Lance Bryant Biography

36 Harding Drive, South Orange NJ [email protected] - http://www.lancebryant.com/

Saxophonist and vocalist, Lance Bryant 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. 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. In 1990 Lance began his decade-long relationship with the Lionel Hampton Orchestra and in 1993 became the Orchestra's Musical Director and Principal Arranger. 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!, More recently Lance performed in the orchestra for the Broadway production of George C. Wolfe's "Shuffle Along ..." featuring Tony Award winner Audra MacDonald and the choreography of Savion Glover. Lance’s earliest musical experience was established while growing up in the Baptist Church. His connection with spirituality and music has endured. In 2002 he released Psalm, the first of four Cds featuring original songs, and jazz arrangements of hymns and Spirituals. Lance’s current performing and touring activity includes the New Lionel Hampton Big Band featuring Jason Marsalis as co-director, with South African pianist Abdullah Ibrahim and Ekaya, occasionally with the Count Basie Orchestra, as well as performing his own music in the New York/New Jersey area. While not touring Lance continues to serve on the faculty of the Jazz at Lincoln Center educational department in New York City.