Ray Bryant
From The Art and Popular Culture Encyclopedia
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Raphael Homer "Ray" Bryant (December 24, 1931 – June 2, 2011) was an American Jazz pianist and composer.
Born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Ray Bryant began playing the piano at the age of six, also performing on bass in junior High School. Turning professional before his age of majority, Bryant accompanied many other leading players such as Miles Davis, Sonny Rollins, Melba Liston, and Coleman Hawkins, as well as singers Carmen McRae and Aretha Franklin. From the late 1950s, he led a trio, performing throughout the world, and also worked solo. In addition, he was a noted Jazz composer, with well-known themes such as "Cubano Chant," "The Madison Time," "Monkey Business," and "Little Susie" to his credit.
The musicians Kevin Eubanks, Duane Eubanks, and Robin Eubanks are his nephews. His brothers are the bass player Tommy Bryant (May 21, 1930 – March 1, 1982) and Len Bryant, who plays drums and is also a singer. His niece Jennifer Bryant who is also Len Bryant's daughter is a singer songwriter and producer.
Both Tommy and Ray Bryant formed a trio with Oz Perkins as the back-up band for the off-Broadway run of the comedy show Cambridge Circus, at Square East in 1964. The show starred John Cleese, Bill Oddie, Tim Brooke-Taylor, David Hatch, Jo Kendall, Graham Chapman, Jonathan Lynn, and Jean Hart.
Discography
As leader
- The Ray Bryant Trio with Candido Camero, Kenny Clarke, Ike Isaacs, Osie Johnson, Jo Jones, Wyatt Reuther, Specs Wright, 1956
- Me and the Blues with Ike Isaacs, Specs Wright, 1957
- Alone with the Blues, Soloalbum, 1958
- Now's the Time with Tommy Bryant, Oliver Jackson, 1959
- Ray Bryant Plays, 1960
- Little Susie with Tommy Bryant, Gus Johnson, Eddie Locke, 1959
- Con Alma with A'nt Idy Harper, Arthur Harper, Bill Lee, Mickey Roker, 1960
- Groove House with Tommy Bryant, Bobby Donaldson, Panama Francis, Wally Richardson, 1963
- Cold Turkey with Ben Riley, Jimmy Rowser, 1964
- Ray Bryant Soul, Soloalbum, 1964
- Soul with Sonny Brown, Tommy Bryant, Walter Perkins, 1964
- Gotta Travel On with Walter Booker, Clark Terry, Freddie Waits, 1966
- The Ray Bryant Touch with Rudy Collins, Jimmy Rowser, 1967
- Take a Bryant Step, Soloalbum, 1967
- Up Above the Rock, 1968
- Sound Ray with Jimmy Rowser, Harold White, 1969
- Alone at Montreux [live], Soloalbum, 1972
- Hot Turkey with Panama Francis, Major Holley, 1975
- Here's Ray Bryant with George Duvivier, Grady Tate, 1976
- All Blues with Sam Jones, Grady Tate, 1978
- Potpourri with Mickey Roker, Jimmy Rowser, 1980
- Ray Bryant Trio Today with Rufus Reid, Freddie Waits, 1987
- Plays Basie & Ellington, 1987
- All Mine...And Yours with Winard Harper, Rufus Reid, 1989
- Ray's Tribute to His Jazz Piano Friends with Ray Drummond, Winard Harper, 1997
- Ray Bryant Meets Ray Brown,1999
- Ray Bryant : Somewhere in France, 2000
- North of the Border (live) with Harry Anderson, Winard Harper, 2001
- Plays the Complete Little Susie, 2007
As sideman
With Dizzy Gillespie, Sonny Rollins, Sonny Stitt
- Sonny Side Up (Verve, 1957)
With Clifford Jordan
- Cliff Jordan (Blue Note, 1957)
