis' The Bestseller (Minerva Road / Davinor Records 233377) is no different. It's a musical story. The story of the romance between a Canadian piano (played by composer Ron Davis,) that meets a Ukrainian clarinet (played by Sasha Boychouk.) In 12 songs and 9 unique Interludes, Ron and Sasha display the sizzling chemistry of their music-making partnership.
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"Subarashii Live" (2007- Davinor 89144/Minerva Road Entertainment)
#1 on the charts (ChartAttack Dec 07)!
"[Subarashii Live] provides an emotional salve for what ails you... . Overall rating: awesome!" WholeNote Magazine
"Pianist Ron Davis ... brings it all together, working in close harmony with his band to create an impressive musical palette.... lyrical... stunning... compelling listening." AllAboutJazz.com
A collection of mostly original compositions that lives up to the critical acclaim of his previous albums. Subarashii Live captures two sell-out concerts at the historic Paul Hahn Pianos, in midtown Toronto, with his quintet.
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'Shimmering Rhythm' (2005- Davinor 3455/Minerva Road Entertainment)
Top 10 2005: JAZZ.FM, CODA Magazine, Zeitgeist, l'Express
"Fantastic!"
CBC Radio
"A tour de force ten times over!" - All About Jazz
"An outstanding, fresh and life affirming piece of work, and one of the most enjoyable jazz releases of 2005!" - Zeitgeist (Scotland)
"A lovely, personal album...an original album, with good solos, rich ensemble work, the kind of contemplative mood I favour, and a personal touch that puts Davis right out there, where he belongs." - The Live Music Report
from Dominique Denis' liner notes:
"Even by Ron Davis standards, this was a ambitious venture: a jazz record, no doubt, but informed by a dangerously broad range of idioms. Where else do the styles and spirit of Debussy, Bird, Bach, Vince Guaraldi and the Klezmatics not only make room for one another, but actually make sense to one another?
Seamlessly woven together by Tania Gill’s arrangements for double trio (Ron and his rhythm section, augmented by viola, cello and clarinet), Shimmering Rhythm features reedman Sacha Boychouk, contralto Jean Stillwell and Alex Davis - Ron’s father - singing a poignant Passover melody. Back in the 50’s, a record like this one just might have given Third Stream a good name. In 2005’s musical landscape, it stands practically alone."
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'Mungle Music' (2004- Davinor 1321)
Top 10 2004: CODA Magazine, CBC, Radio-Canada
"Brilliant Album!"
Stanley Fefferman- The Live Music Report
"Pianist Davis shows off his percussive (and writing) skills... but he always shows off other areas of interest in his rigorous, well-crafted creations."
Geoff Chapman - Toronto Star
"Music to sit up and take notice of!"
Matthew Robinson - AllAboutJazz.com
"Davis turns up the heat for Mungle Music without sacrificing the pure tone and harmonic clarity of his keyboards." 4 stars out of 5.
Steve Baylin - Hour
Airplay: CBC, JAZZ-FM 91.1, WWOZ, CFRB, Indonesia, Australia, Germany, France etc.
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'So Much' (2003 - Rosemary Lane / Cullinor)
Best Jazz Album of the Year nominee - Canadian Independent Music Awards
"I scrambled to pick my jaw up off the floor... If you like jazz, you're going to fall in love. Did I mention that the jazz trio is on fire too?”
Tamara Turner - Cdbaby.com
“A remarkable album.”
Julia M. Scott - AllAboutJazz.com
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'Solo Duo Trio' (2001 - Cullinor)
“…this is an album I listened to a great deal, I’m enjoying it.”
Ross Porter - CBC
#3 - HMV Toronto Indie chart (Nov. 31/01)
#3 – jazzpromo.com (Dec. /01-Jan. /02)
#4- CHRW Jazz chart (Dec. 16/01)
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