Solid, lyrical, and searching. Quite simply, this sums up the playing and composition style of Asheville-based bassist/composer, Bryan White. A graduate of UNC-Asheville’s Jazz Studies program and a 10 year veteran on upright and electric bass, White is a musician who has been on the move since his arrival in Asheville over 8 years ago. Fortunate to have fallen under the tutelage of like-minded peers and instructors, and also into a music scene rich in diversity and experimental qualities, Bryan has never been one to embrace any other musical vision, save for his own. An avid connoisseur of modern jazz greats such as Charlie Haden, Scott LaFaro, Bill Evans, Pat Metheny, Ben Monder, Chris Potter, Mark Turner, and others, Bryan’s sound has developed into a deep, rich, organic voice.
Working steadily as a freelance bassist with artists such as Bill Gerhardt, Frank Southecorvo, Taylor Davis, Sam Macy, Philip Whack, Chad Lawson, and many others, Bryan learned quickly how one must adapt to varying situations while still retaining one’s personal voice and vision. It has only helped that for over five years he worked with a steady trio that included guitarist Victor Walker and Ian Cunningham; a trio that developed a sound and reputation all its own in the Asheville area. Bryan continues the trio tradition with Cunningham in a new, exciting trio called “Done for the Evening”, with saxophonist Frank Southecorvo. In 2005 Bryan also had the privelige of working with L.A.-based guitarist Matthew Von Doran, and drummer Bill Berg, accompanying the guitarist on two dates as part of his Southeast tour in support of his release “In This Present Moment”. Additionally, Bryan recorded his first solo effort, “Alternate Similarities”, with NYC pianist Bill Gerhardt in 2004.
A southern born and bred bassist such as Bryan could not have easily escaped the rootsy, folk-infused sounds of the land surrounding him, and though he once rebelled against the overwhelming influence of country and folk music, Bryan has found it to be a welcome part of his musical upbringing and his current frame of mind. “I went through a period of time like many jazz musicians where I was a total jazz snob. I wouldn't listen to anything but jazz, and if other music didn't have some academic value to it, I wasn't going to listen to it. Thank God I grew out of it. I now see that those influences were the roadmap to a new approach to the bass for me, not just in jazz, but in every genre.”
Bryan's recent projects have included studio work for singer/songwriter Lyndsay Wojcik, continuing live dates and studio recordings with Brushfire, a local funk/bluegrass/jazz fusion group, and continue composition and performance with Ian Cunningham and sax player Frank Southecorvo in the “Done for the Evening” jazz trio. This trio is breaking new ground in the Asheville jazz arena by fronting a chord-less sound, relying on precise playing by both single-line players. Bryan's diversity makes him a valuable asset to the Asheville music community, and is available for work in various genres, live or in the studio.
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