Freddie Bryant Quartet: Monk and More featuring Ben Riley09:55AM / Friday, September 19, 2008
WILLIAMSTOWN - The Williams College Department of Music and African Studies present The Freddie Bryant Quartet who will perform on Saturday, Oct. 4, at 8 p.m. in Brooks-Rogers Recital Hall on the Williams College campus. There will be a pre-concert talk at 7 p.m. with drummer Ben Riley in the same space. These free events are open to the public.
This evening of music is a tribute to pianist and composer Thelonious Monk with whom Riley worked with in the 1960’s. The quartet features Ben Riley, drums; Don Braden, saxophone; Greg Ryan, bass; and Freddie Bryant, guitar.
There will be a screening of the award winning documentary "Straight, No Chaser" which follows Monk and his band (Ben included) on a tour during the height of Monk's career on Thursday, October 2 at 4:15pm in Brooks-Rogers Recital Hall.
Bryant currently works with Ben Riley’s Monk Legacy Septet and the Mingus Orchestra and has toured the world extensively performing in 41 countries to date. He is also on the first call list of many singers and Brazilian musicians because of his sensitive accompanying and his knowledge of Brazilian guitar. His has five CDs as a leader and has recorded and/or played with Tom Harrell, Steve Wilson, Kevin Hays, Eliane Elias, Dee Dee Bridgewater, Sheila Jordan, Randy Brecker, David Sanchez, and many others.
Ben Riley is one of the most respected drummers alive today. He has recorded on close to 300 records and has worked with Duke Ellington, Randy Weston, Mary Lou Williams, Earl "Fatha" Hines, Andrew Hill, Hank Jones, Barry Harris, Billy Taylor, Sarah Vaughn, Sonny Rollins, Woody Herman, Stan Getz, Johnny Griffin, Eddie "Lockjaw" Davis, Kenny Burrell, Jim Hall, and Clark Terry. He is the leader of the Monk Legacy Septet which released their debut CD in 2006-"Memories of T" (Concord Records).
Don Braden has toured the world with jazz greats Betty Carter, Wynton Marsalis, Tony Williams, Freddie Hubbard, Roy Haynes, and many others. He has recorded 14 CDs as a leader, nearly 50 as a sideman and was the musical director and composer for the Cosby Show. He is a noted educator, running the Litchfield Performing Arts program as well as the New Jersey Performing Arts Center. He teaches along with Freddie at the Prins Claus Conservatory in the Netherlands.
Greg Ryan has worked and recorded with Freddie for the last ten years. He has a number of CDs as a co-leader with Bennett Paster and their Afro-Cuban/Brazilian inspired ensemble, "Grupo Yanqui." He also had a long association with the master guitarist, Pat Martino and has worked with James Williams, Mulgrew Miller, Jim Hall, Benny Green, Billy Harper, Karrin Allyson, and Albert “Tootie” Heath, Lincoln Center Afro-Latin Jazz Orchestra, the Chico and Arturo O’Farrill Afro-Cuban Jazz Orchestras, Papo Vazquez, and Bobby Sanabria. |
