"Trombonist Brian Allen
brings a burst of energy to contemporary creative music" - Santella
AAJNY
“A sly pop influence comes through in his melodies, which owe as much
to Cobain as they do Coltrane (though they may have the most spiritual
connection to Monk)” - Pitchfork
Composer and Trombonist Brian Allen performs as a soloist, duos with
Jacob
Koller and Hernan Hecht, the trio Brainkiller, and collaborations with
other noted artists such as Dave Ballou, Anthony Braxton, Gerald
Cleaver, Mark Dresser, Ellery Eskelin, Satoko Fujii, Drew Gress,
Dominique Leone, Tony Malaby, Tom Rainey, Roswell Rudd, Nate Wooley and
the Creative Opportunity Orchestra. He has performed at Carnegie
Hall, Bang On A Can Festival, Roulette, The Stone, Knitting Factory,
CBGB's, Barbes, Les Siestes Electroniques Festival Toulouse, and
College of Santa Fe Electroacoustic Festival. In fall 2008, Brian
completed an international solo concert and masterclass tour of over 20
universities.
Brian received a music composition residency from the Cite
Internationale des Arts in Paris, a Meet the Composer Global
Connections Grant for Mexico and featured on NPR's Sound Clips Series
for his sonic investigations of the trombone. A recipient of the
ASCAPlus Award, Brian has works for wind, jazz, percussion, and chamber
ensembles with performances at International Trombone Festival, Society
for Composers Conference at Rice University, Eastern Trombone Workshop,
Texas Music Educators Association, and other jazz, electronic and new
music festivals. He received a composition residency from Houston's
Diverse Works and is a composer for VoxNovus 60x60.
Brian has released six CDs on his own label Braintone Records,
including six years L8R (solo amplified trombone) and Synapse
(improvised trio with saxophonist Tony Malaby and percussionist Tom
Rainey).
Allen has taught across the US and Mexico, giving workshops at UNAM,
Berklee College of Music, Harvard University, Boston
University, Florida State University, Arizona State University, Big 12
Trombone Conference, College of Santa Fe, Oklahoma State University,
Arkansas State University, Universtiy 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, and over 30 middle
and high schools.
His
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.
Brian is an artist/clinician for the Edwards Instrument Company.
He studied trombone with Don Lucas and composition with Mary Jeanne van
Appledorn at Texas Tech University, receiving a Bachelors in
Performance and Masters in Composition. He has also studied
privately with master musicians Roswell Rudd, David Liebman, Ellery
Eskelin and Milford Graves.
