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FUN WITH MUSIC - Boston Herald review by Nate Dow:
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The Boston mandolin master returns with another romp through bluegrass, rock and honky-tonk. Kicking off with the droll “My Last Whiskey Song,” a twangy duet with Sarah Borges, the former Blood Oranges frontman manages to find the light in even such dark songs as the Freddie Hart/Harlan Howard downer “It Takes One to Know One” and New Order’s “Love Vigilantes.” The pulse of those covers and the eight originals is Ryan’s redefining approach to his instrument. Download: “Get Out of My Yard.”
Jimmy Ryan & Mark Spencer accompanied Laura Cantrell for an opening set at The Gramercy Theatre in NYC then Jimmy joined Country Music Hall of Famer Charlie Louvin headlining the night Grand Ole Opry style... The New York Times reported: "Laura Cantrell, who was born in Nashville but has long lived in New York City, opened the concert. With a serene, piping voice reminiscent of Emmylou Harris's, Ms. Cantrell moves between thoughtful alt-country Americana and old-time country. She had a string band -- including a left-handed mandolinist, Jimmy Ryan, who so impressed Mr. Louvin that he was invited to sit in."
OTHER NEWS...
Jimmy has been back at Hi-N-Dry recording his next batch of songs... this includes some bonus live tracks recorded at the Lizard Lounge this past summer. Keep a watch for FUN WITH MUSIC to be release soon!
BLOOD ORANGES - Alt-country fave album Corn River has been out of print for many years - look for a re-release soon on Hi-N-Dry!
Thanks to Sarah Bayle at Metronome magazine for putting up the latest review of Gospel Shirt - check it out!
Jimmy Ryan transcends traditional bluegrass mandolin playing. He weaves a tapestry of traditional, world and rock musicianship into an amazing blend of hillbilly roots rock. Jimmy dares to defy boundaries by using the mandolin as the lead instrument in an electrified band. His current album “Gospel Shirt” was recorded at Hi-N-Dry studios in Cambridge, where Jimmy enlisted a cast of local luminaries to spice up his latest recipe of roots rock, fiery pickin' and words of wisdom: Duke Levine cooks up the tasty guitar licks, Billy Beard bangs on the drums, Andrew Mazzone kicks the bass, Kevin Barry slides some haunting lap steel, Christian McNeil and Laurie Sargent sing backup vox and Grayson Capps adds a dash of acoustic.
Grammy Award winning producer Trina Shoemaker (Sheryl Crow) co-produced the album with Billy Conway (Morphine, Twinemen).
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.
“Jimmy Ryan is one of those names woven into the fabric of Americana… his contributions are considerable” No Depression