A PLACE FOR JAZZ CONCERT- ALI RYERSON QUARTET, 7 PM, NOVEMBER 13, SUNY Schenectady Community College
Nov 13, 2026: Ali Ryerson Quartet
With a career spanning five decades, jazz flutist Ali Ryerson has consistently ranked among the top flutists in the Downbeat Jazz Poll for well over a decade. Ali grew up in a musical family of her father, Art Ryerson, a renowned jazz guitarist who got his start with the Paul Whiteman Orchestra, and later became a top studio player in NYC, recording with everyone from Louis Armstrong, Erroll Garner, Charlie Parker, and Sarah Vaughan, to Frank Sinatra. Ali Ryerson has carried on the family tradition, becoming an international touring/recording artist, with performances ranging from Carnegie Hall and the Kennedy Center in Washington, DC, to the Blue Note (NYC and Japan), plus festival appearances worldwide. She has released over two dozen albums on major jazz labels, including her groundbreaking Jazz Flute Big Band released debut CD, Game Changer, that hit the ‘TOP 10’ on the US Jazz Charts for six straight weeks.
Ali has recorded and/or performed with jazz greats such as Red Rodney, Roy Haynes, Kenny Barron, Frank Wess, Hubert Laws, Stephane Grappelli, Harold Danko, Art Farmer, Mike Mainieri, Joe Beck, The Levin Brothers, and Gene Bertoncini, and a guest appearance with Wynton Marsalis and the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra. She has also performed with classical artists Julius Baker and Luciano Pavarotti (when she was principal flutist with the Monterey Bay Orchestra). Ali was musical director of the Hudson River Regional Jazz Festival (2001-’04), Jazz Chair for the National Flute Association, and founder of the NFA Jazz Flute Big Band. As an educator and author, Ryerson published the widely acclaimed “Jazz Flute Practice Method” and conducts master classes worldwide.
Ali, a classically trained musician, studied with Harold Bennett (principal flutist with the Metropolitan Opera Orchestra) and John Wion (principal flutist with the New York City Opera Orchestra). She has served as Jazz Chair and Low Flutes Chair for the National Flute Association, was the founder of the NFA Jazz Flute Big Band, and is currently NFA Program Chair for the 2023 National Flute convention in Phoenix. As an educator, Ryerson published her widely acclaimed book, Jazz Flute Practice Method, conducts master classes worldwide, and teaches an online series for Lessonface. As a composer, Ryerson’s works are published by Presser, Edition Kossack, and ACR Music. Ms. Ryerson is a Sankyo Artist.
Larry Ham, Pianist, composer, and arranger, is a veteran New York keyboard player. He began his professional career in the Lionel Hampton Orchestra in the late 80s, was pianist in the Illinois Jacquet Big Band 1990-95 and has worked extensively with countless other jazz legends, including the late Junior Cook and Dakota Staton. His recent New York appearances include Jazz at Lincoln Center, Carnegie Hall, Iridium, The Village Vanguard, Smalls, The Kitano Hotel, and Harlem’s historic Lenox Lounge.
Bassist Lou Pappas moved to the Hudson Valley after accepting a position with the West Point Band. He has kept a steady pace of performance with many groups in the New York area, and has performed with such jazz greats as Barney Kessel, Paquito D’Rivera, Ali Ryerson, Joe Lovano, Chris Flory, Dennis Mackrel, and Louis Bellson, along with vocalists Natalie Merchant and Veronica Nunn. He also is a regular member of many local orchestras, including the Hudson Valley Symphony, Taconic Opera Company, Woodstock Symphony Orchestra, and the symphonies of Albany, Ridgefield, and New Haven, CT.
Tom Melito has been a mainstay on the jazz scene for many years. His drumming has been heard behind such varied artists as Bucky Pizzarelli, Frank Wess, Harry Allen, “Sweets” Edison, Lew Soloff, Herb Ellis, Warren Vache, John Bunch, and Bill Watrous. Tom’s talents have been in demand internationally, having performed at most of the world’s largest jazz events including; the JVC, Montreal, and the Berne Jazz Festivals. His numerous television appearances include the CBS Early Show, Entertainment Tonight, and CNN World Beat. Melito has toured with noted singers Etta Jones, Kenny Rankin and Stacy Kent and continues to perform in NYC jazz clubs. Melito is an adjunct professor of music at Central Connecticut University, plays on Jerry Bergonzi’s CD play-along method, and is recording a series of jazz educational CDs for “Windplayer” magazine.
Event Links
Tickets: https://go.evvnt.com/3632703-0
Website: https://go.evvnt.com/3632703-2
