Ron McClure


Ron McClure is an American jazz bassist.

Early life

McClure was born in New Haven, Connecticut, United States. He started on piano at age five, and later played accordion and bass. McClure studied privately with Joseph Iadone and, later, with Hall Overton and Don Sebesky. McClure attended the Hartt School of Music, graduating in 1963.

Later life and career

McClure worked in the Buddy Rich Sextet in 1963. He then joined Maynard Ferguson's big band and, afterwards, Herbie Mann in 1964; and then assumed the bass chair in the Wynton Kelly Trio vacated by Paul Chambers in 1965.
From 1966 to 1969, he was a member of Charles Lloyd's "classic quartet" with pianist Keith Jarrett and drummer Jack DeJohnette, which was voted "Group of the Year" in 1967 by Downbeat magazine.
In 1970, with pianist-composer Mike Nock, drummer Eddie Marshall and violinist Michael White, he co-founded the jazz-rock group, the Fourth Way. He also participated in Carla Bley's album, Escalator over the Hill, and worked with saxophonist Joe Henderson.
In April and May 1972, while McClure was teaching at Berklee College of Music, he worked three jobs lasting a total of four weeks as the bassist in the Thelonious Monk Quartet.
In October 1973, McClure joined Vince Guaraldi and drummer Mike Clark for sessions at Wally Heider Studios in San Francisco. Their take of “Autumn Leaves” can be heard on a posthumous 2006 CD titled “North Beach”.
In 1974, McClure joined Blood, Sweat & Tears, staying until 1975 and performing on three albums: Mirror Image, New City and In Concert. In 1976, McClure's composition “No Show” was nominated for a Grammy Award for Best Arrangement, Instrumental or A Cappella.
In the 1980s, he joined Quest, led by saxophonist Dave Liebman, which also included drummer Billy Hart and pianist Richie Beirach. He also recorded a duo album with pianist Michel Petrucciani. McClure's major engagements in the 1990s through the early 2000s were with Lee Konitz, and then with the reassembled Quest.
His solo output include the contributions of John Scofield, John Abercrombie, Vic Juris, Paul Bley, Michael Eckroth, Richie Beirach, and Randy Brecker.

Discography

As leader/co-leader

Home Base Descendants Cold Blues with Michel PetruccianiYesterday's Tomorrow with John Abercrombie, Aldo RomanoMcJolt with John AbercrombieNever Forget with Eddie Henderson, Vincent HerringInspiration Tonite Only with John AbercrombieSunburst Inner Account Never Always Concrete Canyon Pink Cloud Closer to Your Tears Dream Team Double Triangle Match Point Age of Peace Soft Hands Wonderland with Harold DankoNew Moon Dedication Crunch Time Ready or Not Hello Stars Hope & Knowledge Lucky Sunday
  • ''NightQuest''

As sideman

With Joe HendersonIf You're Not Part of the Solution, You're Part of the Problem In Pursuit of Blackness Jazz Patterns – rec.1970
With Lee KonitzZounds It's You Dig-It with Ted Brown
With David LiebmanThe Opal Heart Doin' It Again – rec.1979If They Only Knew – rec.1980
With Charles LloydLove-In Journey Within Charles Lloyd in the Soviet Union
With Karlheinz MiklinNext Page Decisions Last Waltz From Here to There In Between – rec.2002
With Jarmo SavolainenFirst Sight True Image
With others