COMMENTS:

“Ryan has done his homework by studying the masters.
With this release he is ready for prime time."
David Liebman

"This is the next record everyone is going to be listening to.”
Steve Kortyka

“Ryan Devlin never ceases to amaze. He clearly has one foot planted masterfully in the past, and yet he is pushing the music, and what is possible on the horn into the future.”
Jack Tyler (Boston Sax Shop CEO)

“The thing that struck me was the intensity that they played with. It brought an aura of emotions that I only felt when listening to Coltrane's classic quartet.”
Rueben O.J Pompei

“Its electric, metaphorically, and literally.”
Randy Le

REVIEWS:

The fourth album by Ryan Devlin, one of the young promising saxophonists, is a tribute to the musicians he was inspired by. “Gonzo,” is a reference to Jerry Bergonzi, whom Ryan was taught by. There are three compositions by Steve Grossman, whose playing he emulates to the point of David Liebman saying, "If he were alive today, he would sound like Devlin."

In addition to two pieces related to John Coltrane, including the indispensable guide of every saxophonist, “Liberia” and “Soultrane” by Tadd Dameron, there are also compositions by bassist Thomas Milovac and drummer John Lumpkin, who accompany Devlin. Along with Anthony Aldissi's acoustic and electric pianos, they perform this beautiful repertoire with an acoustic approach and at a level of mastery that their emulators would be proud of (if they could hear them).
Dark Blue Notes

Ryan Devlin is a 25 year old saxophonist and private woodwind instructor living in Boston, Mass. Devlin started his musical journey with his father Scott Devlin who was the leader of the Walt Disney World Sax Quartet. Music was always in the house when Ryan was a child. Scott was always teaching lessons or practicing for his next gig. Ryan was immediately interested and asked his Dad to teach him saxophone around age 9, after playing piano for 3 years. Since then Ryan has been practicing, gigging and teaching everyday!

Ryan has been a member and featured soloist in ensembles such as The Florida All State Jazz band, The Orlando Philharmonic Orchestra, The Orlando Jazz Orchestra, The Seaworld Saxophone Quartet and the UCF Flying Horse Big Band just to name a few. Ryan is also the 2017 winner of the Central Florida Jazz Society and was runner up in the 2017 Bob Washington Jazz scholarship competition.

Ryan is currently attending the New England Conservatory where he is completing his masters degree under the direction of saxophonist Jerry Bergonzi. Ryan has also taken lessons with world class musicians Chad Lefkowitz Brown, Alain Bradette, Lucas Pino and Airmen of Note saxophonist Tedd Baker. Ryan has also performed with world class musicians like trumpeter Terell Stafford and Sean Jones. Noted saxophonists Dick Oatts, David Liebman, Jerry Bergonzi, Chad Lefkowitz Brown, Jerry Weldon and drummer Adam Nussbaum.

Living in Astoria, NY, Steve Kortyka is an accomplished mulit-instrumentalist, composer, educator and full time performer. He is a main member of the Brian Newman Quintet/Quartet, one of NYC's modern working bands holding multiple residencies throughout the city. Since graduating from the Cincinnati Conservatory of Music in 2004, he has been a full time performer and musical director in a wide variety of different settings including small group, big band and show band acts. 

Under his own name, Steve has released several albums as a band leader and continues to perform in a variety of groups throughout the NYC area and beyond. Although primarily a saxophonist, he is versatile on many different instruments and uses this knowledge to bring something truly unique to every collaboration. As a sideman Steve has recorded on hundreds of albums, most notably including his arranging work and improvised solos with the three time grammy award winning powerhouse duo: Lady Gaga and Tony Bennett. 

In 2019 the Brian Newman Band began an ongoing seasonal residency at the Nomad Hotel in Las Vegas. Being in the heart of the Las Vegas Strip, this has drawn the opportunity to share the stage with not only some of Las Vegas' finest performers, but touring titans like Terence Blanchard, Ashanti, Ronnie Foster, Robbie Krieger, Emily King, Tennessee Jet (of Willie Nelson), Tim Stewart (Lady Gaga/Rihanna), and Michael Lington (to name a few) and undoubtedly many more to come.

Steve exclusively plays Boston Sax Shop gear and is endorsed by Yamaha, Applied Microphone Technologies, Earthquaker Devices and Keyleaves.

REVIEWS:

Your group sounded fantastic. Every player brought something musical and different to the table. I could have listened for hours.
Aaron Jacobs (bassist)
Cafe Vivace, Cincinnati, Ohio
23 July 2022