Bryan Thompson

Bryan Thompson: Time to Tell His Story

BY SHERYL ARONSON / PHOTOGRAPHY BY SHERMAN ALFORD (SASAPHOTOS)

From the moment I picked up Bryan Thompson years ago from his hotel in San Diego, I knew he was meant for stardom. It seemed to illuminate around him. He had moved from Indianapolis to Southern California, eager to make his name in the contemporary jazz community, and I had been asked, as a music journalist, to take this talented sax player under my wing. Though young and dewy-eyed, he exuded the right amount of poise and confidence, and he was willing to work hard, playing with as many musicians as possible to get his name out there.

The first stop in July 2018 was the Darryl Williams Jam in Temecula. Darryl Williams, a Billboard artist and veteran bass player, not only fronted his own band but had toured the world with Jonathan Butler and shared the stage with jazz luminaries such as Richard Elliot, Dave Koz, Peter White, Mindi Abair and many others. Although Thompson claimed to be nervous, he jumped right in with his soprano sax, blowing notes with warm tones and prolific finesse, exciting the crowd with his artfulness.

That night, I became his LA music mom, watching over Thompson’s growth not only as an artist but in his emotional health as well. Slowly and surely, this young man maneuvered his way into the special community of the smooth jazz scene, soon performing with Williams and Brian Simpson and traveling worldwide.

Of course, Thompson paved his own way as a budding musician through his drive, artistry and ambition, persevering from the 22-year-old newbie to the 28-year-old talent rising to stardom. From the moment he hit Los Angeles, he performed live solo covers on social media, which has given him 15,000 followers on Facebook and 223,000 followers on Instagram.

On his birthday, Jan. 9, 2023, Thompson received an extraordinary present: a phone call informing him that he would be the tenor sax player for Grammy Award-winning artist Babyface. He has been touring with the artist for the past two years and played the Hollywood Bowl with Babyface on Aug. 29. In addition, on Aug. 18, he performed at the Impact Awards with Johnny Gill and at the Indiana State Fair with Babyface. Both Indianapolis natives, it was the first time they had played together in their hometown. Thompson also accompanied Toni Braxton onstage at the Cincinnati Music Festival this past July.

Thompson also performs with his own band and has played at City Winery in Nashville and Atlanta, plus at various venues in his hometown of Indianapolis. He has performed the national anthem at the 76ers basketball game and the Colts football game.

In 2022, he released his first CD, “P.O.V.,” which has attracted close to a million streams to date.

A mother can be proud of her LA son’s accomplishments, watching him struggle but continue striving and maturing in his craft. I tell him, “It’s time now to tell your story.”

Here’s my interview with him, conducted at my North Hollywood home during a recent break in his performance schedule.

Chic Compass: Tell me about your background growing up in Indianapolis and how you picked up the saxophone.

Bryan Thompson: I was raised in Indianapolis. I was the first person in my family to play music professionally. I grew up listening to a radio station in Indianapolis called 100.9, and that’s where I heard all the people we know and love today — Brian Culbertson, Dave Koz, Kenny G, Gerald Albright — all those legends.

I started playing music when I was 9, so it’s been about 17 years that I’ve been playing. I got my first saxophone when I was 9.

Chic Compass: Did you know then that the sax was your instrument?

Bryan Thompson: I was practicing six to seven hours a day at that age. I would play, eat, play, go do something else, then come back and play some more. I had my first gig about six months later. It was a birthday party. Then I did a talent show, and after those two gigs, people started calling.

Chic Compass: Did you play by ear, or did you study music?

Bryan Thompson: I play by ear. I had music lessons when I first got the saxophone to learn the basics. I’m deaf in my right ear, ironically, so I only have hearing in my left ear.

I started doing gigs locally in Indianapolis. I’d play at churches every Sunday, birthday parties, weddings — anything I could get my hands on. Eventually, I realized how small the city was. I went to one event where the mayor was there, and they asked me to come play. That got me playing a lot of corporate gigs as a teenager. I was 15 or 16 when they were sneaking me into nightclubs.

Eventually, major local musicians started inviting me to play with them, and it kind of snowballed from there.

Chic Compass: At what age did you move to LA?

Bryan Thompson: I was 22 in July 2018. Once I had done everything in Indianapolis — played everywhere, met everybody — I asked myself, “What’s next?”

I kept getting phone calls telling me I needed to go to LA. I didn’t know anybody in the smooth jazz community, so when social media came into the picture, I made a lot of videos that went viral. My following built up. I made some connections before I moved out to LA, so I had some groundwork.

It was around the time I met you. I hadn’t even been in LA a year. I was playing in Temecula with Darryl Williams, going to jam sessions and the hot spots in the smooth jazz community. You took me to one of those jams and have been my “smooth jazz mom.”

Chic Compass: I was told to take good care of you by a music promoter who saw your raw talent. You did meet Darryl Williams, who kindly took you under his wing.

Bryan Thompson: Darryl Williams was the first person to welcome me into the professional side of the smooth jazz market. If it weren’t for him, I don’t think I would have gotten such a good introduction to the smooth jazz community. Once I started playing with Darryl, other people became interested. Brian Simpson, the keyboardist, took me under his wing as well. I went to Africa with Darryl, performed at the Long Beach Jazz Festival with him, and had some very great opportunities. Brian Simpson also featured me as his sax player, and we performed all over the world. Adam Hawley, the guitarist, was like a big brother, and I got the chance to do some gigs with him as well.

Chic Compass: Why is someone your age interested in smooth jazz?

Bryan Thompson: I didn’t relate a lot to people in my age group growing up. I think my personality was more centered around music with an orchestral and jazz-like quality. I also am paying homage to my parents and family for exposing me to that music as I was growing up.

Chic Compass: You play different types of saxophones. Do you have a favorite?

Bryan Thompson: The first saxophone I got was an alto sax. It was the most common. The second one I got was a soprano. I saw Kenny G playing it and wanted to play the straight sax. I think I purchased a cheap one for $200. I picked up the tenor sax later because I was too small to play it. When I was about 15, I got a tenor sax. The tenor has really been where I found a voice. I love the sound. I love writing songs on it.

Chic Compass: Talk about your voice. What does that mean to you?

Bryan Thompson: People give saxophonists a lot of crap for trying to sound like Kenny G. When you’re starting out on an instrument, there has to be some form of inspiration. For example, when I listen to Jazmin Ghent, I get a Kirk Whalum vibe; Kenny G had a Grover Washington inspiration. No matter how much you try to emulate, imitate or copy an artist, you’ll still sound like you. While I may have influences from many players, I still sound like me. When I pick up the tenor sax, I feel like I can’t be Kenny G. I found a good medium on the tenor where I can have a clean, vibrant sound.

Chic Compass: You’re playing with Babyface all over the world. You just played the Hollywood Bowl. How did that happen?

Bryan Thompson: We’re from the same city, Indianapolis. In fact, we did our first show together in our hometown in August, which was amazing.

I scored the gig with Babyface in 2023. I was sitting outside my apartment when I received a call from management saying I got the job.

I had met Babyface back in 2017 and had gone to several of his concerts. I knew his best friend from Indiana, who was his music manager. I had been building my reputation, so when Babyface was looking for a new sax player around 2019, I tried to put my name in. It didn’t materialize.

They kept the current sax player for a couple more years and reached out to me from time to time, and I sent them my information, but it never happened. The third time around, I got a call from his best friend saying, “Kenny wants to see you play your alto saxophone, play something soulful, they want to see you dance, they want to see you sing.”

I thought, “Wow, there’s a whole lot of things they’re asking for.” I sent them all the clips and videos. They called me to come in for an audition, which was in Hollywood. At the time, I was in Florida. It was Christmas time. They said we need you for an audition on Jan. 7. I had just enough Southwest Airlines points to get a one-way trip because I didn’t have any money. I used that to book a free flight from Orlando to California.

I did the audition on Jan. 7, and I think we did some more stuff on Jan. 8. On Jan. 9, 2023, I was celebrating my 26th birthday when I received a phone call that said, “Hey, you’re on the team!”

Chic Compass: That’s a great story, Bryan.

Bryan Thompson: One of the best things about working with any major artist is the credibility it adds. Babyface is a 13-time Grammy Award-winning, platinum-selling artist. If they choose you, it shows you’ve reached a level of professionalism that defines your career.

Chic Compass: There’s another very special person you’ve worked with, Toni Braxton.

Bryan Thompson: I met Toni after a video I shared around 2019. I had just covered one of her songs online, and it went viral. She shared it, and after that, someone messaged me saying, “Toni really likes your video. Can we get your contact information?” About two hours later, I got a phone call from this number. She said, “This is TB. Love your video.” I was like, TB?! Then I stopped for a minute and started screaming. Oh my God, it’s Toni Braxton.

We’ve had a relationship — whenever she’s touring or if I’m able to hop on the show with her, it’s been great. The latest one we did was the Cincinnati Music Festival, with about 40,000–50,000 people. She’s going to be performing in London for a couple of weeks in December, and guess where I’ll be? I’ll be in South Africa with Babyface.

Chic Compass: Let’s end by talking about you.

Bryan Thompson: I’ve been doing my own shows in a few cities and dropped an album in 2022 called “P.O.V.,” a limited-release project. Three songs gained moderate traction, and we’re almost at 1 million streams. My heart is really in being an artist. I love writing my own music and putting together my own show.

Chic Compass: What do you dream about for your future?

Bryan Thompson: I’ve been telling myself that right now I’m known as a good saxophonist, not necessarily as a good artist. I want people to see more sides of me. One of my dreams is to have a couple of hits.

I want to have some songs that resonate with a large audience. Then secondly, what I would tell anybody coming up as a musician is to work hard, and you’ll be great. When I look at how Babyface chose me or how Toni Braxton has allowed me to play with her onstage, that means something. Credible artists cosign for you. That’s a clear indication you should continue doing what you’re doing.