STONE/BLOSSOM: rudy Royston - drums, Kent McLagen - bass, Eric Gunnison - piano, also: Greg Garrison - bass, Roger Green - guitar, Erik Deutsch - piano & rhodes, Eric Moon - organ/organ/keyboards, and Glenn Taylor - pedal steel guitar. LAUGHING BARREL: Anthony Cox - bass, Brandon Ross - guitar, and Rudy Royston - drums. HEAVEN: (special guest) Bill Frissell
w/ Bill Frisell playing "1968" in Germany
Denver trumpeter Ron Miles’ resume includes time with Bill Frisell, Don Byron, the Ellington Orchestra, and Fred Hess’ Boulder Creative Music Ensemble. Besides being solicited all over the world for his unique sound, Ron is a staple of the Denver jazz scene and his recent releases as band leader show off his skills as a composer and arranger as well as a “phenomenally gifted trumpeter” (Bill Milkowski).
A resident of Denver since he was 11, he began playing the trumpet seriously in junior high school and studied music at the University of Denver (1981-1985) and the Manhattan School of Music (1986). Miles says that living in Denver has given him an appreciation for a broad array of musical styles that he might not have acquired elsewhere. “Country and Western music, Latin, jazz, and rock are all popular here, so you find yourself trying out a lot of ideas with other musicians and gaining a healthy respect for the music,” he explains.
Ron Miles was widely recognized as a musical director and arranger with the release of Ginger Baker’s Coward of the County (Atlantic 1999). His compositions anchor that record and highlight the varied influences from which Ron draws inspiration. Hailed as an inventive composer and gifted trumpeter on his solo releases, Ron cruised through the 1990s with a series of well-received releases on Gramavision (My Cruel Heart, Woman’s Day) and Capri (Witness, Ron Miles Trio).
In 2002 Ron slowed it down for a quiet, intimate recording with friend and master jazz guitarist Bill Frisell. Heaven again showcases Ron’s talent as an arranger, particularly on Hank Williams’ “Your Cheatin’ Heart” and Bob Dylan’s “A Hard Rain’s A-Gonna Fall” (which Ron heard for the first time in the sessions!) According to Bill Frisell, “What is so exciting about Ron is that he really has his own voice. It seems like everything that is going on right now is either very conservative or it rejects everything. Ron has found a way to include everything and not reject things, and still be his own person.” Miles said of his playing with Bill, “I think we share a fondness for striking melody, patience and the importance of individual timbre.”
Hi Ron... When you walk on my NY island later this week, stomp the ground once for me! (I do miss home sometimes...) I hope to hear you again soon, perhaps even play together sometime when you're back in Denver. ENJOY!
Hy!!It was very loooong time ago and you were in tour with bill frisell. You plaid in a very small club in bressanone(north of Italy) and you all did one of the most incredible gig I've seen in all my life.. I still rember almost everything. Than we went in an other pub and you and joy baron came in the same club and we spoke for some time..well I've told this story about 100 times and it's incredible to write it to you!!ciao stefano
Hey Professor Miles. I just realized that you are/(are almost) in town. I am going to come to a show this weekend for sure! Maybe Saturday or Sunday. I live up in Harlem and I have an interview at Epic Records today. I look forward to the show!!
Hey Ron, just stopped by to listen for a minute. "Unconditional" sounds beautiful...it's my favorite track off your recent album which is amazing! Peace. Tom.
Hey Ron, I hope all is well with you. You are sounding even so beautiful then the many days hearing you when I was in high school and sitting in at the clubs back in the day. Wish you well.
Ron, thank you for reaching out bro! We gotta hook up....do you get out to NY much these days? Also, I know you've been groovin' the new Monette Cornet....are you still playing trumpet? I saw you on TV in Europe with Frisell...you sounded beautiful on the cornet. Peace-RV
Greetings! We just released two brand new tracks ‘White Laces’ and ‘Trampolines’! Please stop by, listen, and tell us what you think! (They are downloadable from the Snocap box below the player) -CC
