Daily Dose Of Jazz…

Thomas Bryant was born May 21, 1930 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and grew up in a musical family. His mother was a choir director, his brother Ray was a pianist, and another brother, Len Bryant, is a vocalist and drummer. He began playing bass at the age of 12 and played in many local outfits.

The late Forties saw Bryant join Elmer Snowden’s band, staying there until 1952, when he took a tour of duty during the Korean War. In 1956 he returned and formed his own trio, though he never recorded as a leader, he recorded seventeen albums as a sideman.

He is better known for his work with his brother Ray, as well as Jo Jones, Charlie Shavers, Roy Eldridge, Dizzy Gillespie, Barney Wilen, Benny Golson, Big Joe Turner, Hank Mobley, Curtis Fuller, Lee Morgan, Billy Root and Coleman Hawkins.

In the last ten years of his life he played in the follow-up band to The Ink Spots. Double bassist Tommy Bryant, who also recorded with Mahalia Jackson under the name Tom Bryant, transitioned on January 3, 1982.

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