Press kit
My name is Bryan and I am the pianist, composer, and bandleader of the Bryan Simmons Trio. We are a Bay-Area based piano trio (piano, drums, bass) that specializes in traditional jazz which includes, but is not limited to, swing, bebop, hard bop, Latin jazz, cool jazz, and fusion. I am contacting you because we feel that your venue can benefit from our services. Attached to this email is our press kit that contains more information about our Trio. Please feel free to contact us for any bookings or questions.
Thank you for your time and I look forward to hearing from you.
Thank you for your time and I look forward to hearing from you.
About the trio
The Bryan Simmons Trio is a Piano trio that consists of all young professionals musicians under the age of 25. Each member of the trio brings a lot of fire, high energy, and sparseness to the music. The trio is a very exciting trio to watch. There influenced by various genres of music including Jazz, Latin, Afro Cuban, Hip Hop and Reggae. Main influences are Herbie Hancock, Wayne Shorter, The Bill Evans Trio, Tony Williams, Ron Carter and Oscar Peterson.
Bryan Simmons
Bryan Simmons was born in Vallejo, California and raised in a culturally rich community of music and musicians. Bryan was born into a family of musical talent and developed an ear for music. Church and gospel music has a big influence on Bryan’s playing and even his career as a pianist. Several local professional musicians in the Bay Area including Guy Artostuto, his first piano instructor and mentor, have also influenced Bryan as a musician; and also his College professors - Dr. Michael Zilber (saxophone); Erik Jekabson (trumpet); Jeff Marrs (drums); Sylvester Henderson (piano and voice); and Grammy award winning Trombonist and arranger Doug Beavers at Los Medanos College (Pittsburg Ca) where Bryan studies Jazz Theory, Composition, and Music Education. Bryan has begun to establish himself as an accomplished professional pianist in demand over the last two years - being spotted at various venues with a number of bands including the Jazz Cartel, The Quasar Quartet, The Adam Everett Trio, Tijay Star, and his own piano trio as well - The Bryan Simmons Trio. On a different note, Bryan enjoys his contribution to the community as Director of Music at Bright Futures, a Non Profit Growth and Development Center in El Sobrante, California.
Danny Gerz
Danny Gerz has been playing bass for over 9 years. Gerz plays both the acoustic and electric bass, and is a former student of guitar players Jay Shelby and Steve Homan. Gerz has studied at Solano Community College where he received three AA degrees, to in liberal arts and one in Music performance. He was also the principal bass player in both the day and night jazz big bands ran by Tim Acosta as well as the jazz combo bands for three years. While attending Solano he also played with he UC Davis jazz big band and combo bands for two years ran by Director/Composer Delber Bump. He currently majors in Jazz Studies at San Jose State, where he studies under bay area greats: John Shifflett, Wayne Wallace, Aaron Lington, and Frank Sumares.
Cairo McCockran
Cairo McCockranis an Oakland based
drummer/Jazz-percussionist. Cairo began his career in music as a member of E.W.
Wainwrights African Roots of Jazz Youth Drummers. Cairo later went on to study
music at the Berkeley Jazzschool under the instruction of such musicians as
John Yi, Paul Hanson, Kurt Moore, Glen Richman, Jeff Marrs, Ledisi, Wayne
Wallace, and Susan Muscarella.Cairo continued his
education at the California Maritime Academy where he earned a bachelor's
degree in Global Studies and Maritime Affairs. Cairo had the privilege of
continuing his studies in Jazz under the instruction of Dave Lefebvre while in
the CSUM Jazz Ensemble. Cairo has attended master classes/clinics with Elvin
Jones, Jeff Tain Watts, Trilok Gurtu, Steve Bowman, Peter Erskine,Billy Martin,
and Michael Morgan. Cairo currently plays with Steve Lucky and the Rhumbs Bums
featuring Ms. Carmen Getit, Quinn Deveaux and the Blue Beat Revue, Upwords
Movement, and the Bryan Simmons Trio.
