Biography

"As For Me and My House", the latest release for saxophonist/vocalist Lance Bryant is his first collaborative endeavor with a record company and a sincere expression of faith. Along with world-class musicians Rick Germanson on piano, Marvin Sewell on guitar, Paul Samuels on drums and Kenny Davis on bass, the project also features the vocal talent of his wife Brigette, with their two children Jordan and Caylen helping on some background vocals. Brigette shares in the song writing and producing making it truly a family project.

Lance Bryant, who also composes and arranges, comes out of Markham, Illinois, a small town near Chicago. He received his formal music education at Berklee College of Music in Boston, MA, where he studied saxophone and, composition and arranging. Lance fostered musical relationships with fellow classmates, saxophonists Branford Marsalis and Greg Osby, drummer Marvin "Smitty" Smith, trumpeter Wallace Roney, pianist Cyrus Chestnut and other renowned musicians. After moving to New York City in the mid. 1980s, Lance continued his education, studying saxophone and arranging privately with Frank Foster, the former director of the Count Basie Orchestra. He also studied composition with Bruce Adolphe of Lincoln Center’s Chamber Music Society.

In 1990 Lance began his decade-long relationship with the Lionel Hampton Orchestra. In 1993, Lance became the Orchestra's Musical Director and Principal Arranger – a role in which he served for seven years. Lance also made his film debut in Spike Lee's Malcolm X and traveled extensively with Phyllis Hyman, Jon Hendricks, Pete "LaRocca" Sims, Wallace Roney, Abdulah Ibrahim, Bootsy Collins, James Williams and others.

In the early summer of 2000, Lance was selected as an on-stage musician for the Broadway production of the musical review Swing!. Lance shared the stage with Ann Hampton-Callaway, a veteran cabaret singer, and Everett Bradley as well as some of New York's top dancers for almost two years. Swing! received six Toni nominations and the self-titled cast album received a Grammy nomination for best musical recording.

Throughout his music career, Lance's talents as an arranger, composer, saxophonist or vocalist have been featured on many projects like: For the Love of Jazz on Mojazz Records (Lionel Hampton) on which he arranged a song for the late Tito Puente; Swingin' Live, Buddha Boogie and Settin’ The Pace, featuring the music of Frank Foster, on Swing46 Records for band leader George Gee; and Dem Bones and Simply Natural on MaxJazz Records for Carla Cook.

Recognizing the role that his spirituality plays in the creation and expression of his work, Lance uses every possible opportunity to fuse the message of God with his jazz performances. He has recently been Director of Instrumental Music at Fountain Baptist Church in Summit, NJ, and is currently Minister of Music at Andover Baptist Church in Andover, Mass. where he and his family are members and where is he committed to devoting his talent to the church. Lance continues to teach (New England Conservatory’s Community Collaborations Program), record and perform nationally and internationally.

Recorded in March 2001, his first CD, entitled Psalm, was released in October 2002 and was very well-received. His second project, called Testify!, a “jazz praise” CD was released in December 2002 and is also a favorite with his fans. His third project was recorded live in New York City at St. Peter's Church in May 2005, featuring Mulgrew Miller, Yoron Israel and Kenny Davis. This project, called Count it All Joy, was released in March 2006.