Catching Up With an Old Friend

One of the great pleasures of traveling across our great country as
representatives of the Navy is the opportunity to reconnect with band
members who moved on to other interests or retired. Tonight we
got to spend some time with former Navy Band trumpet player, Jerry
Bryant.

Jerry is a terrific artist whose outstanding playing made it possible
for him to survive, and even thrive, in the survival-of-the-fittest
environment of the freelance musician in New York City. Among his
many professional commitments are performing with the New York City
Opera and the Hartford Symphony Orchestra, and teaching at Kean and
Jersey City Universities.

Some of us had the pleasure to grab a bite to eat with Jerry before
our concert in Southington, Conn. We were staying in Hartford
for our concerts on March 14 and 15, and Jerry was rehearsing with the
symphony right across the street. Besides swapping sea stories from
past national tours, we were able to fill in some gaps in our
respective histories: it’s been six years since Jerry was in the Navy
Band. He commented that we all still looked the same, and we commented
he was only a haircut and a uniform away from joining back up! We also
learned that he and his wife, K.J., had recently welcomed their first
child, a beautiful bouncing boy named Joseph.

Those of us currently serving in the Navy Band take great pride in our
service, and constantly strive to present the most professional music
performance possible. It’s nice to know that that pride remains even
after moving into civilian life, and Jerry and many others are
testament that the qualities of honor, courage and commitment, imbued
by service in America's Navy, endure.


Senior Chief Musician Karl Hovey is the principal tuba in the Concert Band.


(Pictured, left to right: Chief Musicians Stan Curtis and Bob Couto, Senior Chief Musician Karl Hovey, Jerry Bryant, and Master Chief Musician Kevin Dines)