RYAN MONRO

bassist

Ryan Monro is an Australian bassist, known for playing with Australian ska/jazz band The Cat Empire. He has been bassist for The Cat Empire since its inception and also plays in jazz trio “The Genie”, which includes fellow Cat Empire members, Ollie McGill on keyboards and Will Hull Brown on drums. His cousin is Shaun Taylor a farmer and chef.

Monro originally started playing guitar in grade 9 at Frankston High School but soon moved to electric bass. He later picked up double bass and after graduating from high school, attended the Victorian College of Arts. In late 1999, Monro met and began playing in a trio with Ollie McGill on keyboards and Felix Beibl on percussion and vocals. Calling themselves “The Cat Empire”, they started playing a wide variety of gigs in clubs like Dizzy’s and Bennett’s Lane in Melbourne. The band soon expanded in 2001 adding Harry James Angus  on trumpet , Will Hull-Brown on drums and Jamshid “Jumps” Khadiwala as a DJ.