Bassist and composer Ryan Enderle is fluent in nearly every genre of music. Throughout his early years exploring various styles of music, from progressive metal and classical to punk rock and hip hop, Enderle's deep love for jazz has come to the foreground. Enderle has been described as “a mindful bassist who solos lyrically.” This, combined with his strong rhythmic approach, has earned him the reputation of being a valuable asset to any musical organization.
Enderle has become a popular figure in the Detroit jazz scene over the past several years. He has shared the stage with many internationally recognized jazz artists, including saxophonist Branford Marsalis, vocalist Kurt Elling, and drummer Paul Wertico. Enderle has also made special appearances with renowned Detroit jazz artists Barbara Ware, Marcus Belgrave, and George Benson.
Some of the highlights of Enderle's jazz career to date have been his performances at the Detroit International Jazz Festival, Michigan Jazz Festival, Detroit Festival of the Arts, and The Great Hawaii Jazz Blowout. Enderle recently performed live on 101.9 FM WDET's “Destination Jazz, The Ed Love Program”, as well as on The Mitch Albom Show, the Fox2 Morning Show, and PBS's “The Cutting Room Floor”.
His mentors in the jazz world include bassists Christian McBride, John Clayton, and Dan Pliskow. Enderle holds a jazz studies degree from Wayne State University, where he studied jazz arranging and composition with professors Matt Michaels, Russ Miller, and Dennis Tini.
In performance, Enderle plays both double bass and electric bass guitar. His primary double bass is an Emanuel Wilfer, anno 2006, 7/8 size. This oversized instrument often enables Enderle to play without any amplification, which is his preferred sound. The other double bass that Enderle uses for performance is a circa 1950's 3/4 size German bass, a gift from avant garde bassist and Detroit native Raubadahhotep McConner. When the music calls for it, Enderle reaches for his Schecter Diamond Series Stiletto Elite 4 electric bass with EMG pickups, paired with a Hartke Systems aluminum cone combo amplifier.
Triosphere, the debut album by the Ryan Enderle Trio, explores Enderle's favorite idiom, but with a twist. The original compositions on Triosphere are influenced not only by the rich heritage of jazz, but also by the various musical styles that Enderle has been exposed to throughout his career. This innovative collaboration with pianist Mike Jellick and drummer Nate Winn is a new contribution to jazz, yet it is firmly rooted in the Detroit jazz tradition.
