Ray Bryant

Although he could generally play bop, Ray Bryant’s using combined jointly older elements (including blues, boogie-woogie, gospel, as well as stride) right into a distinctive, soulful, and swinging style; no-one performed “After Hours” that can compare with him. Younger sibling of bassist Tommy Bryant as well as the uncle of Kevin and Robin Eubanks (his sister is normally their mom), Bryant began his career using Tiny Grimes in the later ’40s. He became the home pianist on the Blue Take note in Philadelphia in 1953, where he supported traditional jazz greats (including Charlie Parker, Mls Davis, and Lester Youthful) and produced important connections. He followed Carmen McRae (1956-1957), documented with Coleman Hawkins and Roy Eldridge on the 1957 Newport Jazz Celebration (going for a excellent solo on a thrilling edition of “I CANNOT THINK THAT You’re deeply in love with Me”), and used Jo Jones’ trio (1958). Bryant resolved in NY in 1959; used Sonny Rollins, Charlie Shavers, and Curtis Fuller; and quickly had his personal trio. He previously a few cool commercial strikes (including “Small Susie” and “Cubano Chant”) that held him doing work for years. Bryant recorded frequently throughout his profession (especially for Epic, Prestige, Columbia, Sue, Cadet, Atlantic, Pablo, and Emarcy), as well as his times on electrical piano in the ’70s are usually rewarding. Nevertheless, Bryant was noticed at his greatest when playing the blues on unaccompanied acoustic piano. After an extended disease, Ray Bryant passed away in Queens, NY on June 2, 2011; he was 79 years of age.