Ray Bryant

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The blues-drenched jazz piano stylings of Ray Bryant have been part of the music scene since the early '50s, first in his hometown of Philadelphia, then New York City and the world. The brother of bassist Tommy Bryant, he is the uncle of guitarist Kevin Eubanks and trombonist Robin Eubanks.

Bryant, born Dec. 24, 1931, grew up in a musical family where his mother and sister played piano. He started playing bass in junior high school, then shifted to piano and worked with Tiny Grimes in the late '40s and the Billy Krechmer band (1951-'53) before becoming the house pianist at Philadelphia's Blue Note Club, where he backed Charlie Parker, Lester Young and Miles Davis. Bryant was the accompanist for Carmen McRae (1956-'57), worked the 1957 Newport Jazz Festival with Coleman Hawkins and Roy Eldridge and played with Jo Jones' trio in 1958.

After moving to New York City in 1959 and playing with Curtis Fuller, Sonny Rollins and Charlie Shavers, Bryant formed his own trio and has continued to work and record mostly in that format, with occasional sideman recordings with Rollins and others. His bluesy hits "Little Susie" and "Cubano Chant" have contributed to his popularity over the years, particularly in Toronto, where he worked frequently for many years. Among his numerous recordings for such labels as Cadet, Atlantic, Epic, Prestige and Columbia are such later recommended efforts as Trio Today and Golden Earrings (both on Emarcy).

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