Ron Di Salvio – Music Department

Website References:
Origin Records – Ron Di Salvio
Jazz pianist and composer Ron Di Salvio talks about his career, new Christmas album

Born in Brooklyn, New York Ron Di Salvio began his musical journey at age eleven studying accordion with Alexander Matos. At age sixteen, after hearing Dave Brubeck play live at Carnegie Hall, Ron discovered his passion for jazz piano. He studied improvisation with the legendary Lennie Tristano. A self taught composer, Ron formed a trio and played jazz clubs in New York’s Greenwich Village in the late sixties. During this period he performed with Sonny Rollins, Joe Henderson, Enrico Rava, Renee McClean, Roland Kirk and Art Farmer.

Ron currently serves on the adjunct faculty of Kalamazoo College teaching jazz piano, composition and theory. Ron continues to tour and give clinics. He is a member of ASCAP, MENC and JEN. He is also author of “Deltadiatonics”, “Inspirations from Schoenberg’s Theory of Harmony”.

For his last project Ron produced, composed, arranged and released “Essence of Green” a “Tribute to Kind of Blue” in 2007 for Jazz Septet and SATB featuring legendary drummer Jimmy Cobb, the last remaining member of the Miles Davis “Kind of Blue” ensemble plus Rodney Whitaker on double bass, director of jazz studies at MSU College of Music. The CD was released on Origin Records and reached the “top 40” in the National Jazz Charts. As a follow up to this recording a live concert was featured at the 2006 Irving Gilmore International Keyboard Festival Series Concerts with Jimmy Cobb. The concert produced a video.

Tom Knific, has performed, toured and recorded with Gene Bertoncini, Randy Brecker, Art Farmer, Dave Brubeck, and others. He and Eric Marienthal co-led the “Dream Band” with Toots Thielemans, Kenny Werner and Harvey Mason in the first live interactive jazz concert multi-cast worldwide over the Internet. Tom is professor of bass and director of jazz studies at Western Michigan University and leader of the WJQ. Knific’s two solo CD’s, “Home Bass”, 1998, and “Siena”, 2004, have received critical acclaim. He received the Down Beat magazine Achievement in Jazz Education award in 2004.

Keith Hall tours with singer/saxophonist and Concord Recording Artist Curtis Stigers. Keith spent 8 years in New York City where he played drums on Broadway’s ‘Lion King’ for 3 years. He has performed with Marcus Belgrave, Betty Carter, Sir Roland Hanna, John Hicks, David Kikoski, Wynton Marsalis, Claudio Roditi, Hilton Ruiz, Terrell Stafford, and Steve Wilson. He has recorded with Curtis Stigers, Mind’s Eye, Jeff Haas and others. Keith holds a Bachelors and Masters degree in Jazz Studies from Western Michigan University and Queens College in New York and has taught at New York University. He has given clinics and master classes around the world. Keith now lives in Michigan where he teaches at Western Michigan University.