Ryan Devlin
About
Ryan Devlin is a saxophonist, educator, and bandleader based in Orlando, Florida. He holds a master's degree in Jazz Performance from the New England Conservatory, where he studied under Jerry Bergonzi and later served on the faculty as a substitute instructor. A member and featured soloist with the Grammy Award-winning 8-Bit Big Band, the Orlando Philharmonic Orchestra, and the Orlando Jazz Orchestra, he has performed at Smalls Jazz Club, Chris' Jazz Cafe, Scullers Jazz Club, The Rex in Toronto, and venues throughout North America. His recordings include A Series of Circumstances, a twin-tenor album with Steve Kortyka featuring bassist Gene Perla and drummer Adam Nussbaum, and The Shape of Light with his electric band. He won the 2017 Central Florida Jazz Society Scholarship Competition and currently serves as Executive Director of Jazz Lesson Videos.
Trivia
Devlin's father, Scott Devlin, was the leader of the Walt Disney World Sax Quartet, and it was from his father that Ryan first learned saxophone at age nine. His twin-tenor album A Series of Circumstances was inspired by Elvin Jones' Live at the Lighthouse and features Gene Perla, who played on the original Lighthouse sessions decades earlier. He has an active social media following of over 31,000 on Instagram, where he regularly posts transcriptions and instructional content.
Early Life
Ryan Devlin grew up in Orlando, Florida, in a household steeped in professional music. His father, Scott Devlin, led the Walt Disney World Sax Quartet and became Ryan's first saxophone teacher. Ryan began with piano around age six and played for three years before asking his father to teach him saxophone at age nine. He went on to perform with the Florida All State Jazz Band and won the Central Florida Jazz Society Scholarship Competition in 2017. He pursued private study with Chad Lefkowitz-Brown, Alain Bradette, Lucas Pino, and Tedd Baker of the Airmen of Note. He completed his master's degree in Jazz Performance at the New England Conservatory in 2023, studying under saxophonist Jerry Bergonzi.