Bryan Austin aka Austin Bryant: Press

You know me. I know you. We know each other. But when we were kids, I didn't know you had all this talent in you. I know it now and hopefully everyone else will too. keep on doing your thing. Eric

Subject: Moments in Time


Good Morning Bryan,
It is true, you do get better with age. I have not seen you perform in awhile, so to have had the opportunity to see you again was a pleasure. Keep doing the things God directs you to do.
Tyrone Cain

Austin,
I listened to your Gospel cut. It was uplifting and very very tight.
Keep moving.
You're blessed. Robert

"Bryan Austin, is one of the most refreshing, soulful gospel singers, I
have had the pleasure of listening to. His version of "His eye is on
the Sparrow", all I can say is WOW. He presents songs, that you have
heard before, in a style that turns the ordinary into, "Ear Candy". It
makes you want to sing along."

A well rounded CD beginning with a prayer from the able Rev. Vernon P Howard to start the album on its way, then Bryan Austin picked it up with some great songs.

His Eyes Are On The Sparrow - Mellow, angelic and realistic.

Thank you Lord - Rhythmic, powerful lyrics and wonderful vocals.

The Lord's Prayer - Always a favorite that Bryan more than hold his own vocally with a together background.

Every song is competitive and especially good for those who wish to meditate with the Maker and comfort their spirits. The Music Is Awesome!

My personal rating from 1-10 is 9.

This CD contains the old favorite gospel songs that have stood the test of time. The older generation will remember them and the new generation will love aquainting themselves to the mellow and refreshing sound of the songs with Bryan Austin's voice and his three plus octave range. This is a sit back, relax and reflect, CD that puts you in touch with your God.

BRYAN AUSTIN

Bryan has a dream. Actually he has so many dreams that you could call him a full-time dreamer in music. How else do you explain that his first album on his own Art-Tist Records was called Still Dreaming, the second one was titled Can’t Stop Dreaming and now this latest one is named Thankful For The Dream?

In reality Bryan with his 3 ½ octave range is a highly competent singer and capable of creating captivating music, which, mind you, can make a listener dream. Thankful For The Dream is Bryan’s first inspirational set – you can purchase it onwww.cdbaby.com/bryanaustin3 - with a choir backing him up on many tracks and with quite skilful programming throughout and even with some real instruments in the mix.

Following the opening sermon by Bryan’s personal pastor, Rev. Vernon P. Howard, there’s a vocally fascinating and truly touching version of His Eye Is On The Sparrow. Thank You, Lord – lyrics by Bryan himself – is a swaying slowie, whereasCenter Of My Joy is a devout, melodic hymn. The Old Rugged Cross and What A Friend We Have In Jesus are in the same bag, while The Lord’s Prayer and Bridge Over Troubled Water lift the intensity still a step higher. Jesus Is The Answer is a like a sophisticated 70s soul ballad.

Bryan’s music is thoroughly soothing and beautiful and ideal to those, who like their gospel slow and intimate; or just wish to enjoy classy singing.

I make no apologies—I’m pretty much ol’ school when it comes to soul, R&B and blues. I grew up in a time singers sounded and acted like singers instead of runway models. True, I listen to my fair share of modern stuff, hip hop, some pop and rock, even a fair share of “alternative” country such as The Court & Spark and Wilco, but when it comes to soul, R&B or blues, make mine ol’ school! Give me some folks who really know how to sing and not just moan through their nasal passages.

For a long time, I thought real soul singing was a lost art, but in recent months, I’ve had a number of very pleasant surprises—most recently in the form of a killer four-song EP by St. Louis native Bryan Austin.

I’ve been familiar with Austin’s work for a number of years now, thanks primarily to some stunning demos that came my way via soul songwriting legend and performer Frank-O Johnson and an album of classic soul covers released by Austin several years ago. Needless to say, I was very impressed. After all, how many singers today have the wherewithal—and talent—to stand up and blow convincingly through an Eddie Kendricks classic without fumbling? Austin can. Like the Motown icon, Austin is blessed with a high, silky smooth voice—maybe not quite as high as Kendricks’ but, in some ways (allow me to be a bit blasphemous here) maybe a bit smoother and, dare I say it, even more natural. Austin is the type of singer who could have stepped in front of a lot of groups back in the day, the Delfonics or Stylistics for instance. But, he’s also got tremendous depth. As sweet as his voice is, he easily wrangles some rock-shattering power out of it without losing one bit of the phenomenal control that puts him among the top ranks of today’s soul singers. Austin embodies the best of what made soul the music of choice in the genre’s golden age of the past, but the good thing is, he’s here today, doing it in fine fashion.

Austin starts off this little teaser of a set with “Inflation Wolf,” a politically, timely piece about a fairy tale monster come alive. It’s the big bad wolf himself in the garb of inflation. Austin has composed a set of clever, biting lyrics:

“The wolf is at my door, huffing and puffing at me/I went to my friends for help/They didn’t have a dime to spare… If I can’t afford to the music/How and the heck am I going to dance?/With that wolf/The inflation wolf is around my door… He’s the meanest critter I’ve ever seen.”

And, if the opening growl of the wolf doesn’t scare you, the groove, which is one of the nastiest funk outings you’ll ever hear, certainly will. Devastating bass and wailing wah-wah guitars with a wicked clavinet and a punchy horn arrangement will get your heart pumping hard. Look for this to be the title track on Austin’s next full length album.

Austin follows up with “Yearnin’,” a tune he says he wrote in the late ’80s. Maybe it’s just a touch of nostalgia, but this one sounds like something the late Rick James would have killed to get on his classic “Street Songs” album. Again, it’s a mean funk groove, this time punctuated by a razor sharp clean rhythm guitar. Austin, of course, sings his tail off, as he always does.

He chooses an Ashford and Simpson classic, “Shoe Shine,” for the next track. A lovely little ballad, it’s a perfect showcase for the singer’s tender side. And, he excels here, giving the old song a fresh, but proper reading. The arrangement is also sweet.

Austin closes the set with another classic, a funky dance reworking of the Eddie Floyd hit, “Knock On Wood,” funking it up for a modern audience but without damaging the integrity the tune. It’s another great vehicle for his talents and, in his hands, is the kind of tune that could turn out the house during a live gig.

Well, the only thing I can do now is sit back and wait for the full-length version of this album, which is certain to be a monster—and hope that ol’ inflation wolf stays at bay so I can afford to pick up a copy and dance to some great singing and music by a true soulster.

New Music News on the Scene

On The Scene is Music from Bryan Austin

A very fine voices that has a range you would not believe the Album just in to The Block Party Can't Stop Dreaming The Best of Bryan Austin and It just doesn't get any better. The CD has so Classic remakes on it but with Bryan's smooth
voice belting out a different silk-like style. My favorite on the CD Shoe - Shoe Shine take me back to a time that now I wish I could go back to after listening to his unmistable style. But like everything you can only go back in your mind.Also the first track ,The INTERVIEW is one that Bryan Show Must
Love to a Good,Good Friend of mine and his and I say that
because in this world you do NOT run in to many True Friends .
And M J Rasool was just that he's gone from us but not forgotten

BRYAN AUSTIN
Can¹t Stop Dreaming
(US Art-Tist un-numbered)

Interview; You Make Me Feel Brand New; Inflation Wolf; Yearnin¹; The Girl¹s Alright With Me; My Love; Knock On Wood (+ reprise); Aria; Shoe Shoe Shine; The Bump; I¹ll Love You Tomorrow


This is sub-titled ŒBest Of...¹, doubtless because it reprises the deftly-arranged, tuneful ballads, ŒMy Love¹ and ŒI¹ll Love You Tomorrow¹, plus the forceful, funky dancer, ŒThe Bump¹ from his ŒStill Dreamin¹¹ set of 2000. Bryan never shies away from covers and he can afford to be confident in their making; his falsetto treatment of the Dynamic Superiors¹ ŒShoe Shoe Shine¹ is taking off on US radio stations and has received commendation from the song¹s composers, Nickolas Ashford and Valerie Simpson. It¹s definitely a personal highlight. The arrangement of the Stylistics¹ ŒYou Make Me Feel Brand New¹, brought very much up-to-date and on which Austin takes on the voices of all group members, is to be particularly commended, especially the thundrous opening, which rather shoots me in the foot for my consistent, negative comments about programming! There¹s a further cover in a reverent take on the Temptations¹ ŒThe Girls Alright With Me¹ and it¹s only with the two cuts of ŒKnock On Wood¹ - one with Oliver Sain on sax - that I think the arranger tries too hard to be different and ultimately creates a mess. The funky, sound-effect packed ŒInflation Wolf¹ is another cut that has found enormous favour with US radio stations and ŒYearnin¹¹ too keeps things hard-hitting. Two less than one-minute tracks also feature here: the opener, ŒInterview¹, introduces Bryan via Nashville¹s WFSK radio but ŒAria¹, an excerpt from a recital at the St. Louis Conservatory for the Arts, seems totally out of place here.

New Reports ... Jan 28, 2005




P S R RADIO NETWORK

Ft. Wayne, IN

Frank-O Soul Show

1. Inflation Wolf Bryan Austin

2. Lollipop Anthony Watson

3. Jealous Friends Tenry Johns

4. Shouldve Been Archie Love

5. Its Just A Party Carl Simms

x. Ladies Night Rick Lawson

x. Shake Steelers

x. 5 Minutes Jody Sticker

x. I Intend To Take P. Scott-Adams

x. Two Strangers Bill Avery

x. Tell Me What You Rue Davis

x. Shake What You O. B. Buchana

x. Slap That Booty Gary Brown

x. If You Cheat On Roy C

x. Girls Got It Going Bob Steele

x. Snap, Crackle Pop Denise LaSalle

x. My Sweet Love Sterling Wms.

play it again Aus
I'll never get tired
you give Ole School the strength it needs to survive


Reggie

I had the extreme pleasure of seeing Bryan Austin perform, at our
church. I am an actor/director for many local church and community
productions.
There is only 1 reason that I bring this up. Very few times do I meet
someone, whether they be actor or singer, that put everything they have
into,
whatever they do. Bryan Austin, does just that. He puts everything
into his performances. He has a passion that is very refreshing to see.
I would recommend that anyone who has a chance to witness this man
perform, they should jump at the chance. They will see what singing
should be, a heart and soul experience. He has a stage presence and
voice that makes the listener, want to go willingly on the journey of
the soul, with him. Give that man, 5 out of 5 stars.



Michael W.
Crowley

Still Dreamin
Bryan Austin
Review by Boogie
boogie@theboogiereport.com

Every now and then we receive a truly unique
Project for review. So is the case with Bryan Austin's Still Dreamin. We were not prepared for the rich falsetto
voice only after a moment we realized hat Bryan Austin was very special. Cut one a Cover of Ms. was artfully done with perfect pitch and imaginative phrasing.
Cut two I have a Dream has a Strong Rockin Gospel flavor with excerpts by Rev Martin Luther King, Jr.its
sure to become a seasonal favorite. Cut three The Classic Summertime is masterfully done with a jazz riff that fits like a glove. Cuts five, six, eight nine and ten are noteworthy but the highlight of the CD is cut seven Smokey Robinson's Ooh Baby ,Baby This side demonstrates the versatility of Mr. Bryan Austin.
All and all Still Dreamin by Bryan Austin is Classic Grown Folks Music. If you like Smokey Robinson You will love Bryan Austin If you Like The Stylistics you'll Love Bryan Austin If You like Good Soul Music You'll love Bryan Austin

Thank you "BASEMENT GROUP"(United Kingdom) for linking this website to your world renown website and for all the good that you continue to do.

BRYAN’S SALVATION ROUTE



Wade in the Water is an over one hundred years old negro spiritual, which originally is believed to tell the story of the Israelites escaping from Egypt but which is later interpreted as giving instructions for slaves to throw their seekers off the scent.

The song has been recorded numerous times in many different styles, and now Bryan Austin has done an exciting, mid-paced jazzy version of it – music by Cordero – with a masculine and even ominous vocal approach. It’s very effective.



Heikki Suosalo

(Soul Express)



Listen: http://www.reverbnation.com/tunepak/2655697


Available at: http://cdbaby.com/cd/BryanAustin1

BRYAN’S SALVATION ROUTE



Wade in the Water is an over one hundred years old negro spiritual, which originally is believed to tell the story of the Israelites escaping from Egypt but which is later interpreted as giving instructions for slaves to throw their seekers off the scent.

The song has been recorded numerous times in many different styles, and now Bryan Austin has done an exciting, mid-paced jazzy version of it – music by Cordero – with a masculine and even ominous vocal approach. It’s very effective.



Heikki Suosalo

(Soul Express)



Listen: http://www.reverbnation.com/tunepak/2655697


Available at: http://cdbaby.com/cd/BryanAustin1