Ron Miles facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Ron Miles
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Miles in concert with Bill Frisell, Innsbruck, Austria, in 2009
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| Background information | |
| Birth name | Ronald Glen Miles |
| Born | May 9, 1963 Indianapolis, Indiana, U.S. |
| Died | March 8, 2022 (aged 58) Denver, Colorado, U.S. |
| Genres | Jazz |
| Occupation(s) | Musician, composer |
| Instruments | Cornet, trumpet |
| Years active | 1980–2022 |
| Labels | Capri, Gramavision, Sterling Circle, Prolific |
| Associated acts | Bill Frisell, Fred Hess |
Ronald Glen Miles (May 9, 1963 – March 8, 2022) was an American jazz musician. He was known for playing the trumpet and cornet, and also for writing music. Ron Miles released many albums throughout his career. His last album, Rainbow Sign, was released by the famous Blue Note label.
Contents
Early Life and Education
Ron Miles was born in Indianapolis, Indiana, on May 9, 1963. When he was eleven, his family moved to Denver, Colorado. They hoped the mountain air would help with his asthma. Around this time, he started learning to play the trumpet in a summer music program.
He went to Denver East High School. There, he played in the school's jazz combo with actor Don Cheadle. After high school, Ron first studied electrical engineering at the University of Denver. But he soon changed his mind and decided to study music instead. He then moved to the University of Colorado Boulder, where he met fellow musician Fred Hess.
Ron Miles won a classical music competition at Indiana University Bloomington. This helped him get a scholarship to the Manhattan School of Music in New York City. He earned a master's degree there.
Music Career Highlights
Ron Miles released his first album, Distance for Safety, in 1987. Two years later, he released his second album, Witness. He toured with the Mercer Ellington Orchestra and also performed in Italy. He gained national attention playing with the Duke Ellington Orchestra, Ginger Baker, and the Bill Frisell Quartet.
His third album, My Cruel Heart (1996), showed his unique style. It mixed modern creative jazz with rock music. That same year, he worked with Bill Frisell on Frisell's album Quartet. They teamed up again for Ron's album Woman's Day, which had influences from grunge and post-rock music.
Ron Miles released twelve solo albums during his 35-year career. His final album, Rainbow Sign, came out in 2020. He wrote this album to honor his father, who passed away in 2018. He recorded it with a talented group of musicians: Bill Frisell (guitar), Jason Moran (piano), Thomas Morgan (bass), and Brian Blade (drums). This group was the first to play for an audience at the Village Vanguard after a long lockdown during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Even though he became a well-known jazz musician in Denver, Ron Miles only started getting national recognition later in his career. A friend suggested he might have been more famous if he had moved from Denver. In the late 1990s, Ron Miles joined the Metropolitan State University of Denver. He taught music there and later became the director of their Jazz Studies program.
Personal Life
Ron Miles was married to Kari. They had two children, Justice and Honor.
Ron Miles passed away at his home in Denver on March 8, 2022. He was 58 years old. Before his death, he had been ill with polycythemia vera, which is a rare type of blood cancer.
Discography
As Leader
- Distance for Safety (Prolific, 1987)
- Witness (Capri, 1989)
- My Cruel Heart (Gramavision, 1996)
- Women's Day (Gramavision, 1997)
- Ron Miles Trio (Capri, 2000)
- Heaven (Sterling Circle, 2002)
- Laughing Barrel (Sterling Circle, 2003)
- Stone / Blossom (Sterling Circle, 2006)
- Quiver (Yellowbird, 2012)
- Circuit Rider (Yellowbird, 2014)
- I Am a Man (Yellowbird, 2017)
- Rainbow Sign (Blue Note, 2020)
As Sideman (Selected Albums)
With Bill Frisell
- 1996: Quartet (Nonesuch)
- 2001: Blues Dream (Nonesuch)
- 2007: Floratone (Blue Note) with Floratone
- 2008: History, Mystery (Nonesuch)
With Fred Hess
- 2002: The Long and Short of It (Tapestry)
- 2004: Crossed Paths (Tapestry)
- 2006: How Bout' Now (Tapestry)
With Others
- 1999: Ginger Baker and the DJQ2O, Coward of the County (Atlantic)
- 2003: Joe Henry, Tiny Voices (ANTI-)
- 2017: Jason Moran, BANGS (Yes Records)
- 2018: Joshua Redman, Still Dreaming (Nonesuch)
See also
In Spanish: Ron Miles para niños
