Biography

Ron Escheté (pronounced ESH-tay)is the consummate master of the seven-string guitar.Whether he is playing bebop, ballads or blues heis a musically sophisticated guitarist who playswith grace and dignity. "Escheté is one of thefinest jazz guitarists in L.A. – no small achievementin a region dense with superb players," saysJim Ferguson of JazzTimes. His deft and nimblefingers paint a spectrum of sound so rich that hisvoicings are often compared with those of apianist. 20th Century Guitar likens his sound tothat of the great Bill Evans.

Escheté is currently performing and recordingwith the Ron Escheté Trio, featuring ToddJohnson on six-string bass and Kendall Kay ondrums. While he has long been regarded as oneof the finest guitarists in mainstream jazz, nowEscheté ranks as an innovative leader for his workwith this ensemble. "The Escheté trio is as polishedas the classic Modern Jazz Quartet… This is a unit that speakswith a single voice. It is a voice of brilliant musical reason."– Jim Merod, Jazz News. What is most unique about thesound of this trio is the depth and texture created by the couplingof Eschetéís seven strings with Johnsonís six strings. The outcome– "a rich tapestry of melody, harmony and teamwork," saysHal Howland for Modern Drummer Magazine.

Escheté was born in 1948 in Houma, Louisiana, and notsurprisingly his early influences were jazz masters Jim Hall, HowardRoberts and Wes Montgomery. After receiving his first guitar at theage of 14, Escheté joined a quartet and was working clubs inLouisiana before he had even graduated from high school. He attendedLoyola University where he majored in classical guitar and minoredin flute. While there he studied with classical guitarist Paul Guma.

Shortly after Escheté left Loyola he was tapped to tour withBuddy Greco. While on tour with Greco, Escheté set his siteson the Los Angeles music scene. In 1970 Escheté relocated toCalifornia, working and recording with vibist Dave Pike. Then in 1975he joined forces with pianist Gene Harris and quickly establish hisreputation as a premier accompanist. Over the decades Eschetéhas worked with the greatest artists in jazz including: EllaFitzgerald; Sarah Vaughn; Diana Krall; Dizzy Gillespie; Milt Jackson;Ray Brown and many more.

Escheté has appeared on the Tonight Show with Diana Krall, theMerv Griffin Show with the Mort Lindsey Orchestra, the Mike DouglasShow with Buddy Greco. He has played nearly every notable jazz venuein the southern California including the Catalina Bar and Grill, TheJazz Bakery, Steamers, DontÈ's, Carmeloís, The Parisian Room and TheLighthouse to name only a few. He has toured extensively and hasplayed major venues from New York to San Francisco.

Escheté cites a 1988 gig in San Diego as a critical turningpoint in his career. There he began to shed his reputation as thequintessential sideman; he stepped to the center of the stage and hebegan exploring original material. "Long considered to be one of thefinest guitarists in mainstream jazz by musicians and listeners alike,he has now taken over the reins, and "innovative leader" might be abetter appellation," says preeminent jazz critic, Zan Stewart. In 1994he released his first solo recording for Concord entitled, A CloserLook (CCD-4607), showcasing his masterful fingerstyle sound andhis seven-string Benedetto arch-top. In addition to this solorecording Escheté has recorded four CDs with his trio ("Softwinds," "Rain Or Shine," "Mo' Strings Attached" and "Live At Rocco"). "In The Middle," their fifth CD, was released in 2006 and is the first to feature the current line-up of Ron, Todd and Kendall.

While his career has been primarily focused on performance, thismaster musician has dedicated nearly twenty five years to teachingmusic at many colleges and univesities, including among oth-ers:North Texas State University, Utah State University, Loyola University,Louisiana State University at New Orleans, California StateUniversities at Long Beach and Fullerton, and Musicianís Institute inHollywood. He has authored three books: Melodic Chord Phrases (R.E.HPublications), The Jazz Guitar Soloist (Alfred Publications), and abook of Howard Roberts solos entitled Super Solos (PaybackPublications).

Ron Escheté has been described as a masterful musicalchameleon, switching melodic lines and ideas with cool efficiency andbeauty. He transforms from accompanist to soloist to band-leader; frommusical master to musical mentor.

…Escheté is one of the best there is at playing the"traditional" melodic jazz guitar style; a keeper of the flame.– Adrian Ingram, Just Jazz Guitar