Gerry Bryant is a pianist, composer, and recording artist known for blending the structure of classical music with the spontaneity of jazz in a highly cinematic style. His compositions are noted in his bio for their emotional resonance and visual storytelling quality, often drawing comparisons to the “Third Stream” movement pioneered by composer Gunther Schuller, where classical and jazz traditions merge into a unified artistic language. Raised in Cleveland, Ohio, Bryant developed an early passion for music after encountering classical repertoire at the age of ten and composing original pieces by thirteen. His early work later refined his musical foundation at Phillips Academy Andover and Harvard University. His latest album makes a strong case for how some renditions were possibly meant to be in their original state.
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A World Of Happiness is a collection of instrumental remakes of various reimagined classic pop songs and “art songs” by historical Black classical music composers Florence Price and Magaret Bonds. This release stands out in the current landscape full of everything from recycled pop and rock to AI generated artistry. This is not your typical effort to cover some favorites; it’s more of a jazz class reimagining of great proportions, with some well added heritage.
A World Of Happiness captivates the listener and instantly takes you for a ride of different takes on these songs around the rest. The album kicks off with “That’s The Way Of The World” by Earth Wind & Fire, and it’s like an ear opening breath of fresh air from this remarkably brilliant piano-dominant version with an excellent intro to set it up and flow beautifully throughout. This comes with spectacular bits of bluesy sounding jazz guitar licks and piano notes sparring to a lovely effect, as it plays even more like a ballad.
“I, Too” is the next track, which credits Margeret Bonds and Langston Hughes, and this instrumental is complimented by strings with an amazingly commanding performance by all the musicians. It serves as a great prelude of sorts to the next track on the A World Of Happiness album. “All Day Music” by WAR, comes long next and really hits one out of the park with a big mouth harp homage, and some more absolutely brilliant lead piano on this rendition which comes off just as epic as the original in its own way. “Night” is another thing altogether; this one is credited to Florance Price and Loiuse B. Wallace, and it’s a less jazzy and more classical oriented number, with more breathtaking strings featured around the piano.
And there’s more piano where that came from on “Trees” with credits going to Oscar Rasbach and poet Joyce Kilmer, which goes the distance before “Soft” takes over, which is a smoking rendition of the Chuck Mangione song. And there’s even a number credited to Julia Fordham, “Happily Ever After” which is one of the more intricate piano pieces on the album. “Dream Variations” also credited to Bondi & Hughes, finds the album at one of its most exquisite points, before closing with Keith Jarrett’s “My Song” on a more a more folk-driven, earthy note.
Chadwick Easton