Paul Bryan (musician)
{{short description|American musician}}
{{Infobox musical artist
| name = Paul Bryan
| background = non_vocal_instrumentalist
| image = Paul Bryan .jpg
| image_size =
| caption =
| landscape = yes
| alias =
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1967|04|13}}
| birth_place = San Pedro, Los Angeles, California
| origin = United States
| partner = Emily Procter (2008–present)
| genre = Pop, rock, progressive, jazz
| occupation = Musician, songwriter, record producer
| instrument = Bass guitar
| years_active = 1990–present
| label =
| associated_acts = Aimee Mann, Elvis Costello, Lucinda Williams, Susanna Hoffs, Jeff Parker of Tortoise, Glen Phillips, Grant Lee Phillips
| website = {{URL|http://www.paulbryan.us/}}
}}
Paul Bryan (born April 13, 1967) is an American music producer, arranger, songwriter, and bassist. He is a longtime collaborator of the singer-songwriter Aimee Mann.{{Cite news |last=Mishkin |first=Kate |date=2025-01-25 |title=Los Angeles musicians lost homes, studios and instruments: ‘A part of you is gone’ |url=https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/jan/25/la-fires-musicians |access-date=2025-01-26 |work=The Guardian |language=en-GB |issn=0261-3077}}
Biography
=Music production and arranging=
Bryan produced four albums by the singer-songwriter Aimee Mann: One More Drifter in the Snow (SuperEgo Records, 2006), @#%&*! Smilers (SuperEgo Records, 2008), Charmer (SuperEgo Records, 2012) and 2017 Grammy winner Mental Illness (SuperEgo Records, 2017). He also produced Grant Lee Phillips' album Little Moon (Yep Roc Records, 2009), Amy Correia's You Go Your Way (2010),{{cite web|url=http://www.paulbryan.us |title=Paul Bryan |publisher=Paulbryan.us |date= |accessdate=2014-08-11}} the band The Both's self-titled album on Super Ego Records featuring Ted Leo and Aimee Mann,{{cite web|url=http://www.aimeemann.com |title=Aimee Mann |publisher=Aimee Mann |date= |accessdate=2014-08-11}} the Glen Phillips album Swallowed by the New{{Cite web|url=http://www.independent.com/news/2016/apr/25/deep-conversation-glen-phillips/|title=A Deep Conversation with Glen Phillips|website=www.independent.com|date=25 April 2016|access-date=2016-05-25}} (2015), Jennifer Gillespie's Cure For Dreaming[http://www.allmusic.com/album/cure-for-dreaming-mw0002909765/credits Cure For Dreaming] (2015), and tracks with Susanna Hoffs of The Bangles. He was also producer, bassist and mixer for Jeff Parker's 2015 record The New Breed{{Cite web|url=https://intlanthem.bandcamp.com/album/the-new-breed|title=The New Breed, by Jeff Parker|website=International Anthem|access-date=2016-05-25}} and its companion piece, 2020's Suite for Max Brown.
Bryan wrote the string and woodwind arrangements for Nina Nastasia's critically acclaimed album Outlaster (Fat Cat Records, 2010).
=Touring and session work=
Bryan is a longtime member and bassist of Aimee Mann's touring band. He toured with Lucinda Williams in 2006 and Elvis Costello/Allen Toussaint in 2007,{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-DG2ccYehtc |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211221/-DG2ccYehtc |archive-date=2021-12-21 |url-status=live|title=Elvis Costello en Terral 2007 |publisher=YouTube |date=2007-07-16 |accessdate=2014-08-11}}{{cbignore}} also appearing that year on Jimmy Kimmel Live! as backup to singer-songwriter Nick Lowe.{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H8VM8so2vwE |title=YouTube |publisher=YouTube |date= |accessdate=2014-08-11}}{{cbignore}}{{Dead Youtube links|date=February 2022}}
Bryan toured in 2017 and 2018 as a member of jazz guitarist Jeff Parker's New Breed band, and as a bassist and singer with Rufus Wainwright's All These Poses Tour in 2018 and 2019. He is also a member of Gerry Leonard's Spooky Ghost.
Bryan has recorded with Sam Phillips, Norah Jones, Billy Preston, Ann Peebles, Irma Thomas and Mavis Staples.{{cite web|url=http://www.paulbryan.us |title=Paul Bryan |publisher=Paulbryan.us |date= |accessdate=2014-08-11}}
=Solo work=
Bryan also released a solo album of lyric-driven songs, Handcuff King (The Bats Is Happy Records, 2004).[http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/paulbryan] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071017022334/http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/paulbryan|date=October 17, 2007}}
His 2020 self-release Cri$el Gems is a progressive jazz album co-produced by Jeff Parker of Tortoise.
In 2021 Bryan released A Better Ghost, a collaboration with saxophonist Dustin Laurenzi of Twin Talk and drummer/composer Jeremy Cunningham. Downbeat Magazine gave the album 4 stars. calling it a "moodily poetic and genre-bending jewel." Mojo magazine also gave the record 4 stars, calling it a "less-is-more triumph".
=Grammy Award=
Bryan received a 2017 Grammy as producer of Aimee Mann's Mental Illness, which won Best Folk Record.
=Personal life=
Bryan has been in a relationship with actress Emily Procter since 2008. On December 8, 2010, Procter gave birth to their daughter, Philippa Frances (called "Pippa").{{cite web |url=http://www.tvguide.com/News/Emily-Procter-Baby-1028122.aspx|title=Exclusive: CSI: Miami's Emily Procter Welcomes a Baby Girl|publisher=tvguide.com |accessdate=2010-01-20|date= 2010-01-20|author= Carita Rizzo}} Bryan lost his home and recording studio in the 2025 Palisades Fire.
Discography
=Solo albums=
- 2003: Handcuff King (The Bats Is Happy)
- 2020: Cri$el Gems (self-released)
- 2021: Dustin Laurenzi, Jeremy Cunningham, Paul Bryan – A Better Ghost (Northern Spy)
=With [[Aimee Mann]]=
- 2004: Live at St. Ann's Warehouse (SuperEgo) CD, DVD – bass, acoustic guitar, backing vocals
- 2005: The Forgotten Arm (V2) – bass, backing vocals
- 2006: One More Drifter in the Snow (SuperEgo) – producer, bass
- 2008: Fucking Smilers (SuperEgo) – producer, bass, backing vocals, horn arrangements
- 2012: Charmer (SuperEgo) – producer, bass, mellotron, backing vocals
- 2017: Mental Illness (SuperEgo) – producer, arranger, conductor, bass, vocals
=As producer=
- 1997: Carol Noonan Band – The Only Witness (Philo)
- 2000: Dennis Brennan – Rule No. 1 (Esca)
- 2001: Tess Wiley – Rainy Day Assembly (Effanel Music)
- 2002: Grey Eye Glances – A Little Voodoo (Sojourn Hill)
- 2002: Gerry Leonard – The Light Machine (Indie)
- 2004: Kenny White – Symphony in 16 Bars (Wildflower)
- 2006: Aimee Mann – One More Drifter In The Snow (Super Ego)
- 2008: Aimee Mann – @#%&*! Smilers (Super Ego)
- 2009: Grant Lee Phillips – Little Moon (YepRoc)
- 2009: Amy Correia – You Go Your Way (Indie)
- 2010: Nina Nastasia – Outlaster (Fat Cat)
- 2011: Gaby Moreno – Illustrated Songs (Indie)
- 2012: Aimee Mann – Charmer (Super Ego)
- 2012: Lindsay Fuller – You Anniversary (ATO)
- 2012: Tanita Tikaram – Can't Go Back (Eagle Rock Entertainment)
- 2014: The Both – The Both (SuperEgo)
- 2016: Jeff Parker – The New Breed (International Anthem)
- 2016: Jenny Gillespie – Cure for Dreaming (Narooma)
- 2016 Glen Phillips Swallowed by the New (Umami Music)
- 2016: Matt Mayhall – Tropes (Skirl)
- 2017: Aimee Mann – Mental Illness (Super Ego)
- 2020: Jeff Parker – Suite For Max Brown (International Anthem)
- 2020: Jeremy Cunningham – The Weather Up There (Northern Spy)
- 2020: Matt Mayhall – Fanatics (self-released)
- 2020: Josh Johnson – Freedom Exercise (Northern Spy)
- 2020: Typical Sisters – Love Beam mixed by
- 2021: Aimee Mann – Queens of the Summer Hotel (Super Ego)
- 2021: Susanna Hoffs – Bright Lights{{cite web|url=https://inreviewonline.com/2021/12/24/bright-lights/#:~:text=Bright%20Lights%20is%20a%20cohesive,to%20in%20their%20formative%20years|title=Susanna Hoffs - Bright Lights |publisher=Review Online|date=December 24, 2021|accessdate=August 23, 2023}}
=Also appears on=
- 1992: Duke Levine – Nobody's Home (Daring) – bass
- 1993: Albert Washington – Step It Up and Go (Iris Musique) – bass
- 1994: Duke Levine – Country Soul Guitar (Daring) – bass
- 1994: Jennifer Trynin – Cockamamie (Warner Bros.) – bass
- 1995: Mighty Sam McClain – Keep on Movin' (Audioquest) – bass
- 1999: Merrie Amsterburg – Season Of Rain (Zoë) – bass
- 1999: Catie Curtis – A Crash Course in Roses (Rykodisc) – organ, djembe, shaker, percussion, bass
- 2000: Merrie Amsterburg – Little Steps (Zoë) – bass, synthesizer, congas)
- 2000: Dennis Brennan – Rule No. 1 (Esca) – vocals, piano, chamberlin, percussion, bass, organ, horn arrangements, Optigan
- 2002: Dan Zanes and friends – Night Time! (Festival Five) – bass
- 2004: Eugene Ruffolo – The Hardest Easy (k5Oats Music) – bass
- 2005: Bettye LaVette – I've Got My Own Hell to Raise (ANTI-) – bass
- 2005: Susan Tedeschi – Hope and Desire (Verve Forecast) – bass
- 2005: Martha Wainwright – Martha Wainwright (Zoë) – bass, keyboards
- 2006: Norah Jones – Not Too Late (Blue Note) – keyboards on track 3, "The Sun Doesn't Like You"
- 2008: Kathleen Edwards – Asking for Flowers (Zoë) – bass
- 2009: Sam Phillips – Don't Do Anything (Indie) – bass
- 2010: Nina Nastasia – Outlaster (FatCat) – bass, string arrangements
- 2014: Jessica Fichot]l – Dear Shanghai (self-released) – Chamberlin, Mellotron
- 2016: Peter Wolf – A Cure for Loneliness (Concord) – bass on track 4, "How Do You Know"
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- {{URL|http://www.paulbryan.us/|Official website}}
- {{AllMusic | id= paul-bryan-mn0000150543 | label= Paul Bryan}}
- {{discogs artist|1821394-Paul-Bryan-2|Paul Bryan}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Bryan, Paul}}
Category:Songwriters from California