Biography

Ali Ryerson has emerged as one of the most exciting and versatile flutists on the scene today. She has performed with such diverse talents as Dr. Billy Taylor, Kenny Barron, Stephane Grappelli, Frank Wess, Red Rodney, Laurindo Almeida, Art Farmer, Maxine Sullivan, Roy Haynes, Julius Baker, and (as principal flutist with the Monterey Bay Symphony) with Luciano Pavarotti.

Ali has toured the USA, Canada, Europe, Japan and Africa, and has performed in many major jazz festivals, including the famed Monterey Jazz Festival, the JVC in New York, Guinness Festival in Scotland, Edinburgh Festival in Scotland, and Carnegie Hall.

Ali has released over a dozen jazz albums, the first four on European labels. She was then signed by legendary record producer Bob Thiele who produced two albums on his Red Baron label. Ali then signed with Concord Jazz for an additional three recordings. Jazziz put her Concord debut album on its Critic's Picks for 1995.

Ms. Ryerson has released two recordings, in duo with guitarist Joe Beck, on the DMP label. The most recent recordings are with Flutology, 'First Date' featuring the Frank Wess and Holly Hofmann on the Capri label, and Ryerson & Rudoph's 'Soul Quest' on the PACT label, featuring Steve Rudolph on piano and Steve Varner on bass.

Ali had performed with Dr. Billy Taylor at the Kennedy Center in Washington, DC, a performance which was taped for national roadcast on NPR. She has appeared as guest soloist with the Ft. Wayne Philharmonic and the Greenville Symphony Orchestra.

Ali was musical director of a Hudson River Regional Jazz Festival from 2001 through 2004. She is currently the Jazz Chair for the National Flute Association. For several years she has been named in the Downbeat Magazine Jazz Poll.

Ali conducts jazz flute seminars at many schools and unversities throughout the country, including Ohio State University, the University of Alaska, Capital University in Columbus,Ohio and the Western Connecticut State University Summer Flute Institute. Hidden Valley Music Seminars in California presents Ms. Ryerson's annual week-long jazz flute master class the first week in July. Ms. Ryerson is a Brio Performing Artist and Clinician for Gemeinhardt.

Reviews

"... easily the most important jazz flutist to have emerged thus far this decade," SAN FRANCISCO EXPRESS, '96

"Ryerson's fourth jazz album, and her first domestic recording, is an auspicious stateside introduction. A classically trained musician and daughter of jazz guitarist Art Ryerson, Ryerson demonstrates her fluency in the subtle, ineffable ways of swing, an attractively rich tone, and vigorous rhythmic articulation," DOWNBEAT, J. Woodward

"... I don't expect too many records this year will equal this one, never mind surpass it; it is already booked for my end of the year top 10," JAZZ JOURNAL, D. Ansell

"... As a musician, she can be both seductive ... or, inspired by Haynes' tasteful drumming, hard swinging. If a flutist can have anything like a fat tone, with expressive breathiness, Ali, one of the best flutist in jazz, clearly has it," JAZZ TIMES, L. Gourse

"... Ali is a brilliant flute specialist with a magnificent tone and technique ... One of the most popular visitors to the Merseyside jazz scene in recent years ... Jazz is dominated by men but Ali holds her own in the best company of the best musicians and is highly respected by them ...," MERSEY JAZZ NEWS, A. Graham

"... Jazz Birthday at Condon's ... In an evening filled with memorable musical vignettes, Mr. (Al) Sears shared top honors with the exceptionally jazz-oriented playing of the flutist Ali Ryerson," THE NEW YORK TIMES, J. Wilson

"... At this point, a handsome young woman named Ali Ryerson appeared out of nowhere to blow an absolutely dazzling chorus on the flute. As soon as they got their jaws back in place, the audience agreed that the evening was off to a memorable start. (Saluting Fletcher Henderson)," OFFBEAT JAZZ CLUB, H. Walker

"... She reveals on the flute an amazing sense of the depth and fullness of its sound. Combined with a dazzling technique, this puts her very high in the hierarchy of that ungrateful instrument for jazz," LA LIBRE BELGIQUE, G. Masy.

"... But, soon such sheer beauty as the immaculate artistry of the slender and unassuming Ali assumes control of your eyes ane ears. She is stealing the show and doesn't even know it ... mastery of the flute ... so impressive is the young Ali that I would go as far to say that with proper handling and hard work Miss Ryerson could become tomorrow's Cinderella story of show business," THE PLAIN DEALER, Cleveland

"... Anybody can play sax or trumpet, but you've got to be good to play flute or nobody will listen. When Ryerson plays, people listen. Classically trained, she has flawless technique and true jazz feeling ... she's the whole show," THE BULLETIN, Brussels

"... one of the world's finest jazz flutists, is young and beautiful, with a musical mind that's old a mellow and wise," THE HERALD, Monterey CA, G. Warren

"BLUE FLUTE ... Chosen as one of the CRITIC'S PICK OF THE DECADE," JAZZIZ, Jan '94

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