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"Ron has been a powerful advocate for many of us on the NYC music scene for years. He supported many dreams of young musicians and brought many of us to the forefront through his dedication, caring, and daring. This project was an opportunity for musical friends to join together to help Ron realize his dream of recording a CD with a unique combo of musicians who had been touched by his light! "
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"Ron- It’s a gem! You have to be ecstatic about this album.That’s all I can say....I’ll be listening to it again on the way to Geneva- Montreux Jazz Festival. Limo pulling up in 30 minutes. Congrats all around."
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"New release! Proud to be part of jazz trumpeter Ron D Helman’s beautiful CD “It Never Entered My MInd” singing Mel Torme classic “Born to Be Blue”. Finally got to listen to this romantic, late night collection of elegant standards played in every shade of blue with the great band he assembled- Steve Wilson, Jame Genus, Mike Maineri, Rachel Z, David Spinozza and Joel Rosenblatt. Love the songs- every one is a jewel- and Ron’s playing is stunning. Check it out!"
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"While listening to flugelhornist Ron Helman's new album, you might detect a strong insinuation of line and form, of motion, elegance and grace - and for good reason. Before becoming a jazz musician at the ripe age of 44, the New Jersey-born, New Mexico-based Helman spent years as a dancer and gymnast. In his former life, he served as a dance coach with the Juilliard School Drama Department and even provided chorograpical expertise to the likes of Sting, Al Pacino ad Julianne Moore. A certified life coach and business coach, Helman also trained as a classical trumpeter and performed in off-Broadway productions. He calls It Never Entered My Mind an autobiographical album, and for the most part, the music on the disc is as compelling and diverse as Helman's life story. Produced by Mike Mainieri, the program of 11 jazz standards unfolds with a sense of thematic balance, alternating hard, biting swing and misty balladry. Helman's solo on a gusty "Just Friends" provides flash and pop, and later a guest turn by vocalist Ann Hampton Callaway on "Born To Be Blue" luxuriates in slow, deliberate gestures. Helman's tone is of the airy, wind-blown sort, and positions him squarely on the Miles Davis/Chet Baker end of the timbre spectrum. But it's a tone he adapts tp varied contexts. On "All Or Nothing At All", he engages in flinty dialogue with saxophonist Steve Wilson, generating sparks in the heated exchange, while on the album-closing title track, he converses with pianist Rachel Z Hakim and guitarist David Spinozza in whispers. Bassist James Genus and drummer Joel Rosenblatt add crisp accompaniment no matter the setting or style, and Mainieri's clean, clean attentive production ensures a crystalline glow."