Ron Aprea

Damian         Hi-Top Records   Meegan Coleman   Angela DeNiro      Alex  Donner

Alex Donner     Angela DeNiro   Angela DeNiro         John Lennon      as Ronnie April

Hear "Snowflake" by Ron Aprea/April on his Positive Energy album...CLICK HERE FOR SNOWFLAKE

Ron Aprea, composer, arranger, producer, saxophonist, clarinetist, and flutist, has performed with Woody Herman, Les Elgart, Tito Puente, Frank Foster, Buddy Morrow, Billy May, Charlie Persip, Nat Adderley, Lionel Hampton, and Louis Armstrong.

 While with Hamp's band, some of the highlights were a Ramsey Lewis television special, and a recorded concert at the Smithsonian Institute, where Ron's solos were taped and put into their Archives. Ron was the featured soloist and arranger for performances with Nat Adderley at the world-famous Apollo Theatre, and he also performed at the Paramount Theatre with King Curtis' Big Band. Ron has played shows for literally hundreds of stars, including Clint Holmes, Rita Moreno, Robert Merrill, Chita Rivera, Rich Little, and Billy Eckstine.

 In 1974, Ron recorded with John Lennon and Elton John on the album entitled Walls and Bridges. The all-star horn section included Howard Johnson, Frank Vicari, and Steve Madeo. Ron was a featured soloist on the jazz-gospel album Free to Be Free. He also wrote, arranged, and produced his own album, Ronnie April's Positive Energy Volume 1. Ron had his own TV special on WNYC, and was a featured soloist on Broadway's Song of Singapore.

Ron's compositions, arrangements, and productions skills can be heard on Angela DeNiro's first CD, Just For the Fun Of It, as well as her second  release, Angela DeNiro...Swingin' With Legends, featuring Lionel Hampton, Frank Foster, and Lew Tabackin.

Ron and Angela brought the house down at the Five Towns College Jazz Concert in 1998 and 1999. Ron was featured with the Kenny Barron Trio at the 1998 Lionel Hampton Jazz Festival,and was part of the All-Star cast, which included Frank Foster, Frank Wess, Bill Watrous, Jon Faddis, Al Grey,Ray Brown, Marion McPartland, Abbey Lincoln, and Diana Krall. In addition to a full performance schedule, Ron spends much time composing and arranging, both for an instrumental big band album, and for vocalist Angela DeNiro.

 During the summer of '98, Ron performed extensively with both his Big Band and Quintet, and received a standing ovation from thousands at the Planting Fields Arboretum in New York, where he and Angela DeNiro again appeared as guest artists in concert with Lionel Hampton's Big Band. Ron's solos, and his impeccable "note-matching" with Angela at finger-breaking tempos during the scatting segments, wowed their audience!

Ron has three 1998 GRAMMY nomination entries: Producer of the Year,(Swingin' With Legends), and Best Instrumental Arrangement Accompanying a Vocalist for Angela DeNiro's Avalon & The Song Is You. Ron completed an arranging assignment for vocalist Alex Donner, featuring nine of Ron's arrangements. Alex released the first of a 2-CD set in the spring of 2001. Ron co-hosted a weekly jazz radio show on WSHR, 91.9 FM, New York, with his wife, vocalist Angela DeNiro. Their show, Rush-Hour Rendezvous ran successfully for two years, and featured great jazz and musical conversation.

In January 2001, Ron's band, with Angela DeNiro, was featured on "BET-TV". The national program, called "Jazz Discovery", showcased jazz artists in competition, and was judged by a panel of three, which included jazz legend Chick Corea. Angela, with Ron's band, won.

Ron and Angela DeNiro made a cameo appearance on legendary jazz vocalist Mark Murphy's new CD, released in September of 2001 on the High Note Label. In August 2001, Ron performed in an All-Star band for a Charlie Parker Birthday tribute in Harlem, New York. The band featured four alto saxophonists. Playing alongside Ron were Jimmy Zaff, Gerald Hayes, and James Spaulding. The rhythm section featured Danny Mixon on piano, Bob Cunningham on bass, and Andre Strobaer on drums. Needless to say , Ron and friends created total pandemonium!

Ron wrote for Angela DeNiro's third CD, My Shining Hour.  One of Ron's compositions, For Phil, is dedicated to Phil Woods, who has been a major source of inspiration to Ron since the mid 60's. Ron's tribute to Phil,  performed by Ms. DeNiro, exudes the warmth and love Ron has for the legendary alto saxophonist.  This CD was released in August 2005.  Angela and Ron are joined on this album by a smokin' rhythm section comprised of Cecilia Coleman on piano, Tim Givens on bass, and Jim Young on drums.  Trumpeter  Don Sickler and trombonist Scott Whitfield join Ron's alto sax & flute, and strings round out two of the cuts on the album.  Oh...Matt Aprea makes his debut in the string section, also.  Check it out!

Hamp, Ron, Satchmo    Ron on Woody's Band      with Steve Madeo &John Lennon      on Song of Singapore

 Conti Candoli, Ron, Pat Rizzo, Steve Madeo           Frank Foster, Ron, & Al Grey

      Ron & Jackie Mason      Bill Watrous & Ron