Brad Myers (born December 25, 1975) is an American

jazz Jazz is a music genre that originated in the African-American communities of New Orleans, Louisiana in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, with its roots in blues and ragtime. Since the 1920s Jazz Age, it has been recognized as a m ...

composer and guitarist. With his music he aims to give a positive message to the world.

Biography

Myers started playing music at the age of 6. While first studying the piano, he switched to guitar at the age of 10. Then inspired by The Beatles, Jimi Hendrix, Yes, Rush and the Allman Brothers, his interest switched to jazz. Later inspirations for Myers include Jim Hall, the Bill Evans Trio, Keith Jarrett, Metheny and John Scofield. Until 1994, Myers lived in the Washington D.C. area. In 1994 he moved to Cincinnati, Ohio, to study jazz guitar with James E. Smith at the

University of Cincinnati – College-Conservatory of Music The University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music (CCM) is a performing and media arts college of the University of Cincinnati in Cincinnati, Ohio. Initially established as the Cincinnati Conservatory of Music in 1867, CCM is one of the ...

(CCM) on an Honors Scholarship. He returned to CCM in 2013 to pursue his formal studies; he received his master's degree in Jazz Studies in 2015.

Career

In 1998, while studying at the CCM, Myers made his first recordings, as featured soloist on the album ''Lady Bird'' by the Two O'Clock Combo (directed by Pat Harbison) and the CCM Jazz Ensemble (directed by Rick VanMatre). In the same year, Myers joined Ray's Music Exchange, a Cincinnati-based funk jazz outfit known for long energetic improvisational grooves. Ray's Music Exchange was inspired by artists like Miles Davis’ electric bands, Frank Zappa, Medeski, Martin & Wood, The Meters and John Zorn. Myers toured the US with Ray's Music Exchange from 1998 till 2006 and produced five full-length recordings with them. In 2010, when the group reunited, Myers produced their live DVD ''A Live Rayunion''. During his career, Myers shared the stage with artists like

John Scofield John Scofield (born December 26, 1951), sometimes referred to as "Sco", is an American guitarist and composer whose music over a long career has blended jazz, jazz fusion, funk, blues, soul and rock. He first came to mainstream attention in th ...

Stanley Jordan Stanley Jordan (born July 31, 1959) is an American jazz guitarist noted for his playing technique, which involves tapping his fingers on the fretboard of the guitar with both hands. Music career Jordan was born in Chicago, Illinois, United St ...

Victor Wooten Victor Lemonte Wooten (born September 11, 1964) is an American bassist, songwriter, and record producer. He has been the bassist for Béla Fleck and the Flecktones since the group's formation in 1988 and a member of the band SMV with two other ...

Béla Fleck Béla Anton Leoš Fleck (born July 10, 1958) is an American banjo player. An acclaimed virtuoso, he is an innovative and technically proficient pioneer and ambassador of the banjo, bringing the instrument from its bluegrass roots to jazz, classi ...

, Brian Charette and the

Cincinnati Pops Orchestra The Cincinnati Pops Orchestra is a pops orchestra based in Cincinnati, Ohio, United States, founded in 1977 out of the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra. Its members are also the members of the Cincinnati Symphony, and the Pops is managed by the same ...

. He also is a member of several ensembles, either as a guitarist and/or co-director, including The Midwestern Swing, The David McDonnell Group, The Fraid Knots (with Jacklyn Chitwood), and Aja - Steely Dan Tribute. Since 2010, Myers is a member of Steve Schmidt's Organ Trio based in Cincinnati. In April 2012, Myers played the role of Jim (vocals, guitar, mandolin) in ''

Pump Boys and Dinettes ''Pump Boys and Dinettes'' is a musical written by a performance group of the same name. The group, Pump Boys and Dinettes, consists of John Foley, Mark Hardwick, Debra Monk, Cass Morgan, John Schimmel and Jim Wann. The members directed and star ...

'' at The Carnegie Theater. In the same year, Myers was a featured guest soloist playing the part of Cal Collins in Nancy James and Carmen DeLeone's ''A Salute to Rosemary Clooney''. Myers debuted as a leader on the 2015 album ''Prime Numbers''. The album received positive reviews from critics, including a 4 star review from jazz magazine

Down Beat ' (styled in all caps) is an American music magazine devoted to "jazz, blues and beyond", the last word indicating its expansion beyond the jazz realm which it covered exclusively in previous years. The publication was established in 1934 in Chi ...

.Down Beat - ''Prime Numbers'' review
/ref> In 2017, Myers released an album with bassist Michael Sharfe, ''Sanguinaria (Hopefulsongs)''.

Select discography

References

External links

Brad Myers Official Website
{{DEFAULTSORT:Myers, Brad University of Cincinnati – College-Conservatory of Music alumni Living people 1975 births Guitarists from Washington, D.C. Guitarists from Ohio American male guitarists 21st-century American guitarists 21st-century American male musicians