Rusty Bryant
Encyclopedia
Royal G. "Rusty" Bryant was an American jazz
tenor and alto saxophonist.
Bryant grew up in Columbus, Ohio
and became a fixture of the local jazz scene. He worked with Tiny Grimes
and Stomp Gordon before founding his own ensemble in 1951. He signed with Dot Records
in 1955 and released several albums as a leader in the second half of the 1950s. In 1952, his live recording "All Night Long", a faster version of "Night Train
", became a hit R&B single in the U.S..
Bryant's contract with Dot ended in 1957, and he returned to Columbus to do mostly local engagements, playing often with pianist-organist Hank Marr
. Nancy Wilson also sang in his group. It wasn't until his appearance on the 1968 Groove Holmes album That Healin' Feelin that he resurfaced beyond regional acclaim, and soon after he began leading dates for Prestige Records
. He recorded extensively for the label from 1969 through the middle of the 1970s, being a sideman with Ivan "Boogaloo Joe" Jones, Johnny Hammond Smith, Sonny Phillips
; his 1970 release Soul Liberation was his most commercially successful, reaching #35 on the U.S. Black Albums chart and #15 on the Top Jazz Albums chart. Bryant continued to record into the early 1980s, then returned to mostly local dates in Columbus. He died there in 1991.
Rusty Bryant was the father of Eric Royal Bryant (b. July 7, 1950 in Washington, D.C.) and pop singer Stevie Woods
(b. July 2, 1951 in Chatham, Virginia), who would enjoy a moderately successful recording career in the early '80s with the Top 40 hit songs "Steal the Night" and "Just Can't Win 'Em All."
Though they resemble and share the same surname, Rusty Bryant and jazz pianist Ray Bryant
are not related.
Jazz
Jazz is a musical style that originated at the beginning of the 20th century in African American communities in the Southern United States. It was born out of a mix of African and European music traditions. From its early development until the present, jazz has incorporated music from 19th and 20th...
tenor and alto saxophonist.
Bryant grew up in Columbus, Ohio
Columbus, Ohio
Columbus is the capital of and the largest city in the U.S. state of Ohio. The broader metropolitan area encompasses several counties and is the third largest in Ohio behind those of Cleveland and Cincinnati. Columbus is the third largest city in the American Midwest, and the fifteenth largest city...
and became a fixture of the local jazz scene. He worked with Tiny Grimes
Tiny Grimes
Lloyd "Tiny" Grimes was an American jazz and R&B guitarist. He was a member of the Art Tatum Trio from 1943 to 1944, was a backing musician on recording sessions, and later led his own bands, including a recording session with Charlie Parker...
and Stomp Gordon before founding his own ensemble in 1951. He signed with Dot Records
Dot Records
Dot Records was an American record label and company that was active between 1950 and 1977. It was founded by Randy Wood. In Gallatin, Tennessee, Wood had earlier started a mail order record shop, known for its radio ads on WLAC in Nashville and its R&B air personality Bill "Hoss" Allen...
in 1955 and released several albums as a leader in the second half of the 1950s. In 1952, his live recording "All Night Long", a faster version of "Night Train
Night Train (song)
"Night Train" is a twelve bar blues instrumental standard first recorded by Jimmy Forrest in 1951.-Origins and development:"Night Train" has a long and complicated history. The piece's opening riff was first recorded in 1940 by a small group led by Duke Ellington sideman Johnny Hodges under the...
", became a hit R&B single in the U.S..
Bryant's contract with Dot ended in 1957, and he returned to Columbus to do mostly local engagements, playing often with pianist-organist Hank Marr
Hank Marr
Hank Marr was a soul jazz and hard bop Hammond B3 organist and pianist born in Columbus, Ohio, probably best known for his many albums recorded under his own name for the Double-time record label....
. Nancy Wilson also sang in his group. It wasn't until his appearance on the 1968 Groove Holmes album That Healin' Feelin that he resurfaced beyond regional acclaim, and soon after he began leading dates for Prestige Records
Prestige Records
Prestige Records was a jazz record label founded in 1949 by Bob Weinstock. The company was located at 203 South Washington Avenue in Bergenfield, New Jersey, and recorded hundreds of albums by many of the leading jazz musicians of the day, sometimes issuing them under the names of several...
. He recorded extensively for the label from 1969 through the middle of the 1970s, being a sideman with Ivan "Boogaloo Joe" Jones, Johnny Hammond Smith, Sonny Phillips
Sonny Phillips
Sonny Phillips is an American jazz keyboardist. His primary instrument is electric organ but he often played piano....
; his 1970 release Soul Liberation was his most commercially successful, reaching #35 on the U.S. Black Albums chart and #15 on the Top Jazz Albums chart. Bryant continued to record into the early 1980s, then returned to mostly local dates in Columbus. He died there in 1991.
Rusty Bryant was the father of Eric Royal Bryant (b. July 7, 1950 in Washington, D.C.) and pop singer Stevie Woods
Stevie Woods (musician)
Joseph Stephen "Stevie" Woods, Jr. is an American R&B musician and recording artist. The son of Rusty Bryant, Woods saw brief stateside success as a singer in the early 1980s, scoring two Top 40 hits in the United States: "Steal the Night" and "Just Can't Win 'Em All." After his brief U.S...
(b. July 2, 1951 in Chatham, Virginia), who would enjoy a moderately successful recording career in the early '80s with the Top 40 hit songs "Steal the Night" and "Just Can't Win 'Em All."
Though they resemble and share the same surname, Rusty Bryant and jazz pianist Ray Bryant
Ray Bryant
Raphael Homer "Ray" Bryant was an American Jazz pianist and composer.-Biography:Born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Ray Bryant began playing the piano at the age of six, also performing on bass in junior High School...
are not related.
As leader
- America's Greatest Jazz (Dot RecordsDot RecordsDot Records was an American record label and company that was active between 1950 and 1977. It was founded by Randy Wood. In Gallatin, Tennessee, Wood had earlier started a mail order record shop, known for its radio ads on WLAC in Nashville and its R&B air personality Bill "Hoss" Allen...
, 1955) - All Night Long (Dot, 1956)
- Rusty Bryant Plays Jazzz (Dot, 1957)
- Rusty Bryant Returns (Prestige RecordsPrestige RecordsPrestige Records was a jazz record label founded in 1949 by Bob Weinstock. The company was located at 203 South Washington Avenue in Bergenfield, New Jersey, and recorded hundreds of albums by many of the leading jazz musicians of the day, sometimes issuing them under the names of several...
, 1969) - Night Train Now! (Prestige, 1969)
- Soul Liberation (Prestige, 1970)
- Fire-Eater (Prestige, 1971)
- Wildfire (Prestige, 1971)
- Friday Night Funk for Saturday Night Brothers (Prestige, 1972)
- For the Good Times (Prestige, 1973)
- Until It's Time for You to Go (Prestige, 1974)
- Rusty Rides Again! (Phoenix Records, 1980)
- With the Boss 4 (Phoenix, 1981)
As sideman
- Hank MarrHank MarrHank Marr was a soul jazz and hard bop Hammond B3 organist and pianist born in Columbus, Ohio, probably best known for his many albums recorded under his own name for the Double-time record label....
Latest teentime dance steps (King), 1962 - Hank MarrHank MarrHank Marr was a soul jazz and hard bop Hammond B3 organist and pianist born in Columbus, Ohio, probably best known for his many albums recorded under his own name for the Double-time record label....
Live at Club 502 (King), 1963 - Hank MarrHank MarrHank Marr was a soul jazz and hard bop Hammond B3 organist and pianist born in Columbus, Ohio, probably best known for his many albums recorded under his own name for the Double-time record label....
On and off stage (King), 1963 - Hank MarrHank MarrHank Marr was a soul jazz and hard bop Hammond B3 organist and pianist born in Columbus, Ohio, probably best known for his many albums recorded under his own name for the Double-time record label....
Sounds from the Marr-ket place (King), 1964 - Groove Holmes That healin' feelin' (Prestige), 1968
- Johnny "Hammond" Smith Soul talk (Prestige), 1969
- Ivan "Boogaloo Joe" Jones Boogaloo Joe (Prestige), 1969
- Johnny "Hammond" Smith Black feeling (Prestige), 1969
- Ivan "Boogaloo Joe" Jones Right on brother (Prestige), 1970
- Sonny PhillipsSonny PhillipsSonny Phillips is an American jazz keyboardist. His primary instrument is electric organ but he often played piano....
Black on black (Prestige), 1970 - Charles KynardCharles KynardCharles Kynard was an American soul jazz/acid jazz organist born in St. Louis, Missouri, probably better known for his album as leader on Reelin' With the Feelin for Prestige Records...
Wa-tu-wa-zui (Prestige), 1970 - Ivan "Boogaloo Joe" Jones Snake rhythm rock (Prestige), 1972
- Jimmy McGriffJimmy McGriffJames Harrell McGriff was an American hard bop and soul-jazz organist and organ trio bandleader who developed a distinctive style of playing the Hammond B-3 organ.-Early years and influences:...
The starting five (Milestone), 1986