One of the most highly regarded trombonist of his generation, Ron Westray continues to expand upon the legacy set before him with his CD release, "Medical Cures For The Chromatic Commands Of The Inner City" on Blue Canoe Records.

Ron's work as an instructor, mentor, recording artist and leader, has earned him world-wide recognition. Ron is perhaps best known for his work as lead trombonist in the Lincoln Center Jazz Orchestra conducted by Wynton Marsalis, as well as his collaborative effort with Wycliffe Gordon on the Atlantic Record Label titled Bone Structure.

Mr. Westray's compositional achievements allow him a notable position among jazz composers, while his accomplishments on the trombone showcase him as a virtuoso instrumentalist. In 1988, Ron entered South Carolina State University. Still a student, Ron joined Marcus Roberts' Band and made his recording debut on Roberts' "As Serenity Approached". Upon completing his Bachelor of Arts in Music degree in 1992, Mr. Westray joined the Jazz Futures II, an international touring group comprised of young talented jazz musicians. Later that year, Ron was awarded a graduate assistantship to attend Eastern Illinois University. Mr. Westray completed his Master of Arts degree in 1994.

In addition to his schedule with the LCJO, Ron has recorded as a sideman on labels such as Columbia, Sony Classical, and RCA Novus. Ron's accomplishments in the field have gained him exposure in publications such as Ebony, Essence, Downbeat, JazzTimes, Life Magazine and The New Yorker. Mr. Westray has performed at jazz venues such as The Village Vanguard, The Jazz Standard, The Iridium, The Blue Note, Sweet Basils, Blues Alley to name a few. Ron has appeared in concert with Ray Charles, Bob Dylan, Willie Nelson, Stevie Wonder, Roy Haynes, Nicholas Payton, Branford Marsalis and the like. Ron is also a welcomed member of The Mingus Band in NYC. Most recently Mr. Westray's original score, was awarded a fifteen thousand dollar grant from The Greenwall Foundation to support production in the summer of 2005.

Currently Ron Westray is an assistant professor in the Jazz Studies Department at The University of Texas at Austin. Ron is an instructor of Jazz Trombone, Jazz Improvisation and Jazz Composition & Arranging.

For More Information Visit:

http://www.MySpace.com/RonWestrayEnsemble

http://www.BlueCanoeRecords.com

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