Convergence Review – All Music Guide
Ryan Oliver is one of many promising Canadian jazz musicians to emerge on the scene at the dawn of the 21st century, joined by four of his countrymen for his solid recording debut as a leader. “Tune for Bernie” is his delightful reworking of Bernie Miller’s “Bernie’s Tune” (made famous by Gerry Mulligan in the […]
Convergence Review – Geoff Chapman
Toronto is a hotbed of talented sax players, but it’s unlikely that Ryan Oliver is on most top ten lists. That’s about to be remedied with the release of his debut disc. At first glance, you might believe that this session is just another hard-bop outing given his sidemen, a foursome of experienced performers – […]
Convergence Review – Ted O’ Reilly
I’d guess I’m on about my fourth generation of tenormen in Toronto: sort of Teddy Davidson/Hart Wheeler/Phil Antonacci to Bill Goddard/Rick Wilkins/Doug Richardson to Pat LaBarbera/Mike Murley/Alex Dean and now, Ryan Oliver. If the first half-dozen names aren’t really familiar to you, it’s not their fault or yours. There just weren’t that many recording opportunities […]
The Cookers Vol. 1 – Wholenote Review
GEOFF CHAPMAN IN WHOLENOTE MAGAZINE Immediately you know this group’s best heard live… The Cookers are a back-to-basics hard bop quintet, nowadays an attractive voice in the land of quasi-intellectual trickery, avant-garde noodling and jazz’s black sheep cousin, smooth jazz. Formed last year (2010), the fivesome comprises veterans and newbies but they’re close companions on […]
Wholenote Article
Tough-toned saxophonist Ryan Oliver got his masters south of the border, graduating from New Jersey’s Rutgers University in 2009. While there, he met and studied with a variety of jazz legends, including drummer Victor Lewis. “Getting to know Victor Lewis was certainly a highlight,” says Oliver. “Victor is the drum teacher at Rutgers, and I […]
Strive! Featuring Victor Lewis
Ryan Oliver: Tenor Saxophone; Gary Williamson: piano; Alex Coleman: bass; Victor Lewis: drums Ryan Oliver’s latest recording, STRIVE!, is an electrifying contemporary jazz record featuring New York drum legend Victor Lewis. The group performed several times in Toronto before entering the studio in July 2012. The resulting recording features a band rapport that is wholly […]
The Cookers: Vol. 1
Toronto-based quintet “The Cookers”, led by Ryan Oliver, Tim Hamel (trumpet), and Alex Coleman (bass), released their debut CD in 2011. The disc is a straight-ahead swingin’ affair with all original music. They have been featured on CBC’s “Shift” – thanks to Katie Malloch and Tom Allen – and have been filmed by CBC. Listen […]
Ryan Oliver Quartet: Convergence
Ryan’s debut recording featuring Canadian jazz greats Bob McLaren (drums), Bernie Senensky (piano), and Duncan Hopkins (bass). Purchase a copy directly from Ryan: