Jazz Singer Molly Ryan

Molly Ryan

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Molly in 1995 - Sacramento, CA

Twenty Two-year-old Molly Ryan is one of the brightest young stars shining in the world of Traditional Jazz today. Originally from Sacramento, California, she began her performing career at the age of three, dancing her way onto the stage in such shows as “The Nutcracker,” “Snow White” and “Babes in Toyland.” Molly began studying piano at the age of four. She has also studied violin, harp, harmonica, and flute.

Molly was introduced to jazz through her father, Richard, a sound engineer at the annual Sacramento Jazz Jubilee. In 1996, at the age of eleven, she made her jazz vocal debut at that event with the Reynolds Brothers Rhythm Rascals. In subsequent years she has also been featured with the Fulton Street Jazz Band and Big Mama Sue.

When family friend Bob Ringwald discovered Molly’s talent, he took her under his wing and began teaching her jazz standards. For six consecutive years, she attended the Sacramento Traditional Jazz Society’s youth camp. Since then, Molly has appeared with such prominent jazz artists as Abe Most, Bob Draga, Howard Alden, Jon-Erik Kellso, and Mark Shane.

In May of 2002 Molly recorded her debut CD, “Dream a Little Dream,” featuring Bob Ringwald on piano and Dan Levinson on clarinet and saxophone. After moving to New York City in August of 2003, she began singing regularly at Terra Blues in Greenwich Village. In January of this year, Molly took part in a spectacular re-creation of Benny Goodman’s Carnegie Hall jazz concert in Bridgewater, New Jersey. Last June she performed in the JVC Jazz Festival’s centennial tribute to Jimmy Dorsey at Birdland in New York City, with the Stan Rubin Orchestra. Molly has also appeared at the Hot Steamed Jazz Festival in Essex, Connecticut, the Orange County Classic Jazz Festival, and the Sweet and Hot Music Festival in Los Angeles.

Traditional Jazz Vocalist

mollyryan@musician.org