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Jason Steele Ensemble CD Release Party featuring Ron Miles 3/31 |
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Written by Don Berryman
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Saturday, 17 March 2007 |
 Ron Miles © Andrea Canter
Jason Steele leads a jazz, indie rock, and improvisation influenced group called The Jason Steele Ensemble, which showcases his original compositions as well as the talents of other jazz musicians in the area. Release on ears & eyes Records on March 20th, Some Wonderful Moment features special guests Ron Miles on cornet, saxophonist Josh Sclar, and keyboardist Keith Johnson. The Jason Steele Ensemble CD Release Party will be held on Saturday, March 31st at Chicago's Heaven Gallery, 1550 North Milwaukee on the 2nd Floor at 10:00 pm. The Jason Steele Ensemble includes Ron Miles-cornet, Thad Franklin-trumpet/flugelhorn, Tim Sullivan-sax/bass clarinet, Josh Sclar-sax, Keith Johnson-fender Rhodes, Bryan Doherty-bass (sitting in for Matt Ulery), Charles Rumback-drums, and Jason Steele-guitar/compositions.
 Jason Steele
On April 1st Jason Steele and Ron Miles will be together again in another one of Jason’s projects, Remington 2+2, is a free improv quartet with fellow guitarist Bill MacKay that takes the element of surprise one step further by including two “mystery guests” at each show. Usually they do not let everyone know who will be playing, keeping it a surprise to the audience. Bill Mackay and Jason don,t even tell one another who they are bringing to play, however this show is an exception. We'll take a little bit of the mystery out by announcing the April 1st, line-up: Jason Steele on guitar, Bill Mackay on guitar, Ron Miles on cornet and Josh Berman on cornet. The Remington 2+2 concert will be at the Hungry Brain, 2319 Belmont in Chicago at 10:00 pm. The concert will also include a set by 500 Leeches featuring Charles Rum,back on drums, Keith Johnson on keyboards and Josh Sclar on saxophone.
Jason Steele received his B.M. in Jazz Composition from the Chicago College of Performing Arts at Roosevelt University. Prior to arriving in Chicago, he attended Hutchinson Community College in Hutchinson, Kansas under the tutelage of trumpeter/educator Bryce Luty and drummer Eugene “Bones” Hutchinson. During this time, Jason was selected as the guitar player for the 1997 International Association of Jazz Educators’ All-Star Community College Big Band and performed at the Montreux Jazz Festival as well as at the New Orleans, Reno, and Witchita Jazz Fests.
 Tim Sullivan
After completing his work at H.C.C., Jason moved back to Colorado to study under guitarist and composer Dale Bruning. He sums up his influential experience as Bruning’s student by simply saying, “I showed up a guitar player and left a musician.” Upon his arrival in Chicago, Jason studied with guitarist John McLean, David Bloom of the Bloom School of Jazz, Tom Garling, Mike Smith, Eddie Baker, and trumpeter Tito Carillo. While attending C.C.P.A. he began composing for large and small ensembles, culminating his studies with an arrangement of his original work, “Unexpected You”, for an eighteen piece jazz orchestra.
Jason can be seen playing with a number of different groups in the Chicago area including the Gentle Giant’s Quintet and The Charles Rumback Trio. Additionally, he has had the privilege of playing with such jazz luminaries as Ron Miles, George Lewis, Ari Brown, John McNeil, John Fedchock, and Charlie Perslip. Jason has been seen at such Chicago venues as The Hothouse, Hungry Brain, Hotti Biscotti, Spot 6, Acme Art Works, Ice Factory, Chase Café, Morseland, Myopic Books, and at the WBEZ Jazz Festival.
 Josh Sclar
Denver trumpeter Ron Miles’ resume includes time with Bill Frisell, Don Byron, the Ellington Orchestra, and Fred Hess’ Boulder Creative Music Ensemble. Besides being solicited all over the world for his unique sound, Ron is a staple of the Denver jazz scene and his recent releases as band leader show off his skills as a composer and arranger as well as a gifted trumpeter.
Ron Miles was widely recognized as a musical director and arranger with the release of Ginger Baker’s Coward of the County (Atlantic 1999). His compositions anchor that record and highlight the varied influences from which Ron draws inspiration. Hailed as an inventive composer and gifted trumpeter on his solo releases, Ron cruised through the 1990s with a series of well-received releases on Gramavision (My Cruel Heart, Woman’s Day) and Capri (Witness, Ron Miles Trio).
Check out:
- Jason Steele Ensemble CD Release Party, Saturday, March 31st at Chicago's Heaven Gallery, 1550 North Milwaukee on the 2nd Floor at 10:00 pm.
- The Remington 2+2 concert, Sunday, April 1st at the Hungry Brain, 2319 Belmont in Chicago at 10:00 pm.
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 Wednesday, 03 December 2008
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