Ray Bryant
| Ray Bryant | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| Background information | |
| Birth name | Raphael Homer Bryant |
| Born | December 24, 1931 Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S. |
| Origin | Detroit, Michigan, U.S. |
| Died | June 2, 2011 (aged 79) New York City, U.S. |
| Genres | Jazz |
| Occupation(s) | Musician, composer |
| Instruments | Piano |
| Years active | 1940s–2000s |
Raphael Homer "Ray" Bryant (December 24, 1931 – June 2, 2011) was an American jazz pianist and composer.
Born in Philadelphia, Ray Bryant began playing the piano at the age of six, also performing on bass in junior high school. He turned professional before his age of majority. Bryant's brothers were the bass player Tommy Bryant (May 21, 1930 – March 1, 1982) and Len Bryant, who plays drums and is also a singer.
In 1948-49 Bryant toured with guitarist Tiny Grimes. He was house pianist at the Blue Note club in Philadelphia from 1953 to 1956, accompanying many other leading players such as Lester Young, Jo Jones, Charlie Parker, Miles Davis, and Sonny Stitt. He also played with Sonny Rollins, Melba Liston, and Coleman Hawkins, as well as singers Carmen McRae and Aretha Franklin. Bryant later resided in Detroit, Michigan. From the late 1950s, he led a trio, performing throughout the world, and also worked solo. He toured Europe regularly after appearing at the Montreux Jazz Festival in 1973. 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.
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.
...
Wikipedia