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For more than a decade, Jimmy Ryan has electrified the Boston music scene with his fusion of bluegrass pickin’ and driving edge rock.
Performing live, Jimmy’s fingers fly across the mandolin like lightning rips through a stormy sky. His flair is energizing, his style unique and the outcome leaves his audience spellbound. A blended perfection of rootsy rock, bluegrass and world music, his invigorating performance displays influences ranging from Bill Monroe to Bob Marley.
Over the years Jimmy has teamed up with a string of talent, creating his own style of alt-country that compliments every one of his musical cohorts.
Born in Binghamton, NY, Jimmy spent his early life attending and playing at local bluegrass festivals. His unique sound and style emanate from playing with such a diverse group of bluegrass fiddlers and pickers, mixed with his love of rock and roll.
Most noted for his left-handed imaginative mandolin playing, Jimmy Ryan’s old-timey voice and masterful songwriting reflect a seasoned musician indeed. He began his professional music career in a punk band Decentz and a traditional bluegrass band Pine Island, but he is probably best known for founding and fronting the bluegrass tinged rock band, The Blood Oranges in the late 80’s. "Years before anyone had invented the label 'alt-country,' The Blood Oranges helped pioneer the style, with Ryan as lead singer and songwriter," claims Miles of Music.
After touring worldwide and releasing three records on East Side Digital, the Blood Oranges disbanded in 1994. Jimmy then formed and fronted the Beacon Hillbillies with mandolin master John McGann, mixing jazz and bluegrass and releasing three records.
In 1996, Jimmy reunited with Mark Spencer to form Wooden Leg and they released a self-titled debut.
Since then, in countless side projects, Jimmy has shared his energizing mandolin talent throughout the indie music scene. His fiery pickin’ is recognized by many in the bluegrass and alt-country circuits, and is sought after by many artists who seek to add his scorching style to their craft.
One of the Jimmy’s most notable collaborations is his work with former Morphine and Treat Her Right frontman, the late Mark Sandman. Together they played the Boston scene as Treat Her Orange, a partnership that would later blossom into the Pale Brothers (and yield the track "In Spite of Me" on Morphine’s Cure for Pain). Both were two talent-laden and interesting side projects that featured live performances but hailed no official albums. You can now hear some of these selected gems on the recently released Sandbox – The Music of Mark Sandman (2004, Hi-N-Dry).
In addition to playing acoustic mandolin, Jimmy also plays mandocello, 5-string and 8-string electric mandolin, all custom crafted since he’s a left-handed player.
In 2002, Jimmy released his solo debut, Lost Diamond Angel, produced by Billy Conway (Morphine, Twinemen) and mixed by Trina Shoemaker, two-time Grammy Award Winner for Sheryl Crow’s, The Globe Sessions.
In 2005, “Gospel Shirt”, the sophomore release by Jimmy Ryan was released on the Hi-N-Dry label. It features the spectacular Duke Levine on creative guitars along with Andrew Mazzone on bass, Billy Beard on drums, Kevin Barry on Lap Steel, Christian McNeill on back vox, Laurie Sargent on back vox, Grayson Capps on acoustic. www.hi-n-dry.com
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