But, actually playing an instrument himself didn’t come until his 16th birthday when he acquired his first electric bass. A quick study, he was told he needed to learn the upright bass if he wanted to seriously study music in college.
So, after only a year on the upright Ryan was admitted to Fredonia State University’s music education program, just south of his hometown of Buffalo, NY. Fredonia’s program was classically based, so Ryan got his first opportunity to play in symphony orchestras and to learn violin, viola, and cello. While he was learning the classical ropes Ryan also branched out to play bass in rock bands and jazz groups big and small, playing standards as well as original music. It was here in Fredonia that Ryan got his first inspiration to study and play West African music, namely from a Ghanaian named Bernard Woma (more on him shortly).
After graduating from Fredonia, Ryan taught high school for a year then received a graduate assistantship to study and teach at Ithaca College in Ithaca, NY. As fate would have it , after graduating Ryan was sponsored by the school to travel to Ghana and study with the same man he had met years earlier, Bernard Woma. While in Ghana Ryan studied djembe, gyil (a curved pentatonic marimba), and traditional folk songs.
Later that year, Master’s Degree in hand and new inspiration, Ryan relocated to Asheville, NC. Unexpectedly, he started meeting people that were from West Africa, specifically Mali and the Ivory Coast. This led to the formation of afrobeat ensemble Afromotive. After some successful tours, including a slot at the Bonnaroo Festival in 2008, and their debut record Scare Tactics (Harmonized Records, 2007), Afromotive had earned their place in the afrobeat ranks.
In 2011, along with fellow Afromotive member Adama Dembele (a 33rd generation djembe player from the Ivory Coast), Ryan started the afropop group Zansa. They will release their debut album Djansa on September 10, 2013, with the CD release party on September 7 at Isis Restaurant & Music Hall.
Ryan also performs with Asheville-based jazz fusion ensemble Vertigo Jazz Project, and rock trio The Ocean.
