Ron Helman, born on August 18th, 1951, is a renowned American jazz luminary and flugelhorn virtuoso who currently hails from the charming city of Savannah, GA.
In 2003, he unleashed his inaugural album, "In the Shadows," upon the world, dazzling listeners with his exceptional musical prowess. Following that triumph, he released "Reflections of Beauty" in 2006, a work of art that won the 2007 New Mexico Music Award for "Best Performance." Helman's latest opus, "It Never Entered My Mind," was unleashed upon the world in 2016 and features a star-studded ensemble of legendary musicians, including Mike Mainieri, David Spinozza, Rachel Z. Hakim, James Genus, Joel Rosenblatt, and special guests Ann Hampton Callaway and Steve Wilson.
Before dedicating himself to jazz music, Helman explored a diverse array of professions, including professional dance, faculty membership at the Julliard Drama Department, personal training, and management for pop and jazz musicians. He also utilizes his extensive experience as a life and business coach, inspiring and guiding individuals to unlock their true potential.
Early Life
Ron Helman, scion of Freehold, NJ, was born and raised under the watchful eye of his parents, Rebecca (Leach) Helman and Chester Helman, and alongside his two siblings, Howard Helman and Kenneth Helman.
As a bright young student, Ron attended Howell High School in Freehold, NJ, where he made an indelible mark on the gymnastics team, impressing all with his exceptional tumbling skills. Even from a tender age, Ron demonstrated a natural aptitude for coaching, eagerly teaching his friends the art of back handsprings and flips. Additionally, he was an accomplished musician, playing the lead trumpet in an array of musical organizations, including marching band, wind ensemble, musical theater, and his own band that covered the timeless tunes of Herb Alpert and the Tijuana Brass.
Ron's father, a clarinet and alto sax player who had served in the Army during WWII, went on to become a bandleader, performing at clubs throughout New Jersey. Ron soon joined his father's band at the age of 15, playing the popular dance music of the 30s, 40s, and 50s. On one unforgettable evening, Ron's father booked him, unbeknownst to Ron, at a nudist colony. The dance floor was filled with men wearing nothing but bowties and women in nothing but high heels.
At the tender age of 16, Ron journeyed via New Jersey Transit bus to Port Authority, New York, where he walked four blocks to the studio of the renowned trumpet teacher Carmine Caruso, who became his mentor and guide, helping him hone his skills to a razor-sharp edge.
Ron studied trumpet at William Penn College, the University of Tampa, and West Chester State University, receiving music and gymnastics scholarships at various institutions. Following his collegiate studies, he pursued classical trumpet under the tutelage of such luminaries as Gerard Schwartz (principal trumpeter of the New York Philharmonic), Mark Gould (principal trumpeter of the Metropolitan Opera Orchestra), and Louis Opalesky (Philadelphia Orchestra). In 1973, Ron relocated to the bustling metropolis of New York City, putting his trumpet aside to embark on an entirely new career.
Career in New York City
In the bustling metropolis of New York, Ron Helman's artistic talents truly flourished. As a performer, he graced the stage with the Musawwir Dance Theater under the tutelage of director Toby Towson from 1976 to 1979, and then with the New York Pantomime Theater from 1979 to 1983, under the guidance of Moni and Mina Yakim. In fact, it was with Director Yakim's theater company that Ron took on the lead role, even performing with the esteemed St. Luke's Orchestra at Carnegie Hall. Off the stage, Ron served as a distinguished coach in gymnastics, acrobatics, and dance at esteemed private schools in NYC, including the Juilliard School Drama Department from 1980 to 1987, Circle in the Square, and his own Ron's C-57 Movement Arts Studio located in none other than Carnegie Hall from 1983 to 1991. Among his impressive clientele were a bevy of celebrities, including Sting, Al Pacino, Julianne Moore, and many others.
As if that wasn't enough, Ron went on to found his own music management company called Mileshigh Artist Management from 1985 to 1993. As a music manager, he represented some of the top talent in the jazz and pop scene, negotiating recording contracts, publishing deals, and world tours for the likes of Regina Carter, Rachel Z. Hakim, Alex Sipiagin, and Billy Porter, among other New York-based musicians. In fact, Ron even produced a highly acclaimed album for Columbia Records called Dance Beneath the Diamond Sky with Vacca/Moran, working closely with the renowned A&R and Head of Jazz, Dr. George Butler. It was during this period that Ron had the honor of meeting and working with a veritable who's who of NYC jazz musicians, many of whom would ultimately lend their talents to the creation of his latest album, It Never Entered My Mind.
Career in Santa Fe, NM
Ron Helman's journey took a dramatic turn in 1996 when he moved to Santa Fe and delved into the world of life and business coaching. He underwent intensive training and earned his coaching certification at the highly esteemed Coach U, and subsequently became a member of the International Coach Federation. Not content with merely mastering the art of coaching, Ron produced and starred in his very own TV show, "Best Life Ever," which aired on a public television station in Santa Fe.
Yet it wasn't until he reached the ripe age of 44 that he decided to pick up his horn again. Seduced by the vast expanse of the New Mexican landscape, Ron dusted off his trusty instrument and declared to himself and the world, "I want to be a jazz musician." Though he had previously played classical trumpet in his teens and early twenties, Ron's new passion lay in jazz music. He recounted, "The most profound thing was that I was immediately a much better player than when I left off, because of the twenty years of life I had lived and the culture that I experienced, and the music I listened to."
With renewed vigor, Ron began studying jazz by transcribing his favorite Miles Davis album, "Kind of Blue," and quickly formed his own small jazz group, The Ron Helman Jazz Ensemble. He dazzled audiences in Santa Fe, Taos, and Albuquerque with his inspired performances in clubs and restaurants.
Ron's musical prowess even caught the attention of National Geographic, who invited him to perform "Georgia on my Mind" to an audience of 200,000 penguins in Antarctica during an expedition. One writer from the Explorer crew marveled, "It was the first time we've ever received a request from a guest to play the flugelhorn in front of thousands of penguins, but how could we resist!" Ron also had the honor of meeting astronaut Neil Armstrong and performing Brahms Lullaby at a ceremony at Ernest Shackleton's gravesite.
It Never Entered My Mind
In the rarefied world of jazz, Ron Helman's latest album, It Never Entered My Mind, stands out like a glistening gem. Produced by the legendary Mike Mainieri and co-produced by David Spinozza, this musical masterpiece, released in July 2016, boasts an all-star cast of iconic musicians and showcases Ron's unique blend of grace and love. It's a stunning tribute to the jazz standard and a testament to the transformative power of music.
In preparation for the album, Ron worked closely with pianist Jim Ahrend and famed jazz trumpeter Bobby Shew, honing his craft and perfecting his sound. And he's not resting on his laurels: Ron also studied with Trent Austin of Austin Custom Brass in Kansas City, MO, as he continues pushing his art's boundaries. Currently, he is working with Gary Alesbrook a gifted talent in Bristol, England.
Joining Ron on this musical journey is a veritable who's who of jazz greats, including the incomparable David Spinozza, Rachel Z. Hakim, James Genus, and Joel Rosenblatt. Special guests Ann Hampton Callaway and Steve Wilson add their unique flair to the proceedings. Recorded at the legendary NRS Studios in Woodstock, NY, with the talented Scott Petito at the helm, It Never Entered My Mind is a triumph of creativity and collaboration that will leave jazz aficionados breathless.
Discography
It Never Entered My Mind, 2016
Reflections of Beauty, 2006
In the Shadows, 2003
Honors, Decorations, Awards, And Distinctions
Reflections of Beauty won the 2007 New Mexico Music Award for "Best Performance."