Ron Escheté


Ronald Patrick Escheté is an American seven-string jazz guitarist. He is the first person to record a cover version of "Christmas Time Is Here", which Vince Guaraldi wrote the 1965 television special A Charlie Brown Christmas.

Career

When Escheté was fourteen, he began playing guitar. During the late 1960s, he studied classical guitar and flute at Loyola University in New Orleans. From 1969–1970, he worked in Las Vegas supporting singer Buddy Greco. He moved to Los Angeles, where he played with Dave Pike and Gene Harris.
Escheté has been an educator since the early 1970s when he taught at community colleges in southern California. In the mid 1970s, he began teaching at the Musicians Institute in Hollywood and in the 1990s at California State University at Long Beach. He has written several instruction books, such as The Jazz Guitar Soloist and Melodic Chord Phrases.
His early influences were jazz guitarists Wes Montgomery, Jim Hall, and Howard Roberts. He has played with Ray Brown, Ella Fitzgerald, Dizzy Gillespie, Milt Jackson, and Diana Krall.

Discography

As leader

Spirit's Samba To Let You Know I Care Line-Up Christmas Impressions A Beautiful Friendship with Dewey ErneyThe Second Set with Dewey Erney Stump Jumper Mo' Strings Attached A Closer Look Rain or Shine Soft Winds You'd Be So Nice To Come Home To with Dewey ErneyThe Sunset Hour Live at Rocco No Place To Hide with Mort WeissStill a Beautiful Friendship with Dewey ErneyHomeward Bound In the Middle: Live at Spazio All Too Soon with Mort Weiss
  • ''How My Heart Sings: Live at Steamers''

As sideman

With Gene HarrisHot Lips Nature's Way Listen Here! Black and Blue Like a Lover A Little Piece of Heaven Funky Gene's Brotherhood It's the Real Soul In His Hands Down Home Blues with Jack McDuff
With Stix HooperWe Went West Friends Across the Pond
With Dave PikeTimes Out of Mind On a Gentle Note Let the Minstrels Play On Moon Bird
With others