Bryant, Ray (Raphael)
Bryant, Ray (Raphael)
Bryant, Ray (Raphael), jazz pianist, composer; b. Philadelphia, Dec. 24, 1931. Bryant hails from a musical family; his older brother was jazz bassist Tommy (Thomas) Bryant (b. Philadelphia, May 21, 1930; d. there Jan. 1, 1982), and he is the uncle of Kevin and Robin Eubanks. He first worked with Tiny Grimes in the late 1940s, but made his first major impression on the jazz scene in 1953 when working as house bass player at Philadelphia’s Blue Note club, accompanying Miles Davis, Lester Young, and Charlie Parker on their performances. From 1956 to 1957, he accompanied Carmen McRae, while also freelancing with others. In 1959 he moved to N.Y., where he became house bassist for several small jazz labels, and began leading his own trio. He enjoyed some early 1960s hits with the jazzfunk numbers “Madison Time” and “Little Susie” He has continued to work primarily in a trio setting, while also doing sessions accompanying various other jazz musicians.
Discography
Meet Betty Carter and Ray Bryant Trio (1955); Ray Bryant Trio (1956); Alone with the Blues (1958); Little Susie (1959); Con Alma (I960); Madison Time (1960); Slow Freight (1966); Solo Flight (1976); Montreux ’77 (1977); Plays Basie and Ellington (1987); Ray Bryant Trio Today (1987); Ray Bryant Trio (1993).
—Lewis Porter