Dr. Weber One of 27 Recognized
Nationally in Annual Awards
The Jazz Journalists Association is pleased to announce its slate of 2020 Jazz Heroes Advocates who have had significant impact in their local communities. In this troubling time, as the world fights a pandemic, the JJA is proud to celebrate the hearts, souls and efforts of 27 "activists, advocates, altruists, aiders and abettors of jazz" in 23 U.S. cities. These Jazz Heroes are united by their devotions to put jazz into the public sphere, for all to enjoy.
The 'Jazz Hero' awards, made annually on the basis of nominations from community members, are presented by their local fans and friends in conjunction with the JJA's annual Jazz Awards honoring significant achievements in jazz music and journalism. Please spread the word of Jazz Heroes and the photo collage designed for easy sharing on your own social media posts.
Dr. Ronald Weber
2020 Fort Lauderdale Jazz Hero
Start a conversation about the jazz scene in South Florida and it will almost inevitably lead to Dr. Ronald B. Weber.
Weber, at six feet, seven inches tall, is a towering figure in the local jazz community, as well as one of its outspoken ambassadors and enterprising organizers. A founding member of South Florida JAZZ in 1992, he has served as president and artistic director of the non-profit, all-volunteer organization for the past 26 years. Throughout that span, Ron has been brought the jazz's most revered artists (such as Milt Jackson, Gerry Mulligan, Sonny Rollins, Michael Brecker, Pat Metheny and Ron Carter) to the region, first in conjunction with the Hollywood Jazz Festival and subsequently with South Florida Jazz’s namesake concert series.
"Under his leadership, the programming is diverse with high-quality performances each season. In addition to luminaries and legends, Ron has kept an eye out for up-and-coming performers whose careers would benefit from greater exposure. His approach has been prescient, as Weber points to four artists in particular – vocalists Cecile McLorin Salvant and Kurt Elling and pianists Brad Mehldau and Hiromi – who were featured in an SFJ performance before going on to popular and critical acclaim."
With Weber at the helm, SFJ has grown in scope and scale. In addition to its yearly performance season, it supports jazz education in southeast Florida at elementary, high school, and college levels, aiming to introduce young musicians to life under the bright lights through real-world performing experience. Local student ensembles often open for top-billed performers at SFJ shows at Bailey Hall Davie, Florida.
That commitment to jazz education reflects Weber’s foundational interests. Born in Detroit to musically inclined parents, he began playing piano at age five, adding drums at age 11. By 13 when he'd discovered jazz, music had become an obsession. He recalls practicing for up to 12 hours a day during the summers he was studying classical percussion and timpani with members of the Detroit Symphony Orchestra. Then jazz caught Weber’s ears. He anchored the rhythm section in a Mumford High School jazz band that was good enough to play Stan Kenton charts. During college he perfected his craft as a timpanist with the University of Michigan Orchestra and drummer in a jazz quintet that featured future star tenor saxophonist Joe Henderson, who was attending nearby Wayne State University.
Weber gigged throughout college, including some high-profile gigs with Phineas Newborn Jr, Kirk Lightsey, Candido, Terry Gibbs, and guitarist Johnny Smith. But as graduation neared, his faced a fork in the road. One path led to a career in jazz, with all its uncertainties. His other option was medicine, a field that – no surprise – carried his parents’ blessing. Weber agonized over the choice. Finally, a letter from Dave Brubeck, his mentor and frequent dinner guest at Weber’s parents’ house, steered him to his future. “Dave wrote that being a jazz musician was a very difficult and precarious life," our Hero remembers, "except for a scarce few players. If given an opportunity to study a profession such as medicine, [Dave said] I should take it and I could always have music as a wonderful avocation without the anguish. Of course, he was right. That’s pretty much what I did.”
Weber became a respected neurologist in the Fort Lauderdale area (he has since retired), but his passion for jazz hadn’t waned a bit since his teenage years. It is largely because of his obsession with excellence and education that as a mission, South Florida JAZZ always presents top-notch jazz talent, features artists eager to share their experience, continually nurtures students seeking to learn the craft, and attracts aficionados who are enriched by it all. While Dr. Ronald B. Weber may view his endeavors as natural outcomes of his love for jazz and dedication to its preservation and growth, we see them for what they are: Heroic.
See complete list of award winners HERE.
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