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Biography
New York City native Gregory Ryan has
established himself as an in-demand sideman on both acoustic and
electric bass. His big supportive sound, swinging style, and complete
understanding of harmony and his role on the bandstand combine to
create his ability to make even the most complex modern composition
swing in the tradition of the great bass players. At home in a variety
of musical worlds -- accomplished in Brazilian, Cuban, funk, and
mainstream jazz styles -- he performs in festivals and concerts
worldwide. Mr. Ryan has appeared with pianists James Williams, Mulgrew
Miller, and Benny Green; guitarists Jim Hall and Pat Martino; vocalists
Karrin Allyson, Peter Cincotti, and Dena DeRose; and numerous jazz
luminaries including Eric Alexander, Regina Carter, Billy Harper, and
Albert “Tootie” Heath, among others.
Invisible Horizon, Mr. Ryan’s most recent recording as a leader, is the
second collaborative project with pianist Bennett Paster and drummer
Keith Hall. The record features original compositions by all
three musicians as well as a few choice standards. Tenor saxophonist
Chris Cheek joins the trio on three tracks. This trio enjoyed
critical acclaim of their debut CD, Skyline, described by
Allaboutjazz.com as “a beautifully melodic effort, start to finish,”
praising the trio’s “relaxed, optimistic, vivacious” sound; Modern
Drummer states that the trio “radiate[s] warmth, vitality, robust
melodicism, and an effortless swing.”
Gregory Ryan also co-leads Grupo Yanqui with Bennett Paster. As
exhibited on their 2001 self-titled debut CD, the Grupo skillfully
balances original compositions by Ryan and Paster with Cuban and
latin-tinged standards, drawing from Afro-Cuban, Brazilian and American
traditions and influences. All Music Guide praises the record’s
“involved arrangements, passionate solos, and vigorous, spontaneous
interplay, all with a melodic and cosmopolitan Latin funk touch.” The
Grupo has made concert and clinic appearances from New York to
California since its inception in 1998. A quartet edition of
Grupo Yanqui toured as part of the U.S. State Department and Jazz at
Lincoln Center’s The Rhythm Road: American Music Abroad program in
2006, performing and conducting workshops in Sweden, Russia, Estonia
and Serbia-Montenegro. Grupo Yanqui recorded its second CD in May
2006, featuring Paster, Ryan, Hall, trumpeter Alex Norris, saxophonist
Chris Cheek, and percussionist Gilad. A 2007 release is planned.
Seeking to broaden his understanding of Afro-Cuban music, in 2003, Mr.
Ryan took a lesson from master bassist Andy Gonzalez. At the end
of the lesson, Gonzalez asked if Ryan would substitute for him with the
Chico O’Farrill Afro-Cuban Jazz Orchestra. That and subsequent
recommendations have led to a growing Latin Jazz resume include
performances with the Lincoln Center Afro-Latin Jazz Orchestra, Arturo
O’Farrill, Papo Vazquez’ Pirates Troubadours, and Bobby Sanabria’s
Quarteto Aché.
During the summer of 2002, Mr. Ryan toured with singer/saxophonist
Curtis Stigers - opening for many of the U.S. dates of Barry Manilow’s
“Manilow Live 2002!” tour, including stepping in for Manilow’s ailing
bassist on a few hours notice at their Kansas City engagement. Stigers’
band was also featured at jazz festivals and venues in 2002-3 in
Detroit, Boston, Toronto, and Concord, CA, among other North American
cities. Reviewing a performance at the famed Oak Room at the
Algonquin, Stephen Holden of The New York Times praised the trio
backing Stigers for its brand of “muscular, straight-ahead jazz.”
Mr. Ryan can be heard on several recordings with such artists as Kenny
Burrell and Matthew Fries, with whom he has played and recorded for
more than ten years. In addition, he regularly performs with
guitarist Freddie Bryant, appearing on his recording, Freddie Bryant
& Kaleidoscope: Live at Smoke. During a three-week stint in
Europe in spring 2002, he played numerous dates with Kaleidoscope and
co-led clinics in Germany.
Honored by International Association of Jazz Educators (IAJE), Mr. Ryan
is also a talented and well-respected teacher. In addition to
providing private instruction, he has been an esteemed faculty member
of the Stanford Jazz Workshop (SJW) and Festival since 1992, leading
ensembles, master classes, theory, ear training, and other specialized
clinics. He has been recognized not only by his peers but also by
his students, earning nominations on multiple occasions for “The Golden
Apple Teaching Award,” awarded for teaching excellence by SJW
participants. “It is a singular joy to watch a young musician put
together new information and grow in real time,” says Ryan. “By
that I am referring to my experiences teaching ensembles and hearing
students play in ways they hadn’t known they could earlier in the
week.” With guitarist Freddie Bryant, Mr. Ryan has made many
presentations to school children for The Jazz Standard’s “Jazz
Discovery Program.” With Arturo O’Farrill, he has taken part in
several residencies – introducing Latin jazz to children, teaching
master classes and coaching rehearsals. Mr. Ryan has also performed
with Mr. O’Farrill in Jazz at Lincoln Center’s acclaimed Jazz for Young
People concert series.
In October 2006, Ryan and Paster returned to Belgrade, Serbia to
conduct a two-week workshop at the Belgrade Music Academy on behalf of
the U.S. Department of State and Jazz at Lincoln Center’s The Rhythm
Road: American Music Abroad program. The program introduced jazz
performance concepts and techniques and “…had a huge impact on the
University of Arts of Belgrade, and the community music students who
were directly exposed to highly experienced U.S. jazz professors and
artists,” according to a representative from Cultural Affairs. “More
than half of the workshop participants had never before played jazz,
and at the final concert they very capably performed jazz in front of a
large audience.”
It is no surprise that Mr. Ryan’s teaching philosophy is centered in
encouraging and guiding students toward their own musical
self-exploration. His desire to be a professional musician was
realized while attending Stanford University, where he graduated with
distinction in 1992 with a degree in English. Influenced and
inspired by those he studied with, including Stephen Tramontozzi (San
Francisco Symphony) and jazz pianist Bill Bell, Mr. Ryan returned to
New York City where he earned his Master of Music degree from Manhattan
School of Music in 1995, studying with Timothy Cobb (Metropolitan Opera
Orchestra) and Harvie Swartz, and electric bassist Jeff Andrews.
Mr. Ryan currently resides in Brooklyn, NY with his wife and no pets (not even fish).
Gregory Ryan uses AMT acoustic bass microphones.
