Ray Bryant

American jazz pianist and composer
Born December 24, 1931 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Died June 2, 2011 in New York City, New York.
As a pianist, Bryant was soulful and swinging and covered a wide range of genres from bop to blues, boogie woogie, gospel, and R&B.
His career began in the late 1940's while playing with Tiny Grimes. In 1951, he became house pianist at the Blue Note in Philadelphia, backing such visiting musicians such as Charlie Parker, Miles Davis, Lester Young and Dizzy Gillespie, remaining until 1953, and began to record as leader for Epic in 1955 (later for parent label Columbia in 1960 when signed by John Hammond), Prestige and Signature. In 1958 or 1959, he settled in New York. With The Ray Bryant Combo he also entered the R&B genre, backing Aretha Franklin on her debut for Columbia and releasing the Bryant co-written R&B hit "The Madison Time", later used in the "Hairspray" movies. As a composer he is also known for writing the jazz standard "Cubano Chant".
In the 1960s, Bryant released several albums of soul-jazz on the Cadet label. But his solo piano albums are among his best, containing interpretations of blues, gospel and standards, like the 1956 "Alone With The Blues" and the 1972 "Alone at Montreux".
His brothers were the bassist Tommy Bryant and Len Bryant, a drummer and singer. His nephews are Kevin Eubanks and Robin Eubanks.