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Todd Brunel

Todd Brunel is a clarinetist, sax player, composer and producer who performs extensively as a classical and jazz musician. He is a member of the Armenian folk jazz project Musaner, Know Orchestra, the Eric Hofbauer Quintet, Made in the Shade, the Sonic Explorers and the avante-funk band, The Circadian Rhythm Kings. He is the director of the Vortex Series for New and Improvised Music and has been awarded grants by the Somerville, Cambridge, Arlington and Massachusetts Cultural Councils. In 2012, he formed Opal Ensemble with pianist Paul Carlson and violist Anne Black, a group dedicated to discovering new 20th and 21st century repertoire and often neglected works of the past. He has premiered new compositions by composers Alla Cohen, Pamela Watson, John Morrison,Vache Sharafyan, Vuk Kulenovic and is a recording artist for PARMA Recordings. In addition to his modern music activities, Brunel champions the music of the swing jazz era and can be heard performing as a guest artist at numerous senior centers and for Lindy hop dances in swing dance communities. He has played principal clarinet with Opera Ebony of Harlem, ALEA III, the Bulgarian Virtuosi and plays frequently with the Lexington Symphony, the Claflin Hill Symphony and currently plays principal clarinet with the Waltham Symphony. Some of his recent appearances include Carnegie Hall, Brandeis University, ISIM 2014- 2015, the Longy School at Bard College, Spazio Teatro NO'HMA in Milan, the Out of the Box Festival and the Academy of Music Dance and Art in Plovdiv, Bulgaria. Mr Brunel is on the faculty of Wheaton College, where he has directed the Wheaton College Jazz Band, Cushing Academy and is also on the faculties of the Powers Music School and the Lexington Music School. He holds an MM from the Brooklyn College Conservatory and a BM from the Boston Conservatory. To find out more about Todd Brunel, visit him online at: www.clarinetconspiracy.com

Awards

2010-2011 Grant recipient Massachusetts Cultural Council 2014 grant recipient Arlington Cultural Council

Gear

B flat and A clarinets, Buffett R13, Selmer Paris model 35 Bass clarinet , soprano sax Antigua, alto sax Antigua


Tags

140

Recording

Todd Brunel's "Vortex Live" CD and Digital Download Now Available

Todd Brunel's "Vortex Live" CD and Digital Download Now Available

Source: Michael Ricci

The Vortex Live features some of the best moments of the Vortex Series captured live between 2007-2010. Each piece is an original work created by invited artists, with all collaborations happening for the first time. The Vortex Live features: Todd Brunel clarinets, Rob Bethel cello, Esther Viola oboe, Andrew Hickman tenor sax (tracks 1 and 4), Dave Maxwell piano, Kevin Frenette} guitar, {{Junko Simons cello (track 7), Blake Newman double bass, Yael Bat shimon violin (track 8), Jonathan LaMaster violin ...

"Beautiful tone" Jon Garelick, Boston Phoenix

"If you frequent the tiny avant-improv bunker Outpost 186, then you're familiar with clarinettist Todd Brunel's Vortex Series, which features some of the city's finest jazz musicians and free-improvisers of all stripes." -The Boston Phoenix, "Bos Picks"

"The performances were all high quality..... Mr. Brunel, mostly on bass clarinet treated, to quote Judith Weir, as “a hysterical treble instrument with a surprise bass extension,” exhibited sure command of all his extended and unextended techniques...." Read the full review here -Vance R. Koven, the Boston Music Intelligencer

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Primary Instrument

Clarinet

Willing to teach

Advanced only

Credentials/Background

I'm a dedicated and patient teacher with over 25 years of experience, teaching a variety of styles from classical to jazz, world music and contemporary improvisation. Lessons are open to students at all levels from beginner to advanced. Many of my advanced students consistently place at the top of competitive District and All State auditions. Beginning students will learn to assemble and play their instrument in the first lesson and work with my carefully guided and patient system. College and advanced students will gain conservatory training focusing on tone production in all registers, dynamic control, articulation and interpretation that will help you to find your 'voice'. 2000-present Powers Music School, Belmont MA

Clinic/Workshop Information

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Photos

Music

Recordings: As Leader | As Sideperson

The Circadian Rhythm...

The Rotary Records
2014

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Vortex Live

Self Produced
2011

buy

Videos

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