solo music and special ensembles Since 2000 I have performed and recorded my solo trombone music, part composed, part improvised. In 2008, I completed an international solo/masterclass tour of over 20 universities, ending at the 2009 Big 12 Trombone Conference at Texas Tech University. This year marks the beginning of my new program playing the music of Thelonious Monk. Sometimes, in conjunction with educational events, I perform my music with student ensembles (like here and here with Oklahoma State).Sometimes I join forces with local musicians. Solo music has taken me from the Pauline Oliveros Foundation (Nameless Sound) to the Buddy Holly Center, and back home again. see a short solo promotional video see the 2008 tour documentary video teaching I have taught across the US, Mexico and Europe, giving workshops at Berklee College of Music, Harvard University, Luzern Conservatory, Jazz Institute at Anton Brucker University (Linz), Prague Conservatory, UNAM, Boston University, Florida State University, Arizona State University, Big 12 Trombone Conference, College of Santa Fe, Oklahoma State University, Arkansas State University, University of Alabama, University of North Texas, University of Houston, University of Texas at San Antonio, Anderson University, Hunter College, Tarleton University, Texas Christian University, Stephen F Austin University, Brazosport College, Towson College, Incarnate Word University, New Mexico State University, Denver Metro State, St. Louis Low Brass Collective, UNAM Colima, and over 30 middle and high schools. My masterclass entitled "Listen to Yourself: Deepening Artistry and Technique Through Improvisation and Ear Training" is designed to help performers of any instrument and genre to improve their musicianship and artistic concept. I am happy to address topics including sound, fundamentals, jazz, improvisation, composition, arranging and ensemble playing. Since 2003 I am an artist/clinician for the Edwards Instrument Company. brainkiller - NEW RECORD ON RARE NOISE 2013! w/Jacob Koller (keyboards) and Hernan Hecht (drums) create a wildly original universe owing as much to Monk and Zeppelin as Xenakis and Cobain. "Despite all manner of diversions and mood changes, the direction never seems to change. And when they're over, I feel like I've just been told a short story." - Pitchfork see the amazing video by Anton Octavian of "Last Mask" or this one where we're confronted by an Italian Cruise Ship visit brainkiller facebook visit brainkiller myspace L&B Music and poetry performances. Radio shows. Calendarios, postales, camisetas, libros, comida y señales de humo por Guadalupe Galván y Brian Allen. Our first book is entitled "Vals", published by Editorial Praxis, in a bilingual edition. Pen pal letters from two people who just want to write. visit L&B on facebook visit our cafe brian allen || hernan hecht The duo creates anthems for last place soccer teams, jams for alien big band dances, and songs for calculus teachers. Augmenting their respective primary instruments of trombone and drums, Brian and Hernan employ all manner of electronics: 8 bit sounds, samplers, melodica and various other noisemakers. The duo's CD "Vitamina Hueipi" is a download only card made from the seeds of flowers, which will grow wherever you plant it. visit allen || hecht facebook visit allen || hecht myspace see allen || hecht videos on YouTube brian allen w/tony malaby and tom rainey w/Malaby (tenor saxophone) and Rainey (drums), Melodies, textures and rhythms emerge and vanish, with the music weaving effortlessly in a multi-dimensional spacious swirl between the three like-minded improvisers. "Synapse" was released in 2006 in conjunction with an extensive tour. “Their mode of expression is ruggedly free-form, but with a high degree of collective sensibility.” Nate Chinen New York Times "The two horn players exhibit a natural ease with multilinear improvisation, whether creating instantaneous structural gambits for one another or simply blowing full- speed ahead in tandem" Peter Margasak - Downbeat "Backbeats surging out of nowhere, spars of skittering melody, rising tenor waves stopped short by cymbal scrapes and plaintive gulps.” Clifford Allen - Paris Transatlantic braindreamer: brian allen and jacob koller The long-standing duo integrates acoustic and electronic sounds in an experimental, conceptually eclectic approach. 2010 marks 10 years of collaboration and a new CD (see a little movie about it). "The Duo creates hypnotic landscapes that gallivant through freewheeling jazz, avant-classical and art-rock territories." - Phoenix New Times visit braindreamer website brian allen mexican quartet with Armando Martin (guitar) Arturo Baez (bass) and Hernan Hecht (drums). Making their debut in Merida, Yucatan Mexico, this quartet was formed in conjunction with a grant from Meet the Composer Global Connections for Brian to collaborate with Mexican musicians on his compositions. Heavily rock oriented, the quartet creates surreal collages of melodies and rhythms. see mexican quartet videos on YouTube |
w/hernan austin, texas september 2007 |
w/Oklahoma State Trombone Choir, October 2012 |