Jazz trombonist Kevin Bryson is a performer, educator, and music technologist with experience performing and teaching internationally. He has performed at notable venues like the Grammy Awards, Avery Fischer Hall, The Adrienne Arsht Center, Yoshi’s Jazz Club, and the San Jose Jazz Festival. In addition to his performance career, Kevin has recorded or appeared as a sideman on projects featuring Cindy Lauper, Jennifer Hudson, Arturo Sandoval, Chucho Valvés, and recorded at world renowned studios like Abbey Road, Capitol Records, and Fantasy Studios.
Early on Kevin was drawn to the trombone because its close resemblance to the human voice enhances the instrument’s expressive capabilities. Influenced by jazz icons Duke Ellington and John Coltrane, Kevin’s own compositions pair simple melodies with complex harmonies and an underlying spiritual vitality. Drawing his inspiration from diverse sources in literature, poetry, philosophy, and personal life, Kevin’s composition and improvisation tell a story that fosters a deep connection with his audience.
As a music technologist Kevin has worked in sound design and product development. His sounds can be found on the award-winning sound modules Receptor and Muse Box which have been used around the world by major touring artists like The Muse, Paul McCartney, Coldplay, and the Goo Goo Dolls. Kevin has designed commissioned sounds and presets for bands like the Tubes, The December People, and the L’amour Band. Kevin’s creative projects with technology explore the mixture of electric and acoustic sounds, generative music, and interactive improvisation with computers.
Kevin recently received a doctorate in Instrumental Jazz Performance from University of Miami. His dissertation “Linear Chord Scale Analysis and Improvisation in Post-Bop Jazz Harmony” explores a new method for analyzing and exploring improvisation in the music of modern jazz pioneers like Herbie Hancock, Wayne Shorter, Chick Corea, and Woody Shaw. He has also earned a Masters of Music in jazz studies at the University of Southern California and Bachelor of Music in Jazz Performance and Music Synthesis from Berklee College of Music in 2008. Kevin is an endorsing artist for BAC trombones, and performs on a custom Paseo Trombone from BAC music.
Awards: Louis Armstrong Award for musical achievement, Lawrence and Alma Berk Award for the Superior Musician.