Ron McClure
Born November 22, 1941
New Haven, Connecticut, U.S.
Genres Jazz, jazz rock
Occupation(s) Musician, educator
Instruments Bass
Ron McClure (born November 22, 1941) is a jazz bassist
McClure was born in New Haven, Connecticut. 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 (playing behind guitarist Wes Montgomery).
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 1974, McClure joined Blood, Sweat & Tears, staying through 1975 and performing on three albums: Mirror Image, New City and In Concert.
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, Richie Beirach, and Randy Brecker
Discography
(SteepleChase, 1990)
Never Forget (SteepleChase, 1991)
Tonite Only (SteepleChase, 1991)
Sunburst (SteepleChase, 1992)
Inner Account (SteepleChase, 1993)
Never Always (SteepleChase, 1995)
Concrete Canyon (SteepleChase, 1996)
Closer to Your Tears (SteepleChase, 1997)
Dream Team (SteepleChase, 1998)
Soft Hands (SteepleChase, 2006)
New Moon (SteepleChase, 2009)
Mac Straight Ahead (American Showplace, 2010)
Dedication (Steeplechase, 2011)
Crunch Time (Steeplechase, 2012)
Hello Stars (Audio & Video Labs, 2016)
As sideman[edit]
With Burak Bedikyan
Leap of Faith (SteepleChase)
With Carla Bley
Escalator over the Hill (JCOA, 1971)
With Paul Bley
The Nearness of You (SteepleChase, 1989)
With Stanley Cowell
Sienna (SteepleChase, 1989)
With Joe Henderson
If You’re Not Part of the Solution, You’re Part of the Problem (Milestone, 1970)
With Lee Konitz
Zounds (Soul Note, 1990)
With Charles Lloyd
Love-In (Atlantic, 1967)
Journey Within (Atlantic, 1967)
Charles Lloyd in the Soviet Union (Atlantic, 1967)
Soundtrack (Atlantic, 1968)
With Julian Priester
Love, Love (ECM, 1973)
With George Russell
Live in an American Time Spiral (Soul Note, 1983)
With Michel Petrucciani
Cold Blues (OWL, 1985)