Jim Ryan waited a long time to release his second album; 32 years. Slow cooking is always touted as the secret to good health and long life; yet during this time the pot was stirred by the experience of living. A noted career as an educator and administrator, performance of music on stages large and small, solo folk/roots events, full band Country, R&R and R&B shows, song circles and weddings. Along the way, more than three hundred original songs mirror the collection of recipes in the slow cooking handbook. Having grown up around a farm kitchen table with no empty chairs, please find a place to settle and enjoy these songs. I assure you you can get a second helping as "there's more where that come from!" It was particularly encouraging when Gurf Morlix responded to a demo of mine saying "good songs, reminded me a little of Townes Van Zandt, nice and relaxed". In the words of producer and picker extraordinaire J. P. Cormier "definitely on my Top 10 Songwriters List" and "people will wonder where has this guy been for the last 20 years?" The simple answer: working, playing, living & listening to John Prine, Kris Kristofferson, Steve Earle, Johnny Cash, Buck Owens, Merle Haggard, Vince Gill and of course Emmy Lou Harris. More recently under the influence of artists like The Derailers, Dale Watson, Chris Knight, James McMurtry, Hayes Carll, Corb Lund and Robert Earl Keen thanks largely to Outlaw Country on Satellite Radio. Can't wait to join 'em. Thanks for reading all this (there's more on the websites). Regarding the 'slow cooking' analogy, don't expect a recipe book. I'm a much better songwriter than chef.