Home » Jazz Musicians » Brian Owen

Brian Owen

The arrival of Brian Owen on the jazz scene was not accompanied by fanfare promising a new era. Rather, critics and audiences saw an artist who had worked diligently through his formal studies and made progress on his most important artistic assignment, finding a voice that resonated with him and with his listeners.

A trumpeter, composer and band leader, Owen was born on June 7th, 1982, in Everett, Washington. He took up the trumpet in his early teens and made rapid headway in music and academic work. Aided by the Running Start program, he managed to complete high school and community college simultaneously.

When Owen moved on to Central Washington University, noted for its jazz studies curriculum, bassist and singer Kristin Korb was in charge of the jazz program. Korb stimulated his evolution as a soloist and encouraged his potential as a composer. At Central, Owen also came under the wing of the late Thomas Gause, a professor of trumpet who was himself a masterly jazz soloist. He studied further with former Seattle Symphony Orchestra principal trumpet Charles Butler and the trumpet-saxophone-flute master Jay Thomas. Throughout his evolution as a trumpeter, Owen’s abilities landed him assignments as a featured soloist.

After college graduation, he worked as a cruise ship musician, employment that many musicians suffer out of financial necessity. Typically, Owen seized on the experience as a means of growth in music and business. With the Carnival line, his ability to organize resulted in his being promoted to musical director. On the ships, he led a show band while at the same time managing half a dozen other bands. He was responsible for handling rosters of musicians, scheduling, leading rehearsals, arranging, and, of course, playing. He learned how to juggle his roles as perfomer, leader, counseling psychiatrist and buffer between his musicians and his cruise line bosses. It intensified his understanding of both music and management and might have set him up to become a music businessman. “If I ever wanted a desk job,” he says, “I’m sure I could handle it with ease now. But I wanted something more artistic than that.”

Owen took advantage of his sparse time off aboard the ships to refine his artistry as a writer of music, often giving up sleep to develop the pieces he was ultimately to record on Unmei. When he had the album material ready to take into the studio, Owen recruited Jay Thomas, pianist John Hansen, bassist John Hamar and drummer Phil Parisot, putting him in the company of some of the West Coast’s leading jazz musicians.

Read more

Tags

Performance / Tour

Jazz this week: Cyrus Chestnut; Peter Martin, Brian Owens & Terence Blanchard; and more

Jazz this week: Cyrus Chestnut; Peter Martin, Brian Owens & Terence Blanchard; and more

Source: St. Louis Jazz Notes by Dean Minderman

This week's calendar of live jazz and creative music in St. Louis features a couple of first-call piano players- one visiting, one home-grown- plus the usual assortment of performances in a variety of musical styles from the city's talented contingent of local players. Let's go to the highlights... Wednesday, January 31 Pianist Cyrus Chestnut returns with his trio for the first of four nights at Jazz at the Bistro. Chestnut has applied his virtuoso technique to all sorts of material ...

117

Music Industry

Jazz This Week: Peter Martin Trio, Brian Owens, Mardra Thomas and More

Jazz This Week: Peter Martin Trio, Brian Owens, Mardra Thomas and More

Source: St. Louis Jazz Notes by Dean Minderman

Though it may not officially be summer until the solstice on June 21, summer weather already seems to moving into St. Louis, and local jazz presenters and venues are putting their summer schedules into effect, for the most part either curtailing their offerings until fall or emphasizing homegrown talent.However, there's still some music to be heard, so let's see what's going on around town over the next few days:Tonight, singer Denise Thimes performs a free concert ...

162

Performance / Tour

Jazz This Week: A Benefit for Zimbabwe Nkenya; Brian Owens; Erin Bode; Larry Brown, Jr.; and More

Jazz This Week: A Benefit for Zimbabwe Nkenya; Brian Owens; Erin Bode; Larry Brown, Jr.; and More

Source: St. Louis Jazz Notes by Dean Minderman

There's a brief respite from major touring jazz acts this week in St. Louis, but there are still a number of events over the next few days with potential appeal for fans of jazz and creative music.On Thursday, Washington University's Jazz at Holmes series continues with a free concert from pianist Ptah Williams and his trio. Also on Thursday, singer Erin Bode and her band will return to the events room at Cyrano's in Webster Groves.On ...

159

Recording

Brian Owens Releases New CD/DVD

Brian Owens Releases New CD/DVD

Source: St. Louis Jazz Notes by Dean Minderman

Singer Brian Owens, who blends jazz with soul, pop and gospel, has released a new combination CD/DVD package called Brian Owens and Martha Mae Live at the Sheldon Concert Hall.The project (pictured) was recorded in November at The Sheldon, and is currently on sale for $25 per copy via Owens' website.Owens will do a free holiday concert at 6:30 p.m. on Sunday, December 20 at O'Fallon Township High School's Milburn Campus Auditorium in O'Fallon, IL, and ...

124

Festival

Jazz This Week: Old Webster Jazz and Blues Festival, Brian Owens, Willie Akins, Cornet Chop Suey, and More

Jazz This Week: Old Webster Jazz and Blues Festival, Brian Owens, Willie Akins, Cornet Chop Suey, and More

Source: St. Louis Jazz Notes by Dean Minderman

While there are no major touring jazz musicians visiting St. Louis this week, there's plenty of activity involving local players. Let's look at some of the highlights: Tonight, the great saxophonist Willie Akins does a free concert for the Jazz at Holmes series at Washington University, while guitarist Dave Black performs at Brandt'sOn Friday and Saturday, singer Brian Owens brings his mix of jazz, pop, R&B and gospel back to Jazz at the Bistro for a ...

Music

Recordings: As Leader | As Sideperson

Unmei

OA2 Records
2006

buy

Train Chase

From: Unmei
By Brian Owen

Similar

Get more of a good thing!

Our weekly newsletter highlights our top stories, our special offers, and upcoming jazz events near you.