Not only is she delivering some excellent vocal performances and shining on the keys, but she wrote nearly half of this album’s material. Her playful, humorous vocal delivery is the main draw. “Life’s a ball,” she tells us, and she means it, and we should believe her.”

Notes on Jazz by Michael Doherty

 

 

“The late great Tony Bennett performed his final shows with Lady Gaga at Radio City Music Hall to celebrate his 95th birthday. After listening to the vigorous, still swingin’ like there’s no tomorrow 94-year-old jazz dynamo Betty Bryant on her aptly titled new album Lotta Livin’, there’s no doubt she’ll be breezing way past that mark and not catch her breath till maybe 100. So when she wraps with another standard, a sly reminder that she’s still got “A Lot of Livin’ To Do,” she’s winking at us, enticing us to follow along as she manifests just what that means as the years go by."

JW Vibe by Jonathan Widran

 

“Remarkably, Bryant displays age-defying light-hearted vitality, suggesting that she’s long from done. Retirement is not a word in her vocabulary just yet.” 

Making a Scene by Jim Hynes

 

 

“Bryant sings with a confidently sardonic style revealing her age, but not as a chronological measurement, as an experienced state of mind. She as it hip and fresh as a late Spring day, casting off phrases as if by some doomed Romantic poet. Her piano playing is right out of the school of Count Basie, spare and elegant. What a gift Betty Bryant has given listeners.” 

Wild Mercury Rhythm by C. Michael Bailey

 

“A lovely collection of material from a veteran who sounds fresh. Kansas City -born vocalist/pianist Betty Bryant is still going strong at 94. Bryant, or “Cool Miss B” as her peers refer to her, sings and plays the piano with a warm, distinctive style. Her vocals emerge sandy, often accompanied by a wink. 1950s jazz roots underlie her performance without being confining.”

Cabaret Scenes by Alix Cohen

 

“There are very few performers who are still active and vibrant at the age of 94, but pianist/vocalist Betty Bryant shows on Lotta Livin’that she is among the select few. Listening to the venerable Betty Bryant is not only enjoyable but inspirational.  It is often said that “age is only a number,” and Bryant makes the case here impressively!"

Jersey Jazz by Joe Lang

 

“Betty Bryant's voice, singing style, her own compositions and sumptuous arrangements truly show that her innate talent is combined with a deep love of life and vast life experience. What fantastic blues and classic jazz we can listen to on the album. Enjoy every moment! Her piano playing and singing are both effortlessly relaxed, "wink" style and reflect her blues roots. “

JazzMa (Hungary) by Zsuzsanna Hegedüs

Lotta Livin'

Betty Bryant

Betty's 14th album is getting rave reviews!

"We can hear the excitement in her voice, that zest for life....'Life's a ball," she tells us, and she means it." Michael Doherty's Music Log

"Remarkably, Bryant displays Read more

Betty's 14th album is getting rave reviews!

"We can hear the excitement in her voice, that zest for life....'Life's a ball," she tells us, and she means it." Michael Doherty's Music Log

"Remarkably, Bryant displays age-defying light-hearted vitality." Jim Hynes, Making a Scene

"Bryant sings with a confidently sardonic style revealing her age, but not as a chronological measurement, as an experienced state of mind. She's as hip and fresh as a late Spring day.." C Michael Bailey, Wild Mercury Rhythm

At 94, BETTY BRYANT is still going strong, and like the title of her new album, LOTTA LIVIN’, the beloved pianist, singer, and composer still has a whole lot of living to do. LOTTA LIVIN’ is Bryant’s 14th album. It follows her 2019 release Project 88, which celebrated her 88th birthday. JW Vibe said, “While Betty’s vocals are pure, charming and warmly inviting throughout, the true coolness comes from her compelling soloing and harmonizing on those 88s.”

Hipness is Bryant’s métier, and like her other albums and live performances, her piano playing and singing on LOTTA LIVIN’ is effortlessly cool and reflects her blues roots. Bryant has a long and storied career. Dubbed “Cool Miss B” by Robert Kyle in a 1997 song, the moniker has stuck with her for 25 years. She was mentored early on by the great Jay McShann. “Betty Bryant Day” was declared in Kansas City in 1987, and she was awarded the key to the city. A famous photograph of Betty with Jay McShann hangs in the lobby of the city’s American Jazz Museum and is included on the back of the CD booklet.

Bryant wrote four songs for LOTTA LIVIN’. A wordsmith with a predilection for the quirky and humorous, she was an art major in college, and her lyrics also have a strong visual sense. She also covers several standards, putting her own bluesy spin on them.

Despite her age, she hasn’t missed a beat. Rather, her singing and playing show the depth and assurance that comes when natural talent is enhanced by great experience.

BETTY BRYANT piano, vocals ROBERT KYLE tenor sax, flute, harmonica RICHARD SIMON acoustic bass KENNY ELLIOTT drums TONY GUERRERO trumpet (7, 9) HUSSAIN JIFFRY electric bass (8) KLEBER JORGE guitar YU “Big Poppa” OOKA guitar (7) KEVIN WINARD percussion (8) All arrangements by BETTY BRYANT except “Chicken Wings” and “A Lot of Livin’ to Do” by BETTY BRYANT and ROBERT KYLE and “The Very Thought of You“ by ROBERT KYLE Executive Producer ALAN EICHLER Produced by ROBERT KYLE

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