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Featured Musician for March
There wasn’t money for music lessons, so Bryan found his way around musically playing pots, pans and cake tins. He can remember standing at a music store window dreaming over a His father recognized his desire for music and came to him with a proposition. The deal they made was that he would buy him his first drum set, a beginners set, if he would play for free on the weekends. As a 15 year old boy, he couldn’t think of a better way to follow the music that was in his heart and head. Self taught, he entertained on the weekends on the drums and was accompanied by a piano player who played on a piano which was donated by the 14th Century Gothic Church across the street. He remembers the stage was made of beer crates and covered in carpet remnants and the lighting was 100 watt bulbs in coffee cans. His father’s record collection was filled with groups and bands of that era but when he first heard Dave Brubeck, Duke Ellington and Count Basie, the seed was sown. He was hooked and 58 years later he still loves the music with a passion. Bryan arrived in New York City at the age of 21 aboard the QEI, (Queen Elizabeth I.) The ship docked at 23rd Street and with his 13 dollar shipboard Bingo winnings in his pocket, he walked directly to 52nd Street, to Bird Land. There, for two dollars, he listened to Dizzy Gillespie and Diana Washington singing with the band, the second bill for the night was Art Blakey and the Jazz Messengers, he had arrived at Mecca. To digress for a moment, his UK Passport listed his occupation as “Flea Trainer” as he had joined the Torp Flea Circus out of Tivoli Gardens, Copenhagen, Denmark, which afforded him passage to America…..but that is another story....... The Flea Circus worked Palisades Amusement Park in New Jersey for the summer season and then disbanded when his business partner ran off with the alligator lady who wrestled alligators in a glass aquarium. They went on to the Steel Pier in Atlantic City, NJ. He then moved to New York City, found a place to live in the Village and his musical life in America started to happen. He played, as any young musician would, in various bars, nightclubs and any gig that he could find. He had the good fortune while working a gig in Brooklyn to meet Bobby Leaman, the son of drumming great Cliff Leaman. He asked him if he knew of a girl named Dionne Warwick, he said no he didn’t. Bobby didn’t let that deter him because he liked Bryan's playing. He explained that he was her piano player and musical director and that she needed a drummer for her upcoming college concert dates. He asked Bryan to meet with him and Dionne to go through some music, and that next day he was asked to join her band. In the mid 1960’s he met Tony Williams in New Jersey at the Cliffton Tap Room where he was playing with Freddy Hubbard. This young cat was great. He asked him if he gave drum lessons and Tony asked him if he had a car with “4 on the floor”. They wound up trading drum lessons for driving lessons. Through their bartering he invited Bryan to his house in New York City, which was on the upper West Side. He knocked and who of all people but Miles Davis answered the door. To his total amazement, Tony was living and playing with Miles’ band. Tony was only 18 years old. It was through his friendship with Tony and his relationship as band member and house mate of Miles Davis that he got to know Ron Carter, Wayne Shorter, Herbie Hancock, and Philly Joe Jones. Once again another Mecca experience. Spending time with Tony, he came to realize what a great interest Tony had in classical music. He would have him listen to Bartok, Debussey and Schoenberg. He was a big fan of that music and later on in his career he became quite a composer, as well as one of the greatest drummers that ever lived. In the late 1960’s early 1970’s, his musical paths crossed with Carmen McCrea, Richie Cole, Joe Beck, Randy Brecker, David Sanborn and Roger Kellaway. Roger wrote the theme song for CBS’s All in the Family. Through the years he honed his skills with all sorts of nightclub and bar work and some recording sessions and festival gigs. Then in 1978 the phone rang and he was asked to do a gig in the Virgin Islands. It was to be a five week gig that lasted for seven years. He went to the Virgin Islands and settled into a great life. He sailed beautiful boats in the Caribbean during the day and at night played his gigs. Also living on the island was John Lucian who was a bassist and Herbi Hancock's favorite vocalist. He also played with Eddie Shu and Frank Vicari, who both played sax. It was like playing with Lockjaw Davis and Johnny Griffin. Frank had been with Maynard Ferguson, Eddie with Gene Krupa. Gene Krupa had been one of Bryan's boyhood idols. This lovely life lasted until roughly 1985 when Eddie passed away and things changed. Bryan left the Virgin Islands in September at Richie Ssometime in 1990 he happened to read an article in the Los Angles Times about Santa Fe, New Mexico. He remembers seeing a picture of Canyon Road with its restaurants and galleries and thought he needed to check that out. So he jumped into his RV with his drums packed and headed East for Santa Fe. He wasn’t in Santa Fe more than a few days, maybe a week when he met Bert Dalton. They struck up a musical friendship and within a week’s time, they had a gig at El Farol. Then the Hilton and the Picacho at the Radisson followed. Eventually they each put together their own separate bands and parted ways. Bert has held a steady gig at La Fonda for many years. Bryan had one of the longest running gigs at The Palace Restaurant on Saturday nights with his band; he played 8 years for Leno at that location. There were many a wonderful Saturday nights in that old red velvet barroom.
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After the Palace closed he found work a few blocks away, at the beautiful Spanish inspired El Meson Restaurant and Tapas Bar. He has had a regular gig there for roughly ten years now. Friday nights at El Meson is Jazz night with The Three Faces of Jazz. The trio consists of Rick Bowman on piano, Richard Snider on bass and Bryan on drums. Rick and Richard are great long standing friends but more importantly they are accomplished and fantastic musicians in their own right. Their trio brings in a guest artist each week to keep the music fresh. Over the years Steve Marcus, Richie Cole, Tony Cesarano, Bobby Shew, Dave Anderson, and Bruce Holmes have played with them. Sometimes there can be six faces up on the stage at El Meson! They receive wonderful support from the crowds that come which include a number of regulars. But the surprised looks on the tourist’s faces is always a treat. They don’t expect to find such fine and capable jazz musicians in this famous southwestern town. What Bryan has learned after all these years of playing with different bands and some of the greats: on the bandstand, the music is the star performer. As in all things, as well as in Jazz, lifting the bar a little higher and keeping the flame alive is what we try to do.
See EVENTS page! 
Three Faces of Jazz
Click on photos to see larger versions.
Bryan's recordings
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| © 2008 Irene Campos - All Rights Reserved | ||
Bryan was born in April 1937 in North London, England. At 18 years of age he was called up for national service and joined the Royal Air Force. While in Her Majesties service, he heard many great RAF musicians. It was during this time that he heard his first recording of Art Blakey and the Jazz Messengers, recorded at Bird Land in New York City. He knew then that’s where he needed to be, New York City. If it wasn’t for his father who worked double shifts driving a double-decker bus in North London, England during the War (WWII), he wouldn’t be talking to us today. His father's goal was to own a pub, a Public House. 
He started this enterprise in 1939 and worked until he was able to make a down payment on a pub in 1952. The name of the pub was “The Royal Exchange”. It was built in 1768. It held three bars and a music room which is where he got his start. The building still stands and is on the National Landmark list. It has been a continually operating Public House for over 200 years.
blue drum set with stars all over it. The proprietor would come out and tell him to “move along”. He would circle the block and come back for another look.
