Born: January 11, 1972 Primary Instrument: Piano
Musician/Teacher Ryan Burns is best-known for his jazz piano and Fender Rhodes-based keyboard work, having produced five CD’s as a bandleader, and dozens of projects as one of Seattle’s hardest working sidemen. Studied at Berklee School of Music, Burns has always been drawn to the worlds of jazz and rock, and those places where both meet. Employing the analog sounds of the Rhodes, Wurlitzer, Hammond, and Moog, Burns has a signature sound that has made it’s mark in groups such as Harrybu McCage (led by Pearl Jam/Soundgarden drummer Matt Cameron), Matt Jorgensen +451, Bebop and Destruction, Thomas Marriott’s Willie Nelson Project, Zero-Goose, and others. Meanwhile, the acoustic Ryan Burns Trio explores the classic piano trio format, much in the lineage of greats Ahmad Jamal, Oscar Peterson, and Bill Evans. Burns has taught at University of Puget Sound, Pacific Lutheran University and Cornish College of the Arts, and now owns & operates Burien School of Music, where he teaches piano, bass and guitar.
Awards:
with Matt Jorgensen +451 (Earshot Jazz Magazine's "Best Acoustic Group" of 2003); with Bebop and Destruction (2004 Seattle Weekly "Best Jazz/Avant-Garde Band")“Keyboardist Ryan Burns has a controlled style on organ, Moog and Fender Rhodes, the latter played with a gorgeous chime-like tone.” -Scott Albin, Jazz Times
“On Fender Rhodes, Ryan Burns re-minds listeners that the instrument was one of the most successful attempts at an electric, piano-like sound. And, while it can sound retro-hip now, it also can be hip, plain and simple, and that's a far more worthy accomplishment.”
“...in the wake of all the good that Weather Report and Miles Davis had done for jazz electronification, he generally steers well clear of what are, at this remove, its many cliche's.” -Peter Monaghan, Earshot Jazz
“...with keyboardist Ryan Burns pulling wah-wah guitar sounds out of the ether, or maybe it's his Fender Rhodes, though I've never heard those sounds from one before. ...there are no limits to the noises made on his keyboards.” - Dan McClenaghan, All About Jazz
“Burns snakes his way through the disc with inventive soloing and distorted synth clusters. His out-of- left-field accompaniment on the second half of “Crazy” is worth the price of admission.” - John Barron, All About Jazz
Press: Ryan Burns - Pianist/Composer
“Burns has a fantastically fertile brain, prodding the music with unexpected voicings and twisted runs; as with the best pianists, his comping is as intriguing as his solos.” -Mark D. Fefer, Seattle Weekly
“Burns continues to impress as a composer. It's good to see that Seattle's promising new mainstream talent has much to offer.” -Jim Santella, Cadence Magazine
“Burns' energetic and bright piano technique is both melodic and bluesy and shows the marked influence of Ahmad Jamal, McCoy Tyner, Thelonious Monk, and Duke Ellington.” -Eric Madis, Victory Review
London Bridge Live
Ryan Burns
Odd Bird Records
2012
Tracks: India; Birds; Maia; St Stephen; We See; Entomology; Strange Meeting; Ibrahymn
Personnel: Ryan Burns: piano; Mark Taylor: sax; Geoff Cooke: bass; Matt Jorgensen; drums.
As a Leader
Birds
Ryan Burns
Odd Bird Records
2010
Tracks: Birds; June Bug; Humility; PIP; Turbulence; Blues For Hadley; Slip Away
Personnel: Ryan Burns: piano; Jeff Johnson: bass; Tad Britton; drums.
Live at the Lab
Ryan Burns Trio
Odd Bird Records
2008
Tracks: All of You; Lonely Woman; Beautiful Love; The Lady in the Lake; Footprints; Mercy, Mercy, Mercy.
Personnel: Ryan Burns: piano; Jeff Johnson: bass; Tad Britton; drums.
Tree-o
Ryan Burns Trio
Odd Bird Records
2007
Tracks: Gettin’ Red-y; Ring the Bells; Down in Denver; Entomology; Boca De Tomatlan; Freedom of Commitment; Ibra- Hymn.
Personnel: Ryan Burns: piano; Geoff Cooke: bass; Jose Martinez; drums.
As A Side Musician
HarryBu McCage
HarryBu McCage
Monkey Wrench
2008
Tracks: I Mean You; A Little Max; Sneakin’ Around; Evidence; Monk’s Mood; Jetskiing on Priest Lake; Ask Me Now; Off Minor; Rhodes Jam; Alice in my Fantasies.
Personnel: Matt Cameron: drums; Ryan Burns: keyboards; Geoff Harper: bass
Crazy: The Music of Willie Nelson
Thomas Marriott
Origin Records
2008
Tracks: Phases & Stages. Circles and Cycles; Everywhere I Go; Crazy; On The Road Again; AND OTHERS.
Personnel: Thomas Marriott: trumpet; Mark Taylor: saxophone; Ryan Burns: keyboards; Geoff Harper: bass; Matt Jorgensen; drums.
Another Morning
Matt Jorgensen +451
Origin Records
2008
Tracks: New Beginnings; Birds; Spectre; Entomology; AND OTHERS.
Personnel: Mark Taylor: saxophone; Ryan Burns: keyboards; Phil Sparks: bass; Matt Jorgensen; drums.
Around The Bend and Then Some
17th Chapter
Robe and Slippers
2008
Tracks: Fever; Old Folks; Don’t Try/New Friends; Congratulations; AND OTHERS.
Personnel: Matt Garrity: vocals, guitar; Kimo Muraki: guitars, etc.; Ryan Burns: keyboards; Zak Melang: bass; Mike Stone; drums.
Walk on Water
The Katherine Moore Situation
indie
2007
Tracks: the Thrill; Tennessee; The Ballad of Eve; You Sold Me Out; AND OTHERS.
Personnel: Katherine Moore: vocals, guitar; Ryan Burns: keyboards; Geoff Harper: bass; Reade Whitwell; drums.
Hope
Matt Jorgensen +451
Origin Records
2004
Tracks: Ibra-Hymn; Slinky; Hope; Fables of Faubus; AND OTHERS.
Personnel: Mark Taylor: saxophone; Ryan Burns: keyboards; Phil Sparks: bass; Matt Jorgensen; drums.
The Sonarchy Session
Matt Jorgensen +451
Origin Records
2003
Tracks: Blessing; Slinky; Peacefulness; No Quarter; AND OTHERS.
Personnel: Mark Taylor: saxophone; Ryan Burns: keyboards; Phil Sparks: bass; Matt Jorgensen; drums.
Everett
Peter DiStefano and the Black Vinyl All-Stars
12-Tone
2003
Tracks: 1969; Whole Lotta Love; Diminished; Can You See Me; AND OTHERS.
Personnel: Peter DiStefano: vocals, guitar; Colin Higgins: guitar; Ryan Burns: keyboards; Zak Melang: bass; Mike Stone; drums.
Live at The Owl and Thistle
Bebop and Destruction
Freetone
2003
Tracks: Blues on the Corner. This Will Be; Maybe; Lonnie’s Lament; You Don’t Know What Love Is
Personnel: Marc Fendel: saxophone; Ryan Burns: keyboards; Geoff Harper: bass; Jose Martinez; drums.
Get Up and beat the Blues
The Steve Luceno Band
indie
2002
Tracks: Get Up Blues; Patience; The Grin; M3; Sensei; AND OTHERS.
Personnel: Tony Grasso: trumpet; Brian Kent: saxophone; Dan Blunk, saxophones; Ryan Burns: keyboards; Steve Luceno: bass; Steven Bentley; drums.
See you at the Bridge
Geoff Cooke Quintet
Consolidated Artists Productions
2001
Tracks: Down In Denver; St. Stephen; On the Q.T.; Blue in Green; Searching for my Home; AND OTHERS.
Personnel: Tony Grasso: trumpet; Brian Kent: saxophone; Ryan Burns: keyboards; Geoff Cooke: bass; Jose Martinez; drums.
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Primary Instrument:
Piano
Location:
Seahurst, WA
Willing to teach:
Intermediate to advanced students
Credentials/Background:
Piano Bass and Guitar Lessons in Seattle Area. check www.burienschool.com for more info.
