Jazz guitarist Ron Eschete was born in 1948 in Houma, Louisiana and not surprisingly his early influences were jazz guitar masters Jim Hall, Howard Roberts, and Wes Montgomery. After receiving his first guitar at the age of 14, Eschete joined a quartet and was working clubs in Louisiana before he had even graduated from high school playing jazz guitar music. He attended Loyola University where he majored in classical guitar and minored in flute. While there he studied with classical guitarist Paul Guma. Shortly after Eschete left Loyola he was tapped to tour with Buddy Greco. While on tour with Greco, Eschete set his sites on the Los Angeles music scene. In 1970 Eschete relocated to California working and recording with vibraphonist Dave Pike. Then in 1975 he joined forces with pianist Gene Harris and quickly establish his reputation as a premier jazz guitar accompanist.

Over the decades Ron Eschete has worked with the greatest artists in jazz including Ella Fitzgerald, Sarah Vaughan, Diana Krall, Dizzy Gillespie, Milt Jackson, Ray Brown, and many more! Eschete has appreared on The Tonight Show with Diana Krall, The Merv Griffin Show with The Mort Lindsey Orchestra, and The Mike Douglas Show with Buddy Greco. He has played nearly every notable jazz venue in the southern California area including The Catalina Bar and Grill, The Jazz Bakery, Steamers, Donte’s, Carmelo’s, The Parisian Room, and The Lighthouse to name but a few. He has toured extensively and has played major venues from New York to San Francisco.

Eschete cites a 1988 gig in San Diego as a critical turning point in his career. There he began to shed his reputation as the quintessential sideman – he stepped to the center of the stage and began exploring original material. Long considered to be one of the finest guitarists in mainstream jazz by musicians and listeners alike, he has now taken over the reins and “innovative leader” might be a better name says preeminent jazz critic Zan Stewart. In 1994 he released his first solo recording for Concord Jazz Records called “A Closer Look”, showcasing his masterful fingerstyle jazz guitar sound and his seven-string Benedetto archtop guitar. In addition to this solo recording Eschete has recorded three CDs with his trio: “Softwinds”, “Rain or Shine”, and “Mo’ Strings Attached”.

While Ron Eschete’s career has been primarily focused on performance, this master jazz guitarist and musician has dedicated nearly twenty five years of his life to teaching music at many colleges and universities including North Texas State University, Utah State University, Loyola University, Louisiana State University at New Orleans, California State Universities at Long Beach and Fullerton, and Musician’s Institute in Hollywood. Ron has been described as a masterful musical chameleon. Switching melodic lines and ideas with cool efficiency and beauty, he transforms from accompanist to soloist and from musical master to musical mentor. Fortunately for aspiring guitarists, Ron has released several instructional jazz guitar tab books which teach his harmonic concepts and chord melody soloing ideas.