Freddie Bryant & Kaleidoscope

Freddie Bryant, guitarist, was born in New York City on December 30, 1964. Mr. Bryant’s comes from a family of musical talent. His mother Beatrice Rippy, a concert and opera singer, played “Bess” in the same production of “Porgy and Bess” as Cab Calloway. His father Carroll Hollister, a concert pianist, often accompanied vocalist Robert McFerrin Sr.

Freddie Bryant, guitarist, was born in New York City on December 30, 1964. Mr. Bryant’s comes from a family of musical talent. His mother Beatrice Rippy, a concert and opera singer, played “Bess” in the same production of “Porgy and Bess” as Cab Calloway. His father Carroll Hollister, a concert pianist, often accompanied vocalist Robert McFerrin Sr. His jazz and classical musical education began at the age of eight and continued through high school. He received private jazz instruction with guitarists Gene Bertoncini, Sal Salvador, and Ted Dunbar. His classical studies were with Phil de Fremery. In 1987, Mr. Bryant graduated Summa Cum Laude from Amherst College, then completed his graduate studies at Yale University with renowned classical guitarist Ben Verdery. Mr. Bryant has performed with Max Roach, Lonnie Smith, and guitar legend Kenny Burrell, recorded with D.D. Jackson, and was a member of Tom Harrell and Salif Keita’s groups. He released four cds as a leader including his most recent; Freddie Bryant and Kaleidoscope live at Smoke (2000). His groups have featured saxophonists including Ralph Moore, currently with The Jay Leno Tonight Show Band, David Sanchez, Don Braden and Vincent Herring. Other musicians include pianists Renee Rosnes, Johnny King, and Kevin Hays and trumpeter Randy Brecker as well as many others. Composing has always been an important part of his musical life, and accomplishments include writing the score for an independent film for Portuguese television. His classical performances have taken him to schools and churches throughout the country, including a solo piece for classical guitar at St. Patrick's Cathedral in New York City as well as the Franck Colleymore Hall in Barbados. In 2001, Mr. Bryant was the featured performer at the Kennedy Center with the Dr. Billy Taylor Trio, and is presently a faculty member at the Interplay Jazz Camp in Beverley, Massachusetts.

Andrew Eulau, bassist, received a bachelor of science in music with a concentration in jazz improvisation from Mercy College in New York and a master of music in doublebass performance from North Texas University College of Music. Mr. Eulau studied with Lyndon Christie, Eleanor Hancock, Jack Messing, and Ed Rainbow. He has performed as a sideman in France, Spain, Switzerland, South Korea, and Canada with musicians including Ralph Williams, Ray Barretto, Barbara Klap, John Nugent, and with the Glen Miller Orchestra. Mr. Eulau is featured on recordings with Anthony Braxton, John DePalma, Andy Biskin, Tim Newman, and Bill Charlap. He is presently an adjunct professor of jazz bass at New Jersey City University, a doublebass and bass instructor at Rutgers University, and a doublebass instructor at The Rudolf Steiner School.

Tom Aalfs, violinist, started playing professionally at age 14 at local festivals. He graduated from Berklee College of Music in Boston, and received a bachelor’s in education from the University of Massachusetts. He has led his own groups and has been featured as a sideman at numerous venues including the JVC Jazz Festival in New York, the Umbria Jazz Festival in Italy, the San Miguel de Allende Jazz Festival in Mexico, and the Pocono Jazz Festival in Pennsylvania. Mr. Aalfs is featured on three of Etta Jones’ CDs, At Last (1995), The Melody Lingers On (1997), and All the Way (1999). He leads a variety of workshops from grade school to college in many subjects including jazz improvisation, Latin percussion, and interactive poetry.

Willard Dyson, drummer, born in 1962, has played percussion since the fifth grade. In his teens, he received a scholarship to participate in the Young Musicians Program at the University of California at Berkeley. Mr. Willard earned a bachelor degree in percussion performance from California State Hayward University and a master degree in jazz and commercial music from the Manhattan School of Music in New York City. He works regularly with a diverse group of musicians including Regina Belle, Grady Tate, Jimmy Scott, The New York Voices, Dakota Staton and Cassandra Wilson. He plays New York clubs as well as various Broadway and Off-Broadway shows. Mr. Dyson has appeared on The Tonight Show, Soul Train, The Arsenio Hall Show, Good Morning America and BET, along with performances at the New Zealand, JVC, Playboy and Essence Music festivals.

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9/10/03: Freddie Bryant & Kaleidoscope

Freddie Bryant & Kaleidoscope kick off their Kennedy Center / Department of State Jazz Ambassador’s Fall 2003 Tour to Eurasia and the Caucuses. The group’s unique sound combines an eclectic blend of world rhythms with jazz, utilizing the unusual combination of violin, bass, and nylon and 12 string guitars.

Freddie Bryant & Kaleidoscope

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Freddie Bryant & Kaleidoscope

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