Ron Kalina

Ron Kalina (4 August 1928—13 January 2016) was an American jazz pianist, musician, harmonica player, vocalist, composer, and arranger. He was a sought-after studio musician in Los Angeles and Palm Springs area. He also made many jazz recordings.

Ron Kalina was born Ronald Kalina in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, on August 4, 1928. He got his start at an early age, playing the harmonica at the age of four and later learning the piano. His harmonica playing is stylistically reminiscent of that of Belgian jazz musician Toots Thielemans.

Kalina worked as a studio musician in Los Angeles with Tom Waits, Burt Bacharach, Dakota Staton, Linda Ronstadt, Joe Williams, Anita O'Day, and Johnny Hartman. For 14 years, he was the musical director and pianist for Gloria Lynne.

He worked on the film score for a few Hollywood productions including Andrew V. McLaglen's Shenandoah (1965) and Mira Nair's Mississippi Masala (1991). The music for Mississippi Masala was directed by famous Indian violinist and conductor L. Subramaniam. His New World Harmonica Trio performed in Paul Thomas Anderson's psychological drama Magnolia (1999).

Kalina's harmonica is heard on "Mr. Henry" of Tom Waits' 1981 jazz/pop album Bounced Checks (Asylum Records). Arranged by Bob Alcivar, Kalina was accompanied by Jim Hughart (bass), Dennis Karmazyn (cello), and Michael Lang (piano).

In the 1980s, Kalina performed and recorded with tuba virtuoso Jim Self. In 1983, Kalina, Jim Self, and guitarist Jon Kurnick wrote and arranged Jim Self Quintet's first solo jazz album Children At Play (Discovery Records). Other musicians on the album were bassist Ernie McDaniel, drummer Harold Mason, and percussionist Steve Forman. High Fidelity magazine chose it as one of the top 10 jazz LPs of 1983. During that time, Kalina and Jim Self performed at many famed California venues, most notably at Hop Singh's in Marina del Rey and The Jazz Bakery in Los Angeles. Kalina and Jim Self collaborated again in 2008 to release an eleven-track jazz album The Odd Couple, featuring Larry Koonse, bassist Tom Warrington, and drummer Joe LaBarbera. Released via Jim Self's Basset Hound Records, the album covers many famous hits including:

• Oliver Nelson's classic "Stolen Moments"
• Charlie Parker's "Confirmation" and "Donna Lee"
• Brazilian pianist/guitarist Antônio Carlos Jobim's "Someone to Light Up My Life"
• Luíz Eça's "The Dolphin"
• Michel Legrand's "You Must Believe in Spring".
• Arthur Hamilton's "No More Mister Nice Guy"
• Lanny Morgan's "Friends Again"
• Neal Hefti's "The Odd Couple"
• Michael Leonard and Herbert Martin's "I'm All Smiles"

In the mid-1980s, Kalina played harmonica on the track "I Remember You" of John Denver's 1986 album One World (RCA Victor) alongside Jerry Scheff (bass); Jerry Carrigan (drums); Dean Parks and James Burton (guitar); Victor Schertzinger (composer); and Glen D. Hardin (piano). Backing vocals were provided bu Conrad Reeder, Denny Brooks, Elizabeth Lamers, and Jim Haas.

In August-October 1992, Kalina recorded Body Heat: Jazz at the Movies (Discovery Records), featuring jazz arrangements from or used in various motion pictures. He played his harmonica alongside John Pisano (acoustic guitar); Kim Richmond (alto saxophone); Roberto Vally (bass); Bernie Dresel (drums); Brad Dutz, Brian Kilgore, and Scott Breadman (percussion); Bill Cunliffe (piano); David Loeb and Mark Portmann (synthesizer); Ernie Watts (tenor saxophone); Bob Summers and Jack Sheldon (trumpet); Arnold McCuller (vocals).

In 2004, Kalina recorded his solo album Getting My Axes Together, playing piano and harmonica alongside Jim Self, Ron Ash, John Pisano (guitars), Dave Carpenter(bass) and Joe LaBarbera (drums). It was released via CD Baby in December 2006.

In 2015, Kalina was on Luis Jacinto Muñoz's award-winning Latin jazz album Voz (Pelin Music Records). He played chromatic harmonica on two tracks ("Manantial" and "Pasión") with Randy Tico (bass); Adam Asanow (piano); Narciso Sotomayor (electric guitars); Chris Judge (acoustic guitar). Backing vocals were added by Teka Penteriche, Lois Mahalia, Andy Zuñiga, Jana Anderson, and Victor Martén.

Kalina was married to Judy Wolman.

Kalina died in Palm Springs, California, on January 13, 2016, at age 87.

• The Jazz Discography by Tom Lord