Bryant's Trio, Unhurried and Warm
A relaxed, soulful set where Ray Bryant's trio swings through standards and originals with easy confidence.
Here's Ray Bryant, released on the Pablo label in 1976, finds pianist Ray Bryant in a straightforward trio setting, working through five standards and three originals. The rhythm section does much of the work here. George Duvivier on double bass gives the music its steady, walking foundation, and Grady Tate on drums keeps things loose without ever pushing too hard. Bryant's playing is bluesy and unfussy, leaning on the kind of relaxed swing he had been refining for years.
The material leans toward soulful interpretations rather than showpieces. Bryant tends to stretch familiar tunes without dressing them up, letting the groove carry the listener from one track to the next. AllMusic reviewer Scott Yanow described the set as relaxed and enjoyable, adding that it is not essential, and that assessment fits. This is a pleasant record for a listener already drawn to Bryant or to small-group postbop and hard bop, rather than a landmark.
For anyone new to Bryant, this is not the place to start; the earlier work with his own groups and the more celebrated sessions from his prime are better entry points. Here's Ray Bryant is for listeners who want an easygoing evening with a sharp rhythm section and a pianist who knows exactly what he likes.
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