press - braintone

Home
TBOP

SELECT QUOTES
“Trombonist Brian Allen brings a burst of energy to contemporary creative music” - Jim Santella, All About Jazz New York

“An adventurous trombonist” - Nate Chinen, New York Times

"(Allen and Malaby) 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

“Improvising Trombonist Brian Allen revels in his instrument's singular sound world.” - Time Out NY

“A sly pop influence comes through in his melodies, which owe as much to Cobain as they do Coltrane (though may have the most spiritual connection to Monk).” - Pitchforkmedia

“Using 40 pieces of previously recorded material, including orchestral works, chamber pieces, and jazz ensembles, he stitches together a collage of distinct, but unified sounds. Among the many fascinating inclusions is the presence of the late jazz trombonist Roswell Rudd, a teacher to Allen whose voice offers a guiding light throughout.” (Fiends) Bandcamp AcidTest February 2022

“Though still a disciple of players like Slide Hampton and Curtis Fuller, Allen has nevertheless found very personal ways to break down his slippery bop-honed trombone chops. He takes the instrument apart, removes the mouthpiece to vocalize through the bare tubing, raps the mouthpiece against the bell, and employs multiphonics – but there’s that polished jazz-trombone sound cutting through all of the instrumental deviations.” - Clifford Allen, Paris Transatlantic

"Brainkiller have produced triumphant music that is always bright and refreshingly original" - Classic Rock - Prog Magazine December 2010

"(Brainkiller) know how to get out of a tune quick before it gets nerdy, and they never veer far from that fundamental truth, a damn good tune." - JazzWise Magazine December 2010

"Hence, Brainkiller sojourns into an abstract musical space that balances heady methodologies with hugely entertaining performances." JazzTimes July 2011

"Brian Allen soffia nel trombone. E soprattutto la spinta di quest'ultimo a manovrare la barca e a volgerla in varie direzioni. Il suo stile richiama i colleghi degli anni Setanta, ma con citazioni prese da Rudd, Lewis e Mangelsdorff piuttosto che dai radicali all Rutherford o Christmann." - BLOW UP (Italy) December 2010

"Nunca más pensaré que el trombón jazz es un instrumento la mar de aburrido. Por que salvando a los mágicos e inigualables dúos de los maestros del trombón jazz, J.J. Johnson y Kai Winding, en contadas ocasiones he disfrutado tanto de un imaginativo, creativo y original uso del trombón jazz como en este trío que se hacen llamar Brainkiller." La Montana Rusa Radio Jazz & Blog Spot Santyjazz (Spain)

"Allen has considerable ability on the trombone as evidenced by improvisations that encompass several octaves, sometimes at blistering speeds." - International Trombone Journal

“The trio connected as a unit...invigorating, full-bodied improvisation endowed with individual excellence and collective unity.” (Allen/Koller/Dresser Live Review) One Final Note

“Brian Allen may well be the best American modern jazz trombonist that you’ve never heard of.” - Dave Wayne, Jazzreview.com

RECORDING AND PERFORMANCE REVIEWS

"Synapse" with Tony Malaby and Tom Rainey

Paris Transatlantic "Synapse" and "Trombone/Contrabass"

All About Jazz

AAJ New York Newspaper January 2007