The Ron Di Lauro Sextet’s Tribute to Miles Davis - "Kind of Blue" is a remarkable musical experience that celebrates one of jazz’s most iconic albums, Miles Davis’s Kind of Blue. Released in 1959, Kind of Blue is widely regarded as one of the greatest jazz albums of all time. Its modal jazz approach revolutionized the genre, and the Ron Di Lauro Sextet’s tribute does an exceptional job of honoring this groundbreaking work while also showcasing the unique voice of the ensemble.
Ron Di Lauro, a highly skilled and seasoned jazz trumpeter, is known for his ability to blend intricate technical mastery with an emotive, soulful performance style. Leading the sextet, he channels the essence of Davis, whose playing was characterized by its lyrical beauty and understated yet profound impact.
The Tribute to Miles Davis - "Kind of Blue" performance is more than just a simple replication of the album; it’s a reimagining that brings new life to the familiar tunes while maintaining the spirit of innovation that Davis and his ensemble first presented.
The sextet’s lineup, consisting of trumpet, alto and tenor saxophones, piano, bass and drums, plays an essential role in this tribute. Each instrument adds its own distinctive voice to the mix, creating a rich, multi-layered soundscape. The arrangement of the tunes allows for moments of improvisation and interplay that were so central to the original recordings. These spontaneous moments capture the free-flowing energy of jazz, giving the audience a sense of the same creativity that Davis and his bandmates (including Cannonball Adderley, John Coltrane, Bill Evans, Paul Chambers, and Jimmy Cobb) displayed during the recording of Kind of Blue.
The setlist for the tribute includes several of the standout tracks from Kind of Blue, such as "So What," "Freddie Freeloader," "Blue in Green," and "All Blues." These tracks are the very essence of modal jazz, with their open, spacious structures that emphasize melody and mood over the more complex harmonic progressions found in bebop.
The sextet’s approach to these pieces, while respecting the original compositions, brings out fresh interpretations, often through nuanced solos and dynamic group interactions. This allows listeners to experience the music anew, offering both reverence to Davis’s masterpiece and an understanding of the timelessness of jazz.
Perhaps the most significant aspect of the Ron Di Lauro Sextet’s tribute is its ability to evoke the spirit of the 1959 recording while still remaining firmly rooted in the present. Di Lauro and his group acknowledge that Kind of Blue was not just a moment in time, but a monumental shift in the world of jazz. Through their dedication to the material and their own creativity, the sextet not only celebrates this pivotal album but also reminds the audience of its relevance in today’s jazz scene.
jazz and classical trumpeter
Ron Di Lauro has been one of the most sought-after musicians in Quebec for over 45 years. From jazz to classical, popular repertoire and world music, this trumpeter remains as active as ever.
Throughout his career, he has performed alongside several internationally renowned artists, including Dizzy Gillespie, Freddie Hubbard, Randy Brecker, Zoot Sims, John Scofield, Maria Schneider, Dave Holland, Ron Carter, Paquito Di Rivera, Oliver Jones, Vic Vogel, Pepper Adams, Tony Bennett, Frank Sinatra Jr., Michel Legrand, John Pizzarelli, Jamie Cullum, Aretha Franklin, Ginette Reno, Carol Welsman, Ranee Lee, Céline Dion, Gregory Charles, Claude Dubois, Daniel Lavoie, Gino Vannelli, Diane Dufresne, Petula Clark, Shirley Bassey, and Deep Purple, to name but a few.
He has performed as a guest soloist with the Montreal, Laval, and Longueuil Symphony Orchestras, the Orchestre Métropolitain du Grand Montréal, and the Quebec Symphony Orchestra, as well as the Joe Sullivan and Lorraine Desmarais Big Bands, the Orchestre de Jazz de Nice (France), and the Caja Negra Big Band de Paris (France).
He has been a member of Vic Vogel's Big Band since 1980.
Ron Di Lauro has taken part in numerous television and radio broadcasts, contributed to musical comedies, several film soundtracks and commercials, and has participated in over 350 studio recordings as a soloist, brass section member, music producer, and conductor.
He is regularly called upon by many music festivals and cultural organizations to serve as a jury member.
Professor Emeritus of the Faculty of Music at the Université de Montréal, he has led the Big Band and the Jazz Chamber Orchestra, while also teaching jazz trumpet and heading the jazz department at the Université de Montréal.
He has also taught at the Schulich School of Music at McGill University and UQAM as a lecturer for several years.
Ron Di Lauro is also a guest conductor of the National Jazz Orchestra of Montreal and leads several musical ensembles ranging from small groups to large jazz and popular music ensembles.
In May 2014, the Montreal International Jazz Festival awarded him the Oscar Peterson Prize in recognition of the "quality of his artistry and his exceptional contribution to the Canadian jazz scene."
In March 2019, Ron Di Lauro received the "Prix Hommage" from the JazzFest des jeunes du Québec "for an exceptional musical contribution to the cultural scene and for 20 years of involvement and dedication."
In August 2021, the FestiJazz de Mont-Tremblant awarded him the "Prix Hommage for his remarkable contribution to the development of jazz in Canada."
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