James Ryan's High 5

Historical article recovered from a Wayback capture dated 2018-02-24.

Originating from Darwin, Australia, James graduated from the Canberra School of Music A.N.U. with a Masters of Music majoring in Jazz in 1995, the first granted by an Australian University. He proceeded to teach performance, improvisation and composition at the Canberra School of Music (A.N.U.), the Queensland Conservatorium of Music (Griffith University) and the Queensland University of Technology. James performed extensively throughout Australia and Europe after basing himself in London for four years. In 1997 The James Ryan Quartet released its self titled debut. James relocated to Sydney, Australia in 2003 and then in 2006 released ‘Long Way Home’ (JGR 033) on Jazzgroove Records. The James Ryan Trio’s latest album ‘Bitter Sweet’ has been released on ABC Classics.

James has also been the featured soloist, composer and producer of many other artists’ recordings. He currently leads the James Ryan Trio (with Brendan Clarke and James Hauptmann), The Subterraneans (with James Muller, Steve Hunter and James Hauptmann) and The Lost Cosmonauts (with Kevin Hailey, Jane Irving, Hugh Barrett and Jamie Cameron).

James broke with tradition and provided six memorable performances.

1. HOWARD SHORE & THE BBC CONCERT ORCHESTRA – Barbican London April 2002

Howard Shore conducted a concert of his Naked Lunch score at the Barbican in London. This was a concert with a difference, because it was a live accompaniment to a screening of the 1991 Cronenberg movie; an enhanced projection of the film. He made use of the BBC Concert Orchestra. Arguably the strongest ingredient in the mix was the The Ornette Coleman Trio, fulfilling the duties they performed on the original soundtrack. Amazing!

2. OLIVER MESSIAN’S TURANGALILA-SYMPHONIE PLUS MESSIAN VOCAL WORKS – Barbican 2002

A truly massive paean to spirituality, with its overt influences from Hinduism. The title itself is in Sanskrit, made up of two words: “Turanga” denotes time, surging ever onward, held back by “Lîla”, which signifies “play”, articulating the flow of time with drama. Together they encompass the compound notions of opposition, creation and destruction, and love.

3. DALE BARLOW – 1992

Hearing Dale play for the first time and many times later was an inspiration for me during this time.

4. ANOUAR BRAHEM, JOHN SURMAN & DAVE HOLLAND - Thimar London 1998.

Anouar Brahem: Oud, John Surman:soprano saxophone and bass clarinet and Dave Holland: Double bass). The first concert I heard on arrival in London. Like the album the music was never less than beautiful, and is often haunting in its subtle chemistry, which quietly evokes glimmers of blues moods within stately Arabic-themed progressions.

5. JOHN McLAUGHLIN TRIO WITH TRILOK GURTU - Canberra 1991

This concert started to give me glimpse of how well improvised music can be performed. It also peaked my interest in Indian music.

6. KEN EDIE AND JOHN ROGERS – Brisbane 1995-1997

Living in Brisbane during this period I was fortunate enough to hear and perform with these inspiring, creative forces in action many times.