Ron Miles

Ronald Glen Miles (May 9, 1963 – March 8, 2022) was an American jazz trumpeter, cornetist, and composer. He recorded for the labels Prolific (1986), Capri (1990), and Gramavision.[2] His final album, Rainbow Sign, was his first on the Blue Note label.

Ron Miles
Miles in concert with Bill Frisell, Innsbruck, Austria, in 2009
Miles in concert with Bill Frisell, Innsbruck, Austria, in 2009
Background information
Birth nameRonald Glen Miles[1]
Born(1963-05-09)May 9, 1963
Indianapolis, Indiana, U.S.
DiedMarch 8, 2022(2022-03-08) (aged 58)
Denver, Colorado, U.S.
GenresJazz
Occupation(s)Musician, composer
Instrument(s)Cornet, trumpet
Years active1980–2022
LabelsCapri, Gramavision, Sterling Circle, Prolific

Early life

Miles was born in Indianapolis, Indiana,[3] on May 9, 1963.[1][4] His parents, Fay Downey Miles and Jane Miles worked for the federal civil service.[1] The family relocated to Denver, Colorado, when he was eleven,[3][5] partly because his parents thought the mountain climate would be better for his asthma.[1] He began learning the trumpet during this time at a summer music program.[1] He attended Denver East High School,[5] where he played in its jazz combo together with Don Cheadle.[6] After graduating, Miles initially studied electrical engineering at the University of Denver. However, he eventually switched his major to music and transferred to the University of Colorado Boulder,[6] where he first met Fred Hess.[3] Miles won a classical competition at the International Brass Clinic hosted by Indiana University Bloomington. This enabled him to earn a scholarship to the Manhattan School of Music in New York City, where he obtained a master's degree.[3]

Career

Miles's debut album, Distance for Safety, was released in 1987.[4][6] Two years later, he distributed his second album titled Witness.[1][3] He toured with the Mercer Ellington Orchestra during this time and went to Italy with Sophisticated Ladies in 1992.[3] He also received national recognition playing with the Duke Ellington Orchestra, Ginger Baker, and the Bill Frisell Quartet.[6] His third album, My Cruel Heart (1996), saw him delve into his unique flair of modern creative jazz combined with rock influences. He also collaborated with Bill Frisell that year on the latter's album Quartet. The two teamed up again the following year on Miles's album Woman's Day, which was influenced by grunge and post-rock.[3]

Miles recorded a total of twelve solo albums throughout his 35-year career.[4][5] His final album, Rainbow Sign, was released in 2020 and was his first with Blue Note Records.[4][6] He wrote the album as a tribute to his father, who died in 2018, and recorded it with Frisell (guitar), Jason Moran (piano), Thomas Morgan (bass), and Brian Blade (drums).[5][6] The quintet – which started performing together in 2016 – later became the first ensemble to play in front of an audience at the Village Vanguard after 18 months of lockdown during the COVID-19 pandemic.[1][7] Miles became one of Denver's most prominent jazz musicians,[8] but only started receiving national acclaim towards the end of his career.[7] Bret Saunders, a jazz columnist for The Denver Post and a friend of Miles, surmised that he could have had a more renowned career had he not decided to remain in Denver.[5] Miles joined the Metropolitan State University of Denver during the late 1990s.[3][9] He taught there as a professor of music,[4] and eventually became director of its Jazz Studies program.[1][6]

Personal life

Miles was married to Kari until his death. Together, they had two children: Justice and Honor.[4][5]

Miles died on the evening of March 8, 2022, at his home in Denver. He was 58, and suffered from polycythemia vera — a rare blood cancer — prior to his death.[1][4][5]

Discography

As leader

As sideman

With Bill Frisell

With Fred Hess

  • 2002: The Long and Short of It (Tapestry)[10]
  • 2004: Crossed Paths (Tapestry)[10]
  • 2006: How Bout' Now (Tapestry)[12]
  • 2007: In the Grotto (Alison)[13]
  • 2008: Single Moment (Alison)[14]

With others

References
  1. Chinen, Nate (March 9, 2022). "Ron Miles, cornetist who imbued modern jazz with heart and soul, dies at 58". NPR. Retrieved March 10, 2022.
  2. Yanow, Scott. "Ron Miles – Music Biography, Credits and Discography". AllMusic. Retrieved February 28, 2013.
  3. Collar, Matt. "Ron Miles – Biography". AllMusic. Retrieved March 10, 2022.
  4. Harrington, Jim (March 9, 2022). "'Gifted artist' Ron Miles dies of a rare blood disorder at 58". The Mercury News. Retrieved March 10, 2022.
  5. Wenzel, John (March 9, 2022). "Denver's Ron Miles, a legend in American jazz, has died at 58". The Denver Post. Retrieved March 10, 2022.
  6. Moore, John (March 9, 2022). "Denver jazz great Ron Miles spoke through his music". The Denver Gazette. Archived from the original on March 10, 2022. Retrieved March 10, 2022.
  7. Russonello, Giovanni (September 20, 2021). "Ron Miles Headlines the Village Vanguard, at Last, as the Club Reopens". The New York Times. Retrieved March 11, 2022.
  8. Bret Saunders (September 14, 2010). "Jazz: The many styles of Ron Miles". The Denver Post. Archived from the original on March 9, 2011.
  9. Metropolitan State College of Denver – Department of Music Retrieved October 11, 2012.
  10. "Ron Miles – Credits". AllMusic. Retrieved March 10, 2022.
  11. "Ron Miles – Album Discography". AllMusic. Retrieved March 10, 2022.
  12. McClenaghan, Dan (March 19, 2006). "Fred Hess Band: How 'Bout Now". All About Jazz. Archived from the original on March 10, 2022. Retrieved March 10, 2022.
  13. Saunders, Bret (December 27, 2007). "Best of 2007: Top jazz albums". The Denver Post. Retrieved March 10, 2022.
  14. Collins, Troy (October 31, 2008). "The Fred Hess Band: Single Moment". All About Jazz. Archived from the original on March 10, 2022. Retrieved March 10, 2022.
  15. Hilburn, Robert; Hochman, Steve (May 4, 2003). "These dolls just wanna sing and dance". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved March 10, 2022.
  16. "Ron Miles: 'Quiver' (trio, with Bill Frisell and Brian Blade)". Radio National. Australian Broadcasting Corporation. November 4, 2012. Retrieved March 10, 2022.
  17. Camphire, Greg (December 16, 2007). "The Jason Steele Ensemble: Some Wonderful Moment". All About Jazz. Archived from the original on March 10, 2022. Retrieved March 10, 2022.
  18. "Another Mood by Rich Lamb". All About Jazz. August 19, 2016. Archived from the original on March 10, 2022. Retrieved March 10, 2022.
  19. Jazz, All About (October 14, 2009). "The Hashem Assadullahi Quintet: Strange Neighbor album review @ All About Jazz". All About Jazz. Retrieved April 20, 2022.
  20. Jazz, All About (August 10, 2013). "Jazz news: Aakash Mittal: From Denver to Kolkata, Jazz Crosses Continents and a Big "Ocean"". All About Jazz. Retrieved April 20, 2022.
  21. Jazz, All About (April 24, 2013). "Hashem Assadullahi: Pieces album review @ All About Jazz". All About Jazz. Retrieved April 20, 2022.
  22. Walton, Jack (September 24, 2015). "Jazz trio Whirlpool performs at Merrimans' Playhouse". South Bend Tribune. Archived from the original on March 10, 2022. Retrieved March 10, 2022.
  23. Reich, Howard (September 22, 2015). "Don't miss these shows at the Hyde Park Jazz Festival". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved March 10, 2022.
  24. Beuttler, Bill (April 8, 2019). "Soaring jazz from Jason Moran's BANGS trio at Sanders Theatre". The Boston Globe. Archived from the original on March 10, 2022. Retrieved March 10, 2022.
  25. Matt Wilson - Honey And Salt (Music Inspired By The Poetry Of Carl Sandburg), August 25, 2017, retrieved April 20, 2022
  26. Meyer, Bill (November 11, 2021). "On the new Seven Bridges, Charles Rumback gathers together the many sounds he's mastered". Chicago Reader. Retrieved March 11, 2022.
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