Lenny Marcus - Sun Ray: A Tribute to Ray Bryant

"Sun Ray" is a tribute to one of my first piano teachers, my mentor, my friend, legendary jazz pianist Ray Bryant, who passed away in June, 2011. Teaching me how to develop a strong powerful left hand to compliment the right, Ray showed me some of his unique jazz and blues changes, the way to thicken jazz chords to get that "Ray Bryant sound.' I am delighted to dedicate this album to Ray Bryant, from his first song he wrote, "Minor Trouble," to "Gotta Travel On," the famous "Cubano Chant," and many others. This album mixes great Ray Bryant songs with some originals: "Sun Ray" was written for him, and "Downside Up" is a reverse melody of his famous "Threesome." "Little Susie" is for both him and my Mom, whose name happens to be Susie (she loved to joke that this song was written especially for her). There will never be another pianist quite like Ray Bryant. "Sun Ray" is for him, and for all of us who will never forget his wonderful music. It's blues. It's jazz. It swings! Lenny Marcus hails from Washington, DC, where he studied with Ray Bryant before moving to New Orleans, studying with Ellis Marsalis and Alvin Batiste. Marcus perfomed and recorded with some of New Orlean's greats, before relocating to Roanoke Virginia. His well schooled jazz piano trio is highly sought after for local, regional, and national gigs. He has played in several international jazz festivals including Barbados and Grenada, 3 New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festivals, and recorded with Sonny Fortune, Frank Foster, Charlie Byrd, Brian Lynch, Jane Powell, and many others. His music has been used in film and TV, and can be heard on the National Weather Channel's 'local on the 8's,' CNN's Heroes series, NPR's 'All Songs Considered.' His album 'The Jazz Of Beethoven' received much praise from CADENCE magazine, and JAZZ TIMES Magazine has called Marcus' unique jazz style 'infectious!' He has been compared to Vince Guaraldi, early Keith Jarrett, Mose Allison and Ray Bryant.