Jazz great Ron Miles died March 8 at his home in Denver.
His death — which was confirmed by his manager and producer Hans Wendl, according to a news release from Blue Note Records — was due to complications from the rare blood disorder Polycythemia Vera.
He was 58.
The acclaimed cornetist/composer/bandleader will be remembered fondly for such albums as 2002’s “Heaven,” 2012’s “Quiver” and 2017’s “I Am a Man.” Miles received a Grammy nomination for his work on Berkeley native Joshua Redman’s “Still Dreaming” from 2018.
“Ron was such a gifted artist,” says Blue Note President Don Was. “He was a sweet, soulful man whose character was reflected in every exquisite note he played. We are heartbroken to lose him so soon, but he will live forever through the music he’s left behind for us.”
Miles was born May 9, 1963 in in Indianapolis and began playing trumpet and studying both classical and jazz music not long after his family moved to Denver in the early ’70s. He studied music at University of Denver, University of Colorado Boulder and the Manhattan School of Music.
He released his first album, “Distance for Safety,” in 1987.
He would go on to record 11 more solo albums, the last of which was 2020’s “Rainbow Sign.” That outing marked his debut on the Blue Note label and was reportedly written in tribute to his father, Fay Dooney Miles, who had died in 2018. The record featured an all-star quintet with guitarist Bill Frisell, pianist Jason Moran, bassist Thomas Morgan and drummer Brian Blade.
Miles was also a had a lengthy career in music education and was a professor of music at the Metropolitan State University of Denver.
He is survived by his wife Kari Miles, daughter Justice Miles, son Honor Miles, mother Jane Miles, brother Johnathan Miles, sisters Shari Miles-Cohen and Kelly West and half-sister Vicki M. Brown.