ESCHETÉ, URBAN, FERRARO will be featuring melodic and harmonic interpretations and musings of legendary jazz guitarist Ron Escheté expertly complimented by bassist John Urban and drummer John Ferraro.

 

Ron Escheté (pronounced “ESH-tay”) is widely regarded as one of the defining voices of the seven-string jazz guitar—an artist whose warm tone and orchestral harmony make a trio feel like a much larger ensemble. Born in Houma, Louisiana (1948), he began playing at 14 and was already working club dates as a teenager before studying at Loyola University in New Orleans, where he majored in classical guitar and also studied flute—training that shows up in the clarity of his touch and the elegance of his phrasing. 

After touring with vocalist Buddy Greco, Escheté relocated to California in 1970, quickly becoming a first-call accompanist and collaborator—recording and performing with vibraphonist Dave Pike and, notably, joining pianist Gene Harris in the mid-’70s, a long-running partnership that helped cement his reputation on the West Coast jazz scene. 

Across decades, Escheté’s resume spans top-tier jazz stages and sessions, and he’s praised for the rare combination of deep technique and conversational swing—bebop lines, blues language, and ballad lyricism delivered with effortless taste. 

John Ferraro is a veteran Los Angeles drummer known for world-class feel, immaculate time, and the kind of musical discretion that makes every band sound better. Over a career spanning four decades, he’s performed and recorded with a remarkable cross-section of iconic artists—touring extensively with guitar legend Larry Carlton and circling the globe on Barry Manilow’s world tours, while also working with names such as David Benoit, George Benson, Linda Ronstadt, Eddie Van Halen, Robben Ford, Burt Bacharach, and Steve Lukather (among many others). 

Ferraro’s musicianship is equally at home in the studio and on major productions: he has deep credits across film/television/commercial work and is noted for his versatility across jazz, pop, rock, big band, R&B, and more.

What you hear on stage is the sum of that experience—unshakable groove, dynamic control, and a drummer’s instinct for shape and storytelling. In a jazz trio setting, Ferraro brings the best of both worlds: the finesse of a jazz drummer and the sonic authority of a master session player.

Bassist John Urban is a versatile double-bass artist whose playing balances rhythmic drive with a modern, melodic sensibility—exactly what a guitar trio needs to breathe, swing, and open up harmonically. Beyond performance, Urban is also deeply rooted in education and musicianship development: he serves as an instructor in the UC Riverside Department of Music, teaching both Classical Double Bass and Jazz Upright Bass.

Urban’s training reflects a focused commitment to jazz: he earned a Bachelor’s degree in Commercial Jazz from Cal State Fullerton and later completed graduate work in Jazz Studies at the University of Southern California—academic grounding that supports his strong time feel, sound concept, and improvisational language.

On the bandstand, Urban’s role is more than “holding it down.” He’s a musical connector—locking with the drummer, outlining harmony with authority, and creating counter-melodies that elevate the guitar. The result is a trio sound that’s agile and interactive: rich low-end foundation, clear harmonic movement, and the kind of responsive interplay that makes each tune feel freshly composed in the moment.