Music
Press
“ With Beautiful World James Bryan makes his solo debut and it was an album worth waiting for…Bryan has created an energetic album that will have you turning up the volume in your car stereo without a second thought. Bryan takes our global village and remixes on it’s ear, surprising the listener with an imaginative blending of styles from African Folk to Brazilian Samba and crashing them head on with House, Dance, Pop, & Funk….This is one of those albums that make the summer’s day events have there own soundtrack and leaves a solid impression long after it has stop playing”… Rob Paul Canadian Music.
The prolific Bryan put out his solo debut, Beautiful World, last year. A highly melodic melange of his fluent jazz and bossa-inflected guitar stylings and house music elements, it comes strongly recommended. He somehow still found time to co-write and produce the Divine Brown smash “Old Skool Love” and start up a new management and production company UMI Entertainment. Kerry Doole Tandem Online
"The past year has also seen Bryan co-write and produce one of 2005’s biggest Canadian hits Divine Brown’s “Old Skool Love” as well as establish his new production & management company UMI Entertainment, which is about to launch new artists such as Gavin Bradley, Clifton David, Jesse Labelle & Tyler Kyte into the marketplace. Kerry Doole "Words & Music” Socan
The Garden city native’s dedicated pursuit of musical fusion has earned him commercial & critical success with both The Philosopher Kings and Prozzak, in the forms of Juno’s and hundreds of thousands of records sold…Bryans new project is a progressive mix of jazz and electronica woven around his own vibrant guitar melodies. Matthew Van Dongen “The Standard Spectrum” St. Catherines
With three major label releases this year alone, several successful production projects, and four very talented artists in development, James Bryan has achieved a very respected status in the Canadian music scene & beyond…Andrea Caldwell Klublife Magazine
“Now as they reunite for a national tour with there new album ‘Castles” they’ve achieve a respected status in their home country…There are certainly no more than six degrees separating the Kings from anyone who’s anyone in the Canadian Music Scene.. “ Mike Doherty - The National Post
“Each member of The Philosopher Kings went on to have exceptionally successful careers at songwriters, producers and solo artists. Not one courier in the bunch” Karen Bliss – Canadian Musician
“The result is a timeless soul album…. The 6 piece churns out a deftly played undercurrent of funk, pop and assorted grooves. ”Castles” is decidedly adult, exceptionally easy listening and very well crafted”. Karen Bliss – Canadian Musician
“Often groups reunite when the solo projects of it’s members flop, and they retreat to the safety of the proven brand name, Not so with The Philosopher Kings, as all five original members have gone on to write impressive and multi-platinum success stories as songwriters, musicians & producers. Kerry Doole Tandem Online
“Sweet, sexy and polished with being either prissy or pretentious, Castles is a welcome return from mid-90’s Canadian soul-pop stalwarts The Philosopher Kings…. They know how to make excellent pop music that sounds as good on the dance floor as it does on your iPod. Castles is a tasty bit of northern soul that clearly deserves all the attention it will soon be getting”. John Threlfall Monday Magazine
“Beautiful World is a polished effort. But it’s the world music influence that makes this a dance disc with a difference. John Terauds- The Toronto Star “What’s On”
“Bryans guitar work is exemplary, as is his keyboard prowess, but it’s his choice of singers that indicates he really knows what he is doing. Both Renee Wynter and Alessa breath sultry fire into the songs and allow Bryan to pull of a cover of Bizarre Love Triangle that doesn’t sound sappy” Brent Raynor- Now Magazine
- various
Discography
Beautiful World-2005(Blacksmith/Universal)
Photos
Bio
In the tradition of Santana, and George Benson, James Bryan commands the soul of the listener with his guitar, creating a sound at once fiery, passionate and soulful.. James is one of Canada's best-respected young guitarists, producers and songwriters, having penned over a dozen top 40 hits for various artists including Nelly Furtado , Fefe Dobson , and Divine brown. He is a member of multi platinum bands The Philosopher Kings and Prozzak and has played with a who's-who of the Canadian music community , but his solo debut Beautiful World is by any measure a major step. It's an album that at once embraces the world and introduces James to it.
Released in 2005 on Blacksmith/Universal , Beautiful World mixes jazz and house with latin and afrobeat influences to reveal James passion as a guitarist , songwriter and producer . His playing is beautifully melodic , creating solos that areboth captivating and memorable . The album also features several talented vocalists , including Gavin Bradley and Alessa , who are both signed to Bryans label , Umi Entertainment .
James Bryan founded Umi in 2005 to manage and produce emerging stars from the burgeoning Canadian scene, and also recently launched as a label with the debut release of Deep Freeze by singer/songwriter Gavin Bradley . James also found time to co-write and produce the number one hit Old Skool Love for Canadian soul diva Divine Brown, and regrouped with The Philosopher Kings to release Castles in The Sand ( Sonybmg ) , a top five hit across the country , as well as releasing a new Prozzak album , Cruel Cruel World ( Maple/Universal ) .
James shines as a live performer , playing jazz festivals across Canada, touring with funk legends Tower of Power, and eventually even opening up on the The Philosopher Kings national tour with his solo act.. James managed to win over his Philosopher Kings fans & sold numerous copies of Beautiful World in every city they played.
Keeping in tune with the diversity & drive that has made him a renowned & respected artist, Beautiful World is a window into many different musical influences of James Bryan. Energizing the room with his dynamic stage presence, Beautiful World comes alive with the help of soulful vocalist Alessa & a back up band consisting of some of Canada's finest players (including at times other Philosopher Kings) which is guaranteed to keep the vibe beautiful at each and every show.
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