Brad Myers

Playing music since the age of 6, the remarkable composer/guitarist Brad Myers decided to pursue transcendence through jazz expression at the age of 13. And that purity of spirit and joy of creativity has been at the core of his artistry throughout his musical life. After more than 20 years as a much sought after sideman and co-directing a variety of acclaimed ensembles that crossed the boundaries of multiple musical genres, Brad has decided to emerge as a leader. The recent release of his critically acclaimed album Prime Numbers is a powerful first step. Featuring his quintet, comprised of musicians with whom he has been performing in various contexts for the past five years, Prime Numbers clearly demonstrates his enormous talents as both composer and guitarist.  

For the majority of musicians who possess Brad’s level of artistry, there is a tendency to move to a major city on either coast to develop their careers. But Brad went against the grain, leaving his home in the Washington D.C. area in 1994 and moving to Cincinnati to study Jazz Guitar with James E. Smith at the University of Cincinnati’s College-Conservatory of Music (CCM) on an Honors Scholarship. There he discovered not only a large number of outstanding musicians who shared his wide-ranging musical visions, but also a rich musical history. 
Embracing every opportunity that CCM offered him for his personal and artistic growth, Brad honed his skills in the diverse environments of musical theater pit orchestras, big bands, jazz combos and even as musical director of the short lived tribute to ‘80s country superstars, Alabama. In 1996, Brad made his first of many recordings, as featured soloist with Pat Harbison’s 2:00 Combo on the SeeBreeze release Lady Bird.
In 1998, Brad made a sharp left turn from the conservatory to professional life by joining Ray’s Music Exchange, a popular Cincinnati based funk jazz outfit famed for long energetic improvisational grooves, contributing as guitarist, composer and producer. Drawing upon such diverse inspirations as Miles Davis’ electric bands, Frank Zappa, Medeski, Martin & Wood, The Meters and John Zorn, this groundbreaking ensemble toured from coast to coast for the next 8 years. The group reunited in 2012 and Brad produced their live DVD, A Live Rayunion. 

In the years between, Brad continued to build his reputation and develop his skills with a wide array of ensembles in the Cincinnati/Dayton area. Among these were Aja, a 10-piece ensemble performing the music of Steely Dan; and Savoy Truffle focused upon the Beatles’ “Album Tracks” (with no Beatlemania-style paraphernalia). With the latter, Brad played bass, which also further informed and rounded out his solo guitar playing.
Over all these years, Brad has shared the stage with a variety of top names including John Scofield, Stanley Jordan, Victor Wooten, Bela Fleck & the Flecktones, Matt Wilson, the Cincinnati Pops and so many more. He was a featured guest soloist playing the "part" of Cal Collins in Nancy James and Carmen DeLeone’s A Salute to Rosemary Clooney. He performed with Pernell Santurnini in a live broadcast from the renowned percussionist’s native Curaçao, and recently recorded with Fareed Haque in a big band recording of pieces from the guitar great’s Garaj Mahal, and then premiering the music live with him at Dizzy’s Club Coca-Cola at Lincoln Center in NYC.
For all musicians who strive for the profound, Brad knows that education is a never-ending process. Combining his earliest studies on piano and switching to guitar at 10 under the early influence of The Beatles, Hendrix, Yes, Rush and the Allman Brothers; maturing under the later inspiration of Jim Hall, the Bill Evans Trio, Keith Jarrett, Metheny and Scofield; and catalyzing all of that with his own vast set of personal musical experience, Brad Myers is set to make his own powerful mark on the glorious legacy of jazz.
He already has planned his two follow-up projects after Prime Numbers. His next album will be a duo recording with friend, colleague and virtuoso bassist Mike Sharfe; and after that a classic organ trio album with Steve Schmidt. All of Brad’s focus speaks to his commitment to the highest principles and goals to which an artist can hope to aspire.
“Jazz music should be able to demonstrate that people of all stripes can come together to have a musical conversation and connect on a deep and meaningful level without any kind of negative confrontation…to truly come away from the experience with a deeper understanding and respect for the other person. No negativity – just a determination to understand one another and peacefully coexist in a connected way.”