Meet Jason Ryu | Jazz Trombonist, Composer & Arranger

We had the good fortune of connecting with Jason Ryu and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Jason, have there been any changes in how you think about work-life balance?
My work life balance has stayed somewhat consistent over the 5 semesters here at Berklee. However, what I do in my free time changed drastically, and it definitely changed me as a person and a musician. I used to be an introvert who preferred to be in my room watching Netflix or work out in the gym alone. I obviously still spend time on my own doing what I like, but I began realizing the importance of socializing and building relationships. It wasn’t for the sake of doing it, but more for my own wellness and mental health. Especially since being in a relationship with my partner, I was more aware of the aspects of my personality that I hid from others and myself. Sometimes it does get a little busy during the semester and I had major burnouts at least once a semester. On top of school work, many brass players at music colleges would agree that people need you for everything: recordings, arranging class projects, rehearsals. Other trombonists look for subs to go to rehearsals, and even the subs they got will look for other subs because they had something else that came up. I learned the hard way that sometimes I had to say no to things. I also learned that it might look like I’m doing a lot and “living the life”, but I’m actually missing out on the valuable activities that make me a thinking individual who is centered and creating something that matters.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
I have multiple places I call home. I was born in Seoul, South Korea, but lived in Beijing, China for most of my teenage year up until I graduated high school. Living in Asia, I was constantly imagining myself in the US, dreaming of playing with the musicians I admire. It felt like I belonged wherever my musical interest led me. Currently, I am living in Boston attending Berklee College of Music as a Jazz Composition and Performance major. These “homes” that I value equally have each of their meanings: Seoul is my predetermined origin, Beijing is my background and influence. and Boston is the materialization of what I longed for, a new beginning away from my familiar surroundings. I am a trombonist, composer and arranger, and my 3 homes continue to influence what I create right now. I am a jazz trombonist, something I am working to become since middle school. In Beijing, I didn’t have a mentor in jazz. I had limited resources to start, but also no one who gave me the “right way” to start. I listened to whatever I liked, transcribed whatever solos I liked and formed personal connections to the music – something I missed when playing classical piano at age 7 in Korea. I expressed my passion to whoever was around me, and they somehow guided me to the direction I wanted to go. I was introduced to my first jazz trombone mentor Matt Roberts, and was a member of the BNBJO (Blue Note Beijing Jazz Orchestra), then a member of the Jazz Magic Cube Octet. That was when I also realized that true musicians are one of the most welcoming people, regardless of nationality, ability of a specific language, or age.
I am also performing Latin American music on the side, which is something I thought I would never do in my life. It was introduced by my professor at Berklee Angel Subero, who has been very supportive of me in learning the tradition and the musical vocabulary. Many students who come from that cultural heritage at Berklee were also some of the kindest souls I’ve met in Boston. They welcomed and celebrated my interest in a culture I was not a part of when growing up.
I am currently preparing a recital of my own that showcases my musical journey from the start of my Berklee life to the present. I am excited to be sharing my original music and playing them with the friends I love and trust. It will be my way of expressing the gratitude I have for the people that supported me in my 3 homes.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
I would definitely invite them to a dinner hang with all my friends in Boston. My partner loves to cook, and I am her sous chef whenever we invite friends over for dinner. It has been our way of showing appreciation for all our friends, and our way of just having fun and eating good food. Bebop and Wally’s are both amazing music venues that are not crazy expensive. A lot of amazing musicians I’ve met at Berklee often play at Wally’s so it would be a good way to support talented musicians while having a good time.
Eating out in Boston could be extremely dangerous and it’s likely that you check your account balance after a few dinners and then tell yourself that you won’t be eating out ever again. The most affordable place would be Shah’s Halal Food. Nice portion platters and cheap sides. When I’m desperate for something after I realize I forgot my lunchbox, I order a box of french fries for 3 bucks with the white sauce (shoutout to Jonas for telling me this) and it’s the best way to stay away from hunger before dinner without being broke!

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
There are so many people I met at Berklee that helped me find my identity as an individual during my time in Boston. My friends and mentors all deserve a shoutout from me and from a lot more people in their lives. The person with whom I spent the most time, out of all, is my partner Mikayla. We grew together as human beings and she constantly reminds me what the real, important things are in life. And so, my little shoutout goes to her!

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Image Credits
Paul Zhao, Andrew Choi