Ron McClure

Ron McClure
Ron McClure at Bach Dancing & Dynamite Society, Half Moon Bay, California, June 21, 1987
Ron McClure at Bach Dancing & Dynamite Society, Half Moon Bay, California, June 21, 1987
Background information
Born (1941-11-22) November 22, 1941 (age 82)
New Haven, Connecticut, U.S.
GenresJazz, jazz rock
Occupation(s)Musician, composer, educator
InstrumentBass
Years active1965–present
LabelsBellaphon, Ken, Steeplechase
Websitewww.ronmcclure.com

Ron McClure (born November 22, 1941)[1] is an American jazz bassist.

Early life

[edit]

McClure was born in New Haven, Connecticut, United States.[1] He started on piano at age five, and later played accordion and bass.[1] McClure studied privately with Joseph Iadone and, later, with Hall Overton and Don Sebesky.[1] McClure attended the Hartt School of Music,[2] graduating in 1963.[1]

Later life and career

[edit]

McClure worked in the Buddy Rich Sextet in 1963.[1] He then joined Maynard Ferguson's big band[2] and, afterwards, Herbie Mann in 1964; and then assumed the bass chair in the Wynton Kelly Trio vacated by Paul Chambers in 1965 (playing behind guitarist Wes Montgomery).[1]

From 1966 to 1969, he was a member of Charles Lloyd's "classic quartet" with pianist Keith Jarrett and drummer Jack DeJohnette,[3] which was voted "Group of the Year" in 1967 by Downbeat magazine.

In 1970, with pianist-composer Mike Nock, drummer Eddie Marshall and violinist Michael White, he co-founded the jazz-rock group, the Fourth Way.[1] He also participated in Carla Bley's album, Escalator over the Hill, and worked with saxophonist Joe Henderson.

In 1974, McClure joined Blood, Sweat & Tears, staying until 1975 and performing on three albums: Mirror Image, New City and In Concert.[1]

In the 1980s, he joined Quest, led by saxophonist Dave Liebman, which also included drummer Billy Hart and pianist Richie Beirach.[4] He also recorded a duo album with pianist Michel Petrucciani.[1] McClure's major engagements in the 1990s through the early 2000s were with Lee Konitz, and then with the reassembled Quest.

His solo output include the contributions of John Scofield, John Abercrombie, Vic Juris, Paul Bley, Michael Eckroth, Richie Beirach, and Randy Brecker.

Discography

[edit]
Ron McClure (left) with guitarist Johnny Alegre (center) and drummer Billy Hart (right) in Midtown, Manhattan, at 151 West 46th Street, between Sixth and Seventh Avenues. The photo was taken in 2009, when they recorded Johnny Alegre 3 for MCA.

As leader

[edit]

As sideman

[edit]

With Joe Henderson

With Lee Konitz

With David Liebman

With Charles Lloyd

With Karlheinz Miklin

  • Next Page (SOS Music [Austria], 1991)
  • Decisions (1993)
  • Last Waltz (Acoustic Music, 1997)
  • From Here to There (TCB Records, 2002)
  • In Between (2004)

With Jarmo Savolainen

  • First Sight (Timeless, 1992)
  • True Image (A-Records, 1995)

With others

References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j Colin Larkin, ed. (1992). The Guinness Who's Who of Jazz (First ed.). Guinness Publishing. p. 265. ISBN 0-85112-580-8.
  2. ^ a b Efman, Donald (2010-02-11). "Ron McClure: Lookout Farms and New Moons". All About Jazz. Retrieved 2010-06-26.
  3. ^ May, Chris (2008-08-18). "Dream Weaver - The Charles Lloyd Anthology - The Atlantic Years 1966-1969". All About Jazz. Retrieved 2010-06-26.
  4. ^ Kelman, John (2007-04-13). "Redemption - Quest Live in Europe". All About Jazz. Retrieved 2010-06-26.