BIOGRAPHY
"Definitely someone to watch, Carraher has made a real statement with 'Vocturnal'; there is surely much more music to come from this highly talented player and composer."
-Budd Kopman All About Jazz.com
Ryan Carraher (b.1993) is an award-winning contemporary/experimental composer, jazz guitarist, improviser, studio musician, producer and educator based in Seattle, WA. His recent compositions experiment with the use of impossibility to construct catastrophe-inducing environments that eschew conscious, measuring thought and reframe/interact with the performer as a unique corporeal system. The goal is to construct a musical environment that encourages the performer to react to stimuli, not in a conscious, quantitative way, but on a primal, physical, qualitative way, very similar to how plant life responds and adjusts to stimuli.
He holds a degree in guitar performance from Berklee College of Music (Summa Cum Laude) where he was awarded the Berklee Guitar Department Achievement Award and a MA in Composition from Tufts University. He is currently pursuing a Doctorate of Musical Arts at University of Washington.
As a contemporary composer, his work has been named national finalist of the MTNA composition competition for both the 2016-17 and 2017-18 seasons, received a merit award from the Tribeca composition competition, and workshopped by members of Ensemble Intercontemporain while attending MANIFESTE (2018) at IRCAM (Paris-Fr.). He has had U.S/International premieres/commissions from ECCE Ensemble (Etchings Festival-Auvillar, Fr.), Ensemble x.y, Transient Canvas, Iwona Glinka, Orlando Cela, Erin Rogers (New Music on the Point), Rose Hegele, Philipp Stäudlin, Anna Griffis, Emmanuel Feldman, Mariel Roberts (Wet Ink/Mivos Quartet), Giorgos Panagiotidis (VIPA), John McDonald and more.
As a jazz composer/guitarist, Ryan has released numerous albums to critical acclaim. His 2016 debut release Vocturnal was named to the All About Jazz "Best of 2016 list". In 2018, he released his sophomore record Obscure Sorrows.
As a performer, he has played with/opened for many notable artists including: Allan Holdsworth, Jimmy Heath, Leslie West, Grand Funk Railroad, Pete Best, Joe Lynn Turner, Adrian Belew, Sly and the Family Stone, Ours, George Thorogood, Paul Rodgers, The Fab Faux, John Wetton, and Napoleon Murphy Brock and performed at renowned venues such as: ShapeShifter Lab, Club Bonafide, Ryles Jazz Club, B.B Kings Blues Club (NYC), The Morristown Community Theater, the Highline Ballroom and the Bergen PAC.
Ryan proudly uses and endorses Paul Reed Smith guitars.
"Dude! You're killin! Definitely motivating me to keep learning new concepts. Keep up the great work!"
- Tosin Abasi (Animals as Leaders)
"Ryan is a modern guitar virtuoso. Having been a former student of mine, I noticed even at his first lesson that he has "the gift" and he would be a great player if not one of "the greats". Having an outstanding work ethic, a humble attitude, combined with his musical and physical abilities the sky is the limit for him."
-Derryl Gabel
“Fantastic compositions and brilliant playing! Bravo!”
- David Tronzo
"An artist who is constantly adventuring into music’s wildest spaces, Ryan has managed to craft a unique improvisational and compositional sound, and now, he’s unleashed this sound onto the world in his debut album, ‘Vocturnal’."
- Anthem Reviews
"I really like your album, some real thought has gone into the compositions, your playing is also really cool with a delicate and sophisticated approach. It's refreshing to hear somebody display maturity and sensitivity in their music and you have definitely done that with your album, excellent."
- Chanan Hanspal
"Your content online is beyond helpful! They are gold mate! I have stopped playing the guitar but when I heard you, I was inspired to pick it up again! Your sound is fresh and I love it!"
- JC (Student)
"Ryan is a fantastic teacher who always took the time to answer my incessant questions concisely and truly personalize my lessons. My knowledge and skills of guitar technique and improvisation improved dramatically in the short time I took lessons with him. I'd recommend him to anyone looking to expand their knowledge and skill of the instrument. It's especially nice that his playing is brilliant! That way, inspiration was always in reach."
- Dom P. (Student)
