Category: Press Release
Bryant's WildLife set free
New CD release from jazz fusions artist celebrates diverse influences
Seattle WA - Imagine Billy Joel or Elton John opting for careers as keyboardists rather than pop vocalists. Their music might sound a lot like the music on WildLife, from indie fusion veteran Gary Paul Bryant.
Applying the rock energy of artists like Joel, John and Keith Emerson with lighter touches of Jazz and New Age artists like David Arkenstone and David Lanz, Bryant creates a unique blend of rock, pop jazz and world music that's very unique and appealing.
Thirteen new upbeat instrumentals that cross genres and generations are offered on Gary's 10th CD. Following on the heels of Big World, Legacy and Imaginary Piano, WildLife draws on a palette of influence that includes classical, world, rock and jazz.
There?s no question that the outdoors was on Bryant?s mind when he penned these tunes. Each title evokes a unique relationship with his love of the Pacific Northwest outdoors.
The title track WildLife lures you in with a somewhat warm, but tense new-age feel that explodes into jazz fusion within the first 90 seconds. The upbeat and pop rock cut One Cool Squirrel is definitely the most radio friendly tune in the collection while Raptor Ridge, Burning Hills and Storm on Sucia fuse traditional classical themes with metal rock.
Bryant has seen some success from previous releases. Imaginary Piano, released in May of 2005 included several tracks that still get considerable airplay. Flipside, from Imaginary Piano, went to #3 on the Jazz charts in Australia, while Deliberate Love went to the top 25 on the New Age charts. Big World, his last CD release, went to number 1 in the Jazz charts at Soundclick.com
Most of Gary's music is available on CD from a number of outlets including his own web site, GaryPaulBryant.com, CDBaby.com and others. Additionally, nearly all of his tracks are available for iPod and MP3 downloading from his website and other sites including iTunes.com, eMusic.com and Rhapsody.
Gary grew up in a small mill town in New England, demonstrating early on the eclectic mix of musical tastes and talents reflected in his work today.
By 13, he had taught himself piano, guitar, drums and accordion. He wrote and copyrighted his first song, Move Away, at the age of 15. His high school rock band won a number of 'battle of the bands' competitions which led to recording contracts.
After moving to the Northwest, he released one of the first Indie albums, titled Just a Word. Years later, in August 2004, Just a Word was digitally remastered and released as an anniversary edition. Patrick MacDonald, Seattle Times music critic, summed it up: "Exceptional piano work!"
In 2004 he released two CDs of instrumental music; Take Home Music and All of Us.
Gary's 2005 release, Imaginary Piano, a high-energy collection of jazz motifs, was released in May of 2005. He also released a short collection of original and classic Christmas solo piano music. Midnight Clear, which was released in October of 2005.
Also in September of 2006, he released Legacy, a twenty song CD which includes 5 new compositions and his best work from several previous releases.
Bryant's unique talent of melding power rock with jazz and classical music shines on his 2007 project, Big World. Within its first month of release, he'd received more than one hundred thousand streams and downloads, reaching the Number 1 Jazz spot at SoundClick.com, featured Jazz selection at Garageband.com and the top ten Jazz play list at Broadjam.com.
In August of 2008, Gary released WildLife, a 13 track world rock fusion release, his 10th CD. These new upbeat instrumentals cross genres and generations draw on a palette of influence that includes classical, world, rock and jazz elements. It's New-Age Smashing Pumpkins.
Squeezing Gary's music into a single genre has always been a challenge, New Age influences of David Lanz, George Winston and David Arkenstone are occasionally evident, but Gary's innate leanings towards Jazz Fusion and Prog Rock ala Yes, King Crimson, Blood Sweat & Tears is often evident.
Gary is a two time ASCAP award winner and is a member of the American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers (ASCAP) and The National Academy of Recording Arts & Sciences (NARAS).
