Freddie Bryant’s latest recording project is his most intimate and his first complete album of solo guitar. Solo Bossa features 14 of his original compositions written over the last four decades. The title refers to bossa nova and many of the tracks have that classic feel made famous in the early 1960’s. The music takes the journey from bossa to samba as well as baiao, bolero, waltz and a sultry ballad-bossa in 7/4.

Solo Bossa was preceded by Upper West Side Love Story an epic song cycle featuring a nonet fronted by the acclaimed jazz singer, Carla Cook. It’s a double CD/90min with sixteen songs with his “passionate lyrics and colorful music.” (Carlo Wolff/Downbeat). It was featured in the NY Daily News and Downbeat listed it as “Best CDs of 2023.”  The all-star cast also includes Regina Carter on violin and saxophonists Donny McCaslin and Steve Wilson along with strings and a stellar rhythm section. Visit the website: https://upperwestsidelovestory.com/ for more info.

Freddie received a master’s degree in classical guitar from Yale School of Music and is in demand in the New York jazz and Brazilian scenes where he has worked with Eliane Elias, Tom Harrell and many others. He was a member of Ben Riley’s Monk Legacy Septet and has played with the Mingus Orchestra for two decades. He leads his own group, Kaleidoscope. His impressive array of guitar styles have been featured on numerous CDs showcasing his work on acoustic and electric guitars from jazz and blues to Brazilian, Latin and world rhythms.

His touring has brought him to 55 countries where he collaborated with musicians from a variety of backgrounds, including Indian classical musicians, African singers, oud players, traditional Arab groups and klezmer bands. In 2006, Bryant spent a week in Cuba, performing solo and working with other Cuban musicians. As an impassioned educator, he has taught jazz to all ages around the world and is on the faculties of Berklee College of Music in Boston and Prins Claus Conservatory in Groningen, Holland. 2017 saw the World premiere at the London Human Rights Watch Film Festival of Complicit with his music score. 

His other eight CDs include: Monk Restrung, celebrating the music of Thelonious Monk, Dreamscape: Solo, Duo, Trio featuring Chris Potter and Scott Colley, Live Grooves…Epic Tales with his band Kaleidoscope including Donny McCaslin and Yosvany Terry, Brazilian Rosewood, Boogaloo Brasileiro, Live at Smoke with Steve Wilson, Chris Cheek, Diego Urcola, Edward Simon, Edsel Gomez, Avishai Cohen and Jordi Rossy, Take Your Dance into Battle with Don Braden, Ira Coleman and Billy Drummond as well as Trio del Sol co-led with Misha Piatigorsky and Gilad.