Musician. Born Raphael Homer Bryant, he was pianist and composer, noted for his ability to blend swing and blues into sophisticated harmonic modern jazz. As the house pianist at Philadelphia's Blue Note Club in the 1950s, he forged his style performing with jazz artists such as Sonny Rollins, Tiny Grimes, Charlie Parker, Lester Young, Miles Davis and many others. He later relocated to New York City, gained attention as a popular session man, was signed to Prestige records and released his first album "Django" (1957). He led his own series of trios through the 1960s and 1970s, touring the world performing at jazz festivals and continued to record. As a composer, he wrote such hit numbers as "Little Susie", "Cubano Chant," "The Madison Time" "Monkey Business" and "Alone with the Blues". During the 1980s to 1990s, he remained in peak form cutting albums to include "Here's Ray Bryant", "All Blues", "Potpourri" and the solo gem, "Solo Flight". His last works "Ray Bryant Plays the Complete Little Susie" was released in 2007. He died at age 79, after a long illness.
Musician. Born Raphael Homer Bryant, he was pianist and composer, noted for his ability to blend swing and blues into sophisticated harmonic modern jazz. As the house pianist at Philadelphia's Blue Note Club in the 1950s, he forged his style performing with jazz artists such as Sonny Rollins, Tiny Grimes, Charlie Parker, Lester Young, Miles Davis and many others. He later relocated to New York City, gained attention as a popular session man, was signed to Prestige records and released his first album "Django" (1957). He led his own series of trios through the 1960s and 1970s, touring the world performing at jazz festivals and continued to record. As a composer, he wrote such hit numbers as "Little Susie", "Cubano Chant," "The Madison Time" "Monkey Business" and "Alone with the Blues". During the 1980s to 1990s, he remained in peak form cutting albums to include "Here's Ray Bryant", "All Blues", "Potpourri" and the solo gem, "Solo Flight". His last works "Ray Bryant Plays the Complete Little Susie" was released in 2007. He died at age 79, after a long illness.
Bio by: John "J-Cat" Griffith
Advertisement
See more Bryant memorials in:
Explore more
Sponsored by Ancestry
Advertisement
