Ryan Burrage

Ryan Burrage is a New Orleans-born clarinetist, saxophonist, and multi-instrumentalist known for his skillful interpretation of traditional jazz, swing, and older American musical styles. His playing reflects a deep respect for the phrasing, tone, and spirit of early jazz while bringing his own energy, personality, and musical voice to the stage.

Early Musical Background

Ryan began playing clarinet at age nine through the school band programs that introduced many young players of his generation to wind instruments. In high school, he learned heavily by ear and developed the listening-based approach that would later become central to his work in traditional jazz and improvisation. At fifteen, at the suggestion of his high school band director, he picked up alto saxophone and went on to play alto, tenor, and baritone saxophone in the school jazz band.

Soprano Saxophone, Bechet & Early Influences

Ryan’s fascination with soprano saxophone began early. As a child, he remembers seeing a commercial for the 1984 World’s Fair in New Orleans that featured a soprano saxophone, leaving him wondering whether it was some kind of gold metal clarinet or a professional model of an instrument he already knew. Around the same era, he saw Eric Leeds playing soprano saxophone with Prince on MTV, further deepening his curiosity about the instrument’s sound and appearance.

That early curiosity later connected with his discovery of Sidney Bechet. As a teenager, Ryan remembers seeing a Bechet album in the new CD section of a record store and being struck by the image of Bechet holding an Albert-system clarinet, a fingering system unfamiliar to Ryan at the time. Although he did not buy the album that day, the image stayed with him.

Around the same period, Ryan saw Jacques Gauthe and his Creole Rice Yerba Buena Jazz Band on his local PBS affiliate. It was his first time hearing Gauthe’s clarinet and soprano saxophone in a traditional jazz setting, and during the interview Gauthe mentioned Bechet. Those connections — Bechet, Gauthe, clarinet, soprano saxophone, and New Orleans traditional jazz — would come into focus later.

Ryan’s first introduction to jazz clarinet came through Pete Fountain. Later, hearing Dr. Michael White opened another door: the realization that clarinet could be every bit as hip, expressive, and commanding as saxophone in New Orleans jazz. Once Ryan finally bought a Bechet album, the direction became clear. Bechet’s sound and intensity became a major influence on how Ryan wanted to approach soprano saxophone, clarinet, and traditional jazz.

Albert System & Boehm System

Ryan also spent several years exploring Albert-system clarinet, partly out of an interest in the long-running discussion of Albert versus Boehm system for New Orleans jazz. To Ryan, the difference is not only mechanical but tonal: the alternate fingerings and venting affect airflow in ways that can change the instrument’s response and color.

He performed for several years on an old Conn hard-rubber five-ring Albert-system clarinet before eventually returning primarily to Boehm system. He can still move between the two systems when needed and regards Albert and Boehm almost as separate instruments.

New Orleans, Fritzel’s & Jacques Gauthe

Born and raised in New Orleans, Ryan began gigging in his early twenties, playing in public, networking, and building experience in the local music scene. After several years as a freelance sideman, he became a bandleader at Fritzel’s European Jazz Pub, leading a band there from 2002 to 2008. The engagement began on weekends and gradually grew to six nights a week, with repertoire centered on Sidney Bechet and New Orleans jazz.

Ryan first met Jacques Gauthe at Fritzel’s several years before becoming a bandleader there himself. After being invited to sit in, Ryan made an impression on Gauthe, and over time their musical relationship grew into one of mentorship, friendship, and deep mutual respect.

During Ryan’s years as a bandleader at Fritzel’s, he brought Gauthe into the band, creating a two-reed frontline with clarinet and soprano saxophone at the center of the sound. Jacques focused exclusively on clarinet and soprano saxophone, while Ryan played clarinet, soprano saxophone, and other instruments from his woodwind arsenal.

Two-Reed Frontline Tradition

The two-reed concept drew inspiration from Jimmie Noone’s Apex Club Orchestra, where Noone and Doc Poston created one of early jazz’s great reed pairings, as well as from the later Soprano Summit tradition of Bob Wilber and Kenny Davern. As Ryan studied the Creole New Orleans Albert-system clarinet players, encountering Jimmie Noone’s virtuosity became a natural and important part of the path.

Instruments & Musical Voice

Ryan is especially recognized for his work on clarinet and soprano saxophone, though his musical background extends across a wide range of woodwinds. He performs on all clarinets and saxophones from sopranino to bass, including Ab piccolo clarinet, G mezzo-soprano clarinet, C Melody Saxophone, and EWI. His performances combine historical awareness with a direct, personal approach, whether interpreting traditional New Orleans repertoire, swing standards, blues, R&B, or small-group jazz.

Ryan’s current musical voice reflects a broad but connected set of influences. On clarinet, he describes his approach as having one foot in the old Creole New Orleans Albert-system tradition and the other in the Benny Goodman, Artie Shaw, Buddy DeFranco, and Ken Peplowski schools. On saxophone, his sound draws from traditional voices such as Coleman Hawkins, Lester Young, Ben Webster, and Bud Freeman, along with post-bop and cool jazz influences. He is also strongly influenced by Earl Bostic, whose R&B-rooted alto saxophone sound remains an important part of Ryan’s broader musical vocabulary.

Festivals, Touring & Performance Highlights

Ryan has appeared numerous times at French Quarter Fest, Satchmo SummerFest, the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival, the Penticton Jazz Festival in Canada, and the Potomac River Jazz Club in Washington, D.C., where he spent significant time after Hurricane Katrina.

As both a leader and sideman, his work has taken him throughout the United States and abroad, including tours and performances in Paraguay, Brazil, Mexico, Canada, France, Spain, and beyond. He also toured extensively with the Dukes of Dixieland and has opened for artists including Sam Butera, Keely Smith, Royal Crown Revue, Robert Cray, and many others.

Current Projects

Ryan is the leader of The Assunto Dukes Tribute, a traditional jazz band dedicated to preserving the musical legacy of Frank and Fred Assunto, the original leaders of the Dukes of Dixieland. The band is managed by Deano Assunto, son of Frank Assunto and nephew of Fred Assunto.

Ryan also appears regularly with The Catahoula Music Company, performing four nights a week under the leadership of tubist and pianist Danny Rubio. He is also a regular performer with Richard “Piano” Scott and the Twisty River Band.

Jazz Brunch & New Orleans Appearances

A fixture on the New Orleans jazz brunch scene for more than twenty years, Ryan has performed extensively in some of the city’s best-known restaurant settings, most notably the famous Court of Two Sisters. He can still be found occasionally performing Sunday jazz brunches at many of the finest restaurants in New Orleans.

Recordings

In 2002, Ryan released an album under his own name, Toulouse St. Blues. Although it has been some time since that release, he plans to pursue more personal recording projects in the future.

His more recent recording work includes appearances with Richard “Piano” Scott and the Twisty River Band on clarinet, soprano saxophone, C Melody Saxophone, and tenor saxophone.

Instrument Repair & Restoration

In addition to performing, Ryan has a deep interest in the instruments themselves. In his spare time, he collects, repairs, and restores vintage professional, intermediate, and student clarinets, providing a lower-cost alternative for clarinet enthusiasts who want to continue playing the instrument they love.

Availability & Endorsements

Ryan remains active in the New Orleans music scene and is available for recordings, festivals, concerts, private events, touring engagements, and special projects.

Ryan Burrage is an endorsing artist for Légère Reeds and JodyJazz Mouthpieces.