Bryan grew up in the seaside town of Cleethorpes in the North-East of England, and began playing the trumpet at school at the age of seven. He became involved in his local music organisation playing all kinds of music from classical symphony orchestras to jazz and big bands. Bryan went on to study at the Leeds College of Music under Richard Iles and gained a BA (Hons) in jazz studies in 1997.
Since 1996 Bryan has played lead trumpet for Great Britain's National Tour Youth Jazz Orchestra and has recorded four albums with that ensemble at Ronnie Scott's, London. Since finishing college he has also appeared with the BBC Big Band, the Syd Lawrence Orchestra, British Salsa band The Casa Latino Allstars and European Festival favourites The Brasshoppers.
Bryan also stood in for Steve Parry as trumpet for the BB Whitehall run.