Home » Jazz Musicians » Ryan Meagher

Ryan Meagher

As with all the best jazz musicians, guitarist Ryan Meagher (pronounced Marr) refuses to sit still. The Portland-based composer and player maintains a steady stream of activity, whether that’s teaching at various schools throughout the Northwest, performing regular gigs around his hometown, or writing thoughtful music that spans the vast spectrum of jazz music, from post-bop to Latin to avant-garde.

Meagher’s forward momentum was fomented early, during his teen years growing up in San Jose, California, where he split his time between taking baseball practice and working out his guitar chops in a series of youthful garage bands. From there, he began his most serious music studies, both in the classrooms and rehearsal halls of San Diego State University, and, starting in 2003, the clubs and venues of New York City. That combination of academic inquiry and the make-or-break proving ground of one of the country’s brightest artistic centers brought about Meagher’s thoughtful compositional style and a curiosity that has allowed him to move between musical worlds with ease.

That’s as clear as anything on his first two albums: 2004’s self-released Sun Resounding and 2007’s Atroefy (on Fresh Sound New Talent). The former sparkles with clean tones, acoustic diversions, and the vibrant chemistry of Meagher and his cohorts, including pianist Bryn Roberts and drummer Greg Ritchie, while the latter grinds a little harder with some heavier, rock-inspired guitar work and the snapping rhythms of drummer Vinnie Sperrazza and bassist Geoff Kraly. And on his 2012 album Tone, recorded as he split his time between NYC and his graduate studies at University of Nevada, Reno, he injected cool blasts of open air into his compositions, letting solos stretch out languidly and the notes and chords of Meagher and trumpeter Shane Endsley and saxophonist Matt Blostein.

After moving to Portland in 2012, Meagher has kept exploring and kept busy. Besides his work as the director of jazz programs at Lower Columbia College in Longview, Washington, and as a guitar teacher at Mount Hood Community College and the University of Portland, he is also a co-founder and Programming Director of the Montavilla Jazz Festival, Director of Operations of the Portland Jazz Composers Ensemble (and director of their in-house label PJCE Records), and Director of the Lower Columbia College Summer Jazz Workshop.

All that activity hasn’t dulled Meagher’s creativity one bit. During the past decade, he has served as bandleader for four albums—2013’s Tango In The City of Roses, 2016’s Mist. Moss. Home., and 2018’s Evil Twin (all released on PJCE Records), as well as his return to Fresh Sound New Talent, 2018’s Lost Days—which showcase all the tools in his arsenal, as well as his keen ear for musicians to perform with, including keyboardist George Colligan, guitarist Mike Gamble, and drummer Matt Mayhall.

Read more

Tags

9
Album Review

Ryan Meagher: Lost Days

Read "Lost Days" reviewed by Don Phipps


On Lost Days, guitarist Ryan Meagher offers up ten expressive and entertaining compositions that run the gamut from blues to funk and from swing to rock. His compositions are hot and spontaneous--they break apart and fuse back together in kaleidoscopic fashion. The Portland, Oregon-based Meagher is backed by a talented group. Tenor saxophonist Bill McHenry played with both the late, great Paul Motian and Andrew Cyrille. Keyboard player George Colligan is a professor at Portland State University. Bassist ...

2
Album Review

Ryan Meagher: Mist. Moss. Home.

Read "Mist. Moss. Home." reviewed by Jim Olin


Mist. Moss. Home. is the newest album by inventive indie jazz guitarist/composer Ryan Meagher. Consisting of eight original tracks, it caters to both jazz fans and college progressives. It showcases his talents in producing unconventional, inspiring music, supported by a lineup of top Portland artists. “The Hipster's Folly" has a laid back vibe into it. The title could be in reference to Portland's reputation as a town of cool kids but there are no creative pretensions here. The ...

Read more articles
1

Recording

Guitarist/Composer Ryan Meagher Unveils A Unique Blend Of Sound And Vision On 'Aftearth,' Set For May 19 Release By Atroefy Records

Guitarist/Composer Ryan Meagher Unveils A Unique Blend Of Sound And Vision On 'Aftearth,' Set For May 19 Release By Atroefy Records

Source: Terri Hinte Publicity

Guitarist/composer Ryan Meagher explores postapocalyptic soundscapes—and imagery—on the scintillating AftEarth, set for a May 19 release on Atroefy Records. On one level a quartet recording—with Portland, Oregon-based saxophonist Tim Willcox, bassist Andrew Jones, and drummer Charlie Doggett delving into 11 Meagher compositions (and a jazz setting of a Felix Mendelssohn composition)—it is also a collaboration with visual artist Tina Granzo, whose lonesome, haunting pen-and-ink images form the album’s packaging. Though largely created in the shadow of the worldwide COVID-19 pandemic, ...

Jazz Journal called him, “the most interesting new guitarist on the scene since Pat Metheny.” JazzTimes remarked that his music was “startingly original stuff.” Downbeat Magazine noted that, “there’s a strong element of folksong in Meagher’s compositions, expressed by his singing melodies and commitment to the gravity and beauty of a balanced lyrical arc.”

Primary Instrument

Guitar

Location

Portland

Willing to teach

Beginner to advanced

Music

Recordings: As Leader | As Sideperson

AftEarth

Atroefy Records
2023

buy

Lost Days

Fresh Sound Records
2018

buy

Mist. Moss. Home.

Self Produced
2017

buy

Atroefy

Fresh Sound Records
2009

buy

Videos

Similar

Get more of a good thing!

Our weekly newsletter highlights our top stories, our special offers, and upcoming jazz events near you.