Double Blindfold Test: Jim McNeely & Ryan Truesdell

DownBeat, 2022

During this year’s International Society of Jazz Arrangers and Composers symposium in Austin, Texas, celebrated jazz orchestrators Jim McNeely and Ryan Truesdell administered the DownBeat Blindfold Test to each other, onstage in front of a live audience. In advance of the event, each artist chose four tracks for his counterpart to identify over the course of the test, for a total of eight musical selections. The spirited exchange, effectively DownBeat’s first Double Blindfold Test, kicked off with a McNeely pick, followed by a Truesdell pick, alternating back-and-forth for the duration. Everyone at ISJAC — a friendly, hard-working and diverse community that is seeking to expand its membership — knows each other on a first-name basis.

Birth of the Cool: Back Where It All Begins

JazzTimes, 2020

Composer and arranger Ryan Truesdell re-examines the heady scene that gave birth to this undeniable classic from Miles Davis:

When an artist embarks on the creation of a new work, few have the ability to predict the impact the final product will have on the public or its effect on the culture at large. My teacher, Bob Brookmeyer, would often say that if you sit down with the intention to write the next masterpiece, you will inevitably encounter failure. Does every artist hope for their work to be considered a “masterpiece”? Of course. But in order for the work to evolve truthfully and organically, one must approach it with humility and trust, allowing it to develop as an expression of emotion or an exploration of a hypothesis. The work’s societal impact and significance is out of the artist’s hands—and will only be determined over time.

The Signature Sound of Gil Evans

DownBeat, 2016

Since the first time I listed to Porgy & Bess, Gil Evans’ celebrated collaboration with Miles Davis, Gil’s music has instilled in me a sense of awe, inspiration and, at time, utter confusion. For years I collected every album I could, trying to fill my ears with every note, sound and color Gil crated.

Artist’s Choice: Ryan Truesdell on the Hidden Gems of Gil Evans

JazzTimes, 2015

Many listeners’ knowledge of Gil Evans begins and ends with his collaborations with Miles Davis. With 25 years of music on either side of those historic albums, there is a wealth of Evans’ genius that is often overlooked. By delving into his music from before and after those seminal collaborations, including material for other artists, we can more fully appreciate the scope of his composing and arranging style. I hope these “hidden gems” inspire you to explore more of Gil Evans’ remarkable discography.