Ron Jefferson

Ron Jefferson (February 13, 1926, in New York City^[1] – May 7, 2007, in Richmond, Virginia^[2]) was a jazz drummer.

Les McCann Trio, Ron Jefferson on the right (1962)

Considered a disciple of Max Roach, in the 1950s, he worked with Coleman Hawkins, Roy Eldridge, Oscar Pettiford, and Lester Young, among others.^[1]

A founding member of Les McCann's trio, with whom he played from 1960 to 1964, he also recorded with "Groove" Holmes,^[2] as well as with Joe Pass for Pacific Jazz Records in 1963/1964.

After leaving the West Coast, he went to live in Paris, and from there to Barcelona, backing Ruth Brown as part of a trio with pianist Stuart de Silva.^[3]

He led his own line-ups comprising Bobby Hutcherson, among others.

He was an uncle of drummer Al Foster.^[1]

He died in Richmond at the age of 81 after being hospitalized with an illness.^[2]

Discography

As leader/co-leader

• 1962: Love Lifted Me (Pacific Jazz, 1962)
• 1976: Vous Ete's Swing (Catalyst)

As sideman

With Teddy Edwards

• It's About Time (Pacific Jazz, 1959) with Les McCann

With Richard "Groove" Holmes

• "Groove" (Pacific Jazz, 1961) with Les McCann and Ben Webster
• Tell It Like It Tis (Pacific Jazz, 1961–62 [1966])
• Somethin' Special (Pacific Jazz, 1962) with Les McCann

With Les McCann

• Les McCann Ltd. Plays the Truth (Pacific Jazz, 1960)
• Les McCann Ltd. in San Francisco (Pacific Jazz, 1960 [1961])
• From the Top of the Barrel (Pacific Jazz, 1960 [1967])
• Pretty Lady (Pacific Jazz, 1961)
• Les McCann Sings (Pacific Jazz, 1961)
• Les McCann Ltd. in New York (Pacific Jazz, 1961 [1962])
• Les McCann Ltd. Plays the Shampoo (Pacific Jazz, 1961 [1963])
• New from the Big City (Pacific Jazz, 1961 [1970])
• On Time (Pacific Jazz, 1962)
• A Bag of Gold (Pacific Jazz, 1960–64 [1966])

With Oscar Pettiford

• Oscar Pettiford (Bethlehem, 1954)

With Joe Pass

• The Complete Pacific Jazz Joe Pass Quartet Sessions (Mosaic, 2001) (recorded 1963/1964)

With Lou Rawls

• Stormy Monday (Capitol, 1962)

With Joe Roland

• Joltin' Joe Roland (Savoy, 1955)

With Leroy Vinnegar

• Leroy Walks Again!!! (Contemporary, 1963)

With Julius Watkins and Charlie Rouse

• Les Jazz Modes (Dawn, 1957)
• Mood in Scarlet (Dawn, 1957)
• The Most Happy Fella (Atlantic, 1958)
• The Jazz Modes (Atlantic, 1959)