“The best all-around trumpet player in Quebec.” - Vic Vogel
For almost 30 years Ron Di Lauro has been at the core of Quebec's music scene. Classical to Klezmer, Jazz to Broadway - Di Lauro’s technical mastery and musical versatility have made him one of the most sought-after musicians in eastern Canada.
BIOGRAPHY
The early days
Born into Montreal's Italian community in 1958, Di Lauro’s earliest influences were within his own home; both grandfather and father were musicians. The young
Di Lauro was exposed to a wide range of musical genres, from military and brass band to Big Band to opera, and though clearly musically inclined, childhood ambitions dreamed not of a musical but of a medical future. It was only during his final year at Pius IX High School that a chance encounter with a marching band - "kids, just kids, having fun playing music" - changed what would become of Di Lauro's, and of Montreal’s, musical future.With the help of his trumpet player father, Di Lauro set to fervidly preparing his trumpet chops for the world, and took his first tentative step onto the public stage as a bugle player in Pius IX’s production of Carmen.
No looking backDi Lauro's list of performances since that humble debut now stretches far beyond the limits of numerical accountability. By the time he had completed a degree with distinction in classical trumpet at McGill University, he had already become an indispensable player on Montreal's dynamic music scene. Though his formal formation was entirely classical, his musical horizons were broadening rapidly. Freddie Hubbard for vocabulary, Al Hirt for sound and phrasing, and Guido Basso for passion and style - aural lessons with the masters ensured that Di Lauro was ready to play any style going. He developed a formidable repertoire of standards thanks to his father, who would interrupt scales practice to teach another Sinatra or Harry James number.Of course, such versatility presented Di Lauro with some serious choices.
In 1979 he placed 2nd in auditions for the position of Principal Trumpet with the Quebec Symphony Orchestra – the first and last symphonic audition he ever took part in. Ablaze with fresh, spirited talent, he was determined to avoid the single-minded snobbery of the classical profession. And of course, there was just too much else going on...
In 1980 Di Lauro joined the legendary Vic Vogel’s Big Band, of which he has been an integral member ever since. Two years later found him touring in Europe and joining the Denny Christianson Big Band, and in 1983 he formed the acclaimed Dave Turner/Ron Di Lauro Sextet. Within a year of hitting the scene they were opening for the VSOP quartet of Tony Williams, Herbie Hancock, Winton Marsalis and Ron Carter. Four years out of college and Di Lauro’s name was sharing posters with the gods.The rest, as they say, is history...Di Lauro's past 26 years are writ large in the annals of Montreal's musical legacy. His inimitable trumpet sound has featured on countless film, television and radio scores. He has continued as a soloist with the Vic Vogel, Joe Sullivan, and Lorraine Desmarais Big Bands, performing with the likes of Dizzy Gillespie, Zoot Sims, Pepper Adams, Henry Mancini, Mel Torme, Marvin Hamlisch, Tony Bennett, John Pizzarelli and Frank Sinatra Jr.. He has provided the impetus behind several of the city's premiere jazz ensembles, including the McGill Alumni Big Band with Gerald Danovitch, the James Gelfand Quintet and the Ron Di Lauro Quintet. He has performed at every major jazz venue throughout Canada and Europe; his tours have taken him to the Far East, Latin America, and most stops in between.
In 2006 Di Lauro completed a Masters in Wind Band Conducting at McGill University in 2006. He is an active faculty member both at McGill and University of Montreal as Big Band conductor and trumpet teacher. Clearly, Di Lauro's thirst for musical diversity has never been satiated; between tours, recording sessions and gigs, he is managing to share his gift with the next generation.
TOURS
1982 - France with Vic Vogel's Big Band
1987 - Northern Europe with the Denny Christianson Big Band, appearing at the Christianstad Jazz Festival, Sweden, the Copenhagen Jazz Festival and at Holland’s North Sea Jazz Festival
1988 - Western Canada with Dave Turner and Jon Ballantyne, appearing at festivals in Victoria, Vancouver, Edmonton, Calgary and Saskatoon.
1989 - Europe with the Denny Christianson Big Band, appearing at Imatra Jazz Festival in Finland, the Copenhagen Jazz Festival, the Stockholm Jazz Festival, the Wigan Jazz Festival in England, and at London’s Ronnie Scott’s.
1990 - Western Canada with the Denny Christianson Big Band performing in Brandon, Saskatoon, Edmonton, Red Deer, Victoria, Abbotsford and Vancouver.France with the James Gelfand Quintet at the Festival du Mans.
1991 - Northern Europe with the Vic Vogel Sextet, appearing at the Café Alto in Amsterdam, the Pori Jazz Festival, Finland, and in Riga, Latvia.
1993 - USA with La Bottine Souriante.
1994 - Gaspé with Laurence Jalbert.
1996 - Canada with Enrico Macias.
1999 - Italy with La Bottine Souriante. Canada with Vic Vogel’s Big Band, and with Claude Dubois.
2000 - England with La Bottine Souriante
2001 - Canada with Sylvain Lelièvre, with Yes and with Enrico Macias.Mexico with Ranee Lee.
2002 - Mexico with Ranee Lee.
2003 - Western Canada with Ranee Lee.
2005 - Quebec with Vic Vogel's Big Band and Offenbach en Fusion.
RECORDINGS
Ron is featured on numerous recordings with artists of various genres, including the following:JAZZ: Pepper Adams, Vic Vogel, Denny Christianson, Oyate, James Gelfand, Ranee Lee, The Michel Donato Quintet, Johnny Scott, Geoff Lapp, Janis Steprans, Francois Marcaurelle, Joe SullivanOTHER: Celine Dion, Cirque du Soleil (Mystère), Michel Legrand, Bob Walsh, France D'Amour, Dan Bigras, Claude Gauthier, Go Van Goh, Mitsou, Ginette Reno, La Bottine Souriante, Daniel Lemire, Daniel Lavoie, Geneviève Paris, Luc de Larochellière, Diane Dufresne, Daniel Bélanger, Laurence Jalbert, Sylvain Lelièvre, Sonia Benezra, Danielle Martineau
TELEVISION, FILM, RADIO AND ADVERTISING
TELEVISION:
CBC - Montreal International Jazz Festival CFCF - Telethon of Stars; Montreal A.M. Live;
SRC - Bouscotte; Cadillac rose; Montréal P.Q. (on camera); Sur invitation; Les Démons du midi; Allo Boubou; Les Beaux DimanchesTVA - Gala de 25e anniversaire de Loto-Québec; Star d'un soir; Gala MétroStar; RSVP; Ad Lib; Michel Jasmin; Michel Louvain; Cha Ba DaRadio-Québec - Trois gars, un samedi soir; Beau et Chaud; Les Prix Gémeaux; Début de soirée (interview and demonstration)TQS - Sonia Benezra; Garden Party; Reddy, Reddy, GoMusiquePlus - Luc de Larochellière; Une nuit d'octobreRADIO:CBC - Jazz BeatSRC - Numerous broadcasts of Jazz sur le vif and En accord; Moi et l'autre - Referendum '95; Tout ça... pour une chanson; Bon MatinCKOI - Yé trop d'bonne heure
FILM SCORES
:Crazy Moon; Bethune (on screen appearance); Map of the Human Heart (on screen); Zalda; Barbarians at the Gate; Canada's Sweetheart; numerous National Film Board of Canada shorts; Miracle à Memphis; La Conciergerie; Hamlet à Québec; L'oreille d'un sourd; Onzième spéciale; Nuremberg; Confessions of a Dangerous Mind
ADVERTISING:
Volkswagen, Molson Dry; Labatt Blue; Shake’n Bake; Claritin; KLM Airlines; Dunkin' Donuts; Speedy Muffler; Fido; McDonald's; General Motors; Ford; Air Canada; Bell Canada; Bell Mobility; Toyota; Selsun Blue; Trevi Pools; Santa Reina Wines; Jean Coutu; Métro; IGA and Provigo supermarkets; St-Hubert restaurants; Loto-Québec; Centre funéraire Côte-des-Neiges (on screen appearance); La vache qui rit
LIVE APPEARANCES
Ron has appeared with countless artists and groups, including: Kenny Rogers; Aretha Franklin; Tony Bennet; Henry Mancini; Colin James; Joan Rivers; Joel Grey; Lola Folana; Carol Lawrence; Al Martino; Engelbert Humperdinck; Burt Bacharach; Gino Vannelli; Marvin Hamlisch; Lee Capades; Shrine Circus; Moscow Circus; Jerry Lewis; Don Rickles; The Smothers Brothers; Jim Stafford, Mimi Hines; Bobby Vinton; Maureen Forrester; Michel Charlebois and the Orchestre Symphonique de Laval; André Gagnon; Ginette Reno; Beau Dommage; Octobre; Sylvain Lelièvre; Patrick Norman; Luc de Larochellière; Laurence Jalbert; Jean-Pierre Ferland; Gregory Charles; Celine Dion; Liza Minnelli; Frank Sinatra Jr; La Bottine Souriante; CLASSICAL - L'Orchestre Symphonique de Montréal; Orchestre Métropolitain du Grand Montréal; Orchestre Symphonique de Québec; Orchestre Symphonique de Laval; The McGill Symphony Orchestra; McGill Opera Studio; UniCuivres Brass QuintetMUSICAL THEATRE and OPERA - Annie (1997); A Chorus Line (1997); Bugs Bunny on Broadway (1997); Jeanne la Pucelle (1997); Fiddler on the Roof (1996); West Side Story (1996); Demain matin, Montréal m'attend (1995); Les Misérables (1991) - six month run of the world's first bilingual production; Aïda (1988) - with L'Orchestre Métropolitain at the Montreal Olympic Stadium; Evita; Peter Pan; Little Me; Music Man; Gypsy; Guys and Dolls; numerous Gilbert and Sullivan productions; Chicago (2004)- first Francophone production
CHRONOLOGY
1958 – Born on 29 December in Montreal
1974 – Begins learning trumpet with father and soon performs in community and military reserve brass bands in Montreal
1975 – Attends McGill Music Camp and is awarded scholarship towards formal studies at the McGill Conservatory of Music. Studies with Barbara Hunter (formerly Maxedon)-first formal trumpet teacher. Continues to perform with brass bands as featured soloist.
1977 – Enters the McGill University’s Faculty of Music for a degree in classical trumpet performance. Studies with Robert Gibson and Jim Thompson. Performs in brass bands, chamber music ensembles, solo recitals, jazz ensembles and symphony orchestras. Holds position of Principal Trumpet with the McGill Symphony Orchestra from 1979-1980, meanwhile developing contacts as freelance player around Montreal.
1978 - Takes trumpet lessons with Vince Penzarella- second trumpet of New York Philharmonic.
1979 – Places second in auditions for the position of Principal Trumpet with the Quebec Symphony Orchestra.
1980 – Graduates with distinction in classical trumpet performance from McGill. Begins long association with Vic Vogel’s Big Band. Appears around Montreal with jazz and commercial groups, big bands, Latin bands, as well as in Broadway musicals, recording studios, radio and television. Takes lessons with David Zauder - of the Cleveland Orchestra (second trumpet).
1982 – Soloist on first Vic Vogel Big Band recording taped at the Montreal International Jazz Festival, and tours France with the band later that summer. Joins the Denny Christianson Big Band.
1983 – Co-founds the Dave Turner – Ron Di Lauro Sextet and opens for Herbie Hancock’s VSOP band at the Montreal Jazz Festival at the Théâtre St-Denis, becoming the first Canadian group to be recorded for CBC’s Jazz Beat series.
1984 – Performs at the Montreal Jazz Festival with Vic Vogel’s Big Band featuring Zoot Sims.
1985 – Performs with various artists including Henry Mancini, Marvin Hamlisch and Mel Torme. Soloist on the first Denny Christianson Big Band recording.Performs at the Ottawa Jazz Festival with the Vic Vogel Big Band.
1986 – Performs with Dizzy Gillespie and Vic Vogel’s Big Band at the Montreal Jazz Festival, as well as Michel Legrand and Ginette Reno. Soloist on second Denny Christianson Big Band recording featuring Pepper Adams. Plays in pit orchestra for Place des Arts production of Evita.
1987 – Tours northern Europe with the Denny Christianson Big Band, appearing at the Christianstad Jazz Festival, Sweden, the Copenhagen Jazz Festival and at Holland’s North Sea Jazz Festival. Co-founds the McGill Alumni Big Band with Gerald Danovitch and records for Radio-Canada’s Jazz sur le Vif series.Founding member of the James Gelfand Quintet and performs on its first album, ‘Neverland’. Appointed trumpet instructor at McGill University, and director of McGill Big Band II, which wins multiple Gold awards at the JazzFest des Jeunes du Québec
1988 – Performs with Paquito D’Rivera and the McGill Alumni Big Band, recorded for Radio-Canada.Tours Western Canada with Dave Turner and Jon Ballantyne, appearing at festivals in Victoria, Vancouver, Edmonton, Calgary and Saskatoon.Soloist on third Denny Christianson recording.Plays in pit with the Orchestre Métropolitain du Grand Montréal for Montreal Olympic Stadium’s production of Aïda.Performs at Beijing’s New Year’s Eve’s Ambassador’s Ball.
1989 – Performs with Guido Basso and the McGill Alumni Big Band. Appears as invited guest at the Ottawa Jazz Society.Appears at the Montreal Jazz Festival with the James Gelfand Quintet and premieres the Ron Di Lauro Quintet for Radio-Canada.Performs at the Toronto Jazz Festival with the Vic Vogel Big Band, and tours Europe with the Denny Christianson Big Band, appearing at Imatra Jazz Festival in Finland, the Copenhagen Jazz Festival, the Stockholm Jazz Festival, the Wigan Jazz Festival in England, and at London’s Ronnie Scott’s. James Gelfand Quintet wins the Concours de Jazz de la Communauté des radios publiques de langue française (CRPLF) and opens for Count Basie at the Festival de Jazz de Le Mans
1990 – Tours Western Canada with the Denny Christianson Big Band performing in Brandon, Saskatoon, Edmonton, Red Deer, Victoria, Abbotsford and Vancouver.Appears in France with the James Gelfand Quintet at the Festival du Mans (competition winner of Francophone Countries, European Broadcast Union).Appointed conductor for the Big Band program at McGill University.Montreal Jazz Festival appearances include Jucy and the Denny Christianson Big Band.Plays in pit orchestra for Place des Arts production of Peter Pan.
1991 – Performs in the orchestra for the first bilingual performance of Les Misérables for its entire Montreal and Ottawa runs.Performs with Fraser MacPherson and the McGill Alumni Big Band for the CBC. Tours with the Vic Vogel Sextet, appearing at the Café Alto in Amsterdam, the Pori Jazz Festival, Finland, and in Riga, Latvia.
1993 – Tours the USA with La Bottine Souriante. Holds a clinic on CBC’s children’s television show Watatatow.Appears with Ginette Reno and the Oliver Jones Quintet at the Montreal Jazz Festival.
1994 – Appointed coordinator of McGill’s Big Band program.Plays for band of Beau et Chaud on Télé-Québec, hosted by Normand Brathwaite.Tours the Gaspé with Laurence Jalbert. Appears in Paris with Luc de Larochellière.
1995 – Plays in pit orchestra for Demain matin, Montréal m’attend. Plays in Moi et l’autre, the television theme for the Référendum ‘95. Plays for band of Beau et Chaud on Télé-Québec, hosted by Normand Brathwaite.Holds Jazz Workshops at Domaine Forget, Charlevoix, Quebec.
1996 – Tours Canada with Enrico Macias. Plays in pit orchestra for musicals Fiddler on the Roof and West Side Story. Appointed Trumpet and Combo instructor at the Université de Montréal. Appointed Jury Member of the Conseil des arts et des lettres du Québec (CALQ).Holds Jazz Workshops at Domaine Forget, Charlevoix, Quebec.Appears at the Ottawa Jazz Festival with the Vic Vogel Sextet.Performs in Toronto with Boss Brass.
1997 – Plays in pit orchestra for the musicals Annie, A Chorus Line, Bugs Bunny on Broadway and Jeanne la Pucelle.Holds Jazz Workshops at Domaine Forget, Charlevoix, Quebec.Appears at Montreal's Francofolies Festival with the Italian group Gianmaria Testia
1998 – Appointed teacher and adjudicator for the Protestant School Board of Greater Montreal.Appears with Cuba's Calor Cubano at the Casino de Montréal.Plays with John Scofield at the Montreal Jazz Festival, as well as with John Pizzarelli.
1999 – Tours Italy with La Bottine Souriante. Tours Canada with Vic Vogel’s Big Band, and also with Claude Dubois.Appointed instructor for McGill University Music Faculty’s Sight Reading Seminar.
2000 – Tours England with La Bottine Souriante.Appears at the Bell Centre with Roch Voisine.Performs with the National Arts Centre Orchestra and Robert Goulet in Ottawa.
2001 - Performs in New York with Ranee Lee. Tours Canada with Sylvain Lelièvre, with Yes and with Enrico Macias.
2002 - Tours Mexico with Ranee Lee.
2003 - Performs at the IAJE with the Vic Vogel Big Band.Elected member of task force for non-tenure track professors of McGill University, representing all course lecturers.Tours Western Canada with Ranee Lee.Appears at the Bell Centre with Ginette Reno.Joins Gregory Charles' Orchestra at the Bell Centre for a record-breaking 30 performances in three years (Black and White and Noir et Blanc). Plays in pit orchestra for Chicago at Place des Arts.Invited as guest soloist to the University of Montreal Symphony Orchestra.
2004 - Performs with Gregory Charles at the Bell Centre, the Pepsi Coliseum (Quebec City) and Broadway (New York City).Performs with Connie Francis at Place des Arts.Appears as guest soloist with the Quebec Symphony Orchestra.Performs for the Governor General Awards at the National Arts Centre Orchestra, Ottawa.
2005 - Takes part in promotional tour for Cirque du Soleil's Greatest Hits album.
Appointed jury member for the Canada Council for the Arts' sound recordings grants - Jazz, Classical, Electroacoustic, and Musique Actuelle categories.Performs with Lorraine Desmarais Big Band at Montreal's Club Soda.Continued performances with Gregory Charles.
Tours Quebec with Vic Vogel's Big Band and Offenbach en Fusion.Works with the Michel Donato Quintet at Domaine Forget, Charlevoix, Quebec.Performs for the Governor General Awards at the National Arts Centre Orchestra, Ottawa.
2006 – Completes Masters in Wind Band conducting at McGill University.Accompanies Frank Sinatra Jr.'s sell out show at the Casino de Montréal. Performs closing ceremony for the first Montreal Out Games with Liza Minnelli. Guest soloist with the Orchestre Symphonique de Laval.Performs with Petula Clark at Place des Arts.Montreal Jazz Festival performances include the Vic Vogel Big Band, Lorraine Desmarais Big Band and John Pizzarelli.
Ginette Reno, Quebec Tour, Gregory Charles, Festival Chorale Mondiale
Ginette Reno, Quebec Tour, Gregory Charles, Festival Chorale Mondiale
2007- Jury and Academy member of L’ADISQ (since 2005)
Quebec tours, Gregory Charles, Ginette Reno
Invited Soloist with L’Orchestre Symphonique de Montreal (Montreal Symphony Orchestra) for a series of summer concerts, performing the Miles Davis version of excerpts from Porgy and Bess (Gershwin/Gil Evans)
Received a Triple Platinum disc (over 300,000 CDs sold) for Gregory Charles’
I THINK OF YOU
2008- Recording project (Cirque du Soleil),
Performed with Barry Manilow (Bell Center)
Tribute to Harmonium concert with L’Orchestre de Laval
Performed at The Montreal International Jazz Festival with Nikki Yanofsky and Aretha Franklin,
Recording project, Ginette Reno, Nikki Yanofsky (Phil Ramone)
Conducted concert with Michel Legrand and the University of Montreal Big Band
Performed with Marvin Hamlisch, Place des Arts and Michael Bolton, Bell Center.
