Hot & Cool Jazz: The Ali Ryerson Quartet

Wilton Library is proud to welcome back to the Brubeck Room flutist Ali Ryerson and her quartet. Ali, one of today's leading jazz flutists, teams up with her world-class rhythm section: pianist Larry Ham, bassist Lou Pappas, and drummer Tom Melito. Longtime musical collaborators, Ryerson's quartet will present an exciting program of "reimagined" jazz standards (including Brubeck!), sensuous Brazilian melodies, beautiful ballads, even a touch of the Beatles. This is sure to be a very special afternoon of chamber jazz.

With a career spanning over five decades, jazz flutist Ali Ryerson consistently ranks among the top flutists in the prestigious Downbeat Jazz Poll. Born in 1952 in New York City, Ali grew up in a musical family. Her father, Art Ryerson, was a renowned jazz guitarist who got his start with the Paul Whiteman Orchestra and later became one of the first-call studio players in NYC, recording with everyone from Louis Armstrong to Charlie Parker to Elvis Presley. He was also the first electric guitarist to perform and tour with the Metropolitan Opera Orchestra of New York. Ms. Ryerson has carried on the family tradition, becoming an international touring/recording artist with performances ranging from Carnegie Hall and the Kennedy Center to the Blue Note (NY and Japan), with festival appearances worldwide.

Ryerson has released numerous albums as leader or co-leader on major US and European jazz labels and has recorded and performed with jazz greats such as Stephane Grappelli, Red Rodney, Roy Haynes, Hubert Laws, Art Farmer, Kenny Barron, Frank Wess, and Wynton Marsalis (a guest appearance with the Jazz at Lincoln Center Jazz Orchestra), as well as classical artists Julius Baker and Luciano Pavarotti (while principal flutist with the Monterey Bay Orchestra). Ryerson had a long-time collaboration with renowned jazz guitarist Joe Beck, with whom she toured and recorded for nearly a decade.

Ali conducts master classes worldwide and teaches an online series for Lessonface. As a composer, Ryerson’s works are published by Presser, ACR Music, Edition Kossack and Tetractys Publishing. Ms. Ryerson performs on her autograph series of flutes made by Gemeinhardt Instruments.

Hot & Cool Jazz is brought to you by the generosity of the Estate of James (Tom) and Alice Brown. Special thanks to Chris & Tish Brubeck. 

Advance registration strongly recommended. Register online or call 203-762-6334. Reception following the concert with CDs available for sale and signing. Suggested donation: $10: online donations can be made here. With our new registration system, you can sign up two attendees at the same time but they still need to be entered individually; please click on "Add Another" to register the second name. Pre-registrants should arrive by 3:50pm to be guaranteed seating; wait-listed and walk-in registrants will be admitted after 3:50pm if space is available.  Wilton Library, 137 Old Ridgefield Road, Wilton, CT www.wiltonlibrary.org