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Brian Kastan

​ Brian Kastan is a guitarist, electric/fretless bass player, composer and landscape photographer. He is best known for his original sounding improvisations and composing style, self-developed hybrid finger picking technique on guitar, and laying down big fat bass grooves and electric/fretless bass improvisations.

Brian has released 31 albums as a band leader or band member. (Playing bass on 10 of the albums)....

Plus performed and/or recorded with Grammy winning jazz vocalist, Miles Griffith, (Won grammy with Wynton Marsalis Blood on the Fields) Peter O'Brien, Steve Rust, Christopher Dean Sullivan, Yutaka Uchida, George Dulin, Danny Zanker, Jay Brunka, Oscar Perez, Dave Mullen, Tani Tabbal, Bob Meyer, Harvey Sorgen, Taru Alexander, Nick Gianni, Dave Berger, Eric Person,George Spanos, Travis Sullivan, Eishin Nose, Mike Pride, Ryan Berg, Eddy Khaimovich, Andy Sanesi, Juini Booth, Micheal Bisio, Leo Genovese, Lamy Istrefi and many more.

As a Sideman...

Brian Kastan has composed soundtracks for TV and Film (Featuring Robert Loggia-Nominated for Academy Award The God Father-Sopranos, Martin Kove, (Karate Kid/Rambo), Gilbert Gottfried, Jimmie Walker (Goodtimes), Michael Winslow (Police Academy) Todd Bridges (Different Strokes) Jewels McCullough (Playboy Playmate/Growing Pains, Composed Soundtrack for Blue Lives Matter movie with acclaimed movie director Dylan Bank) Plus, composed soundtrack for T.V. show Hospital Arrest. https://www.imdb.com/name/nm8075027/

​Played guitar for Nonsuch Record Label, Rhys Cantham's "The Grissom Grail", http://www.nonesuch.com/albums/a- crimson-grail Recorded Live at Lincoln Center in 2010.... ​ Played MTV Rock the Vote at Rutgers University.... Composer Representing Unites States/Focolare Movement/ Shown Via Satellite on 6 Continents (Budapest Blues) 2009....

Brian is also an award winning nature photographer with shows in NYC, Europe and Asia. Brian has Shown his Photography with Artist: Milton Avery,Willem De Kooning,Francoise Gilot (Pablo Picasso),Ernest Fiene,Robert Thorne, Manuel Ayso,Rudolph Ernst,Bahram Hajou,Lev Kropivnitsky, Francoise Gilot(Pablo Picasso),Maria Kastan,John Marim,Manuel Ayso Rudolph Ernst,Albert O'Hayon,George Beecham.... ​ https://www.continuumfineartandphotography.com.... Collaboration work with wife Maria Kastan:.... ​ https://ventipertrenta2.wordpress.com/2008/11/27/ventipertrenta2008-maria-hartmann/

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Take Five With...

Take Five with Brian Kastan

Read "Take Five with Brian Kastan" reviewed by Brian Kastan


About Brian Kastan Brian Kastan plays electric/acoustic guitar, electric bass, and composes soundtracks for T.V. and Film. He played guitar on Rhys Chatham's A Crimson Grail (Nonsuch Records, 2010) which was recorded live at Lincoln Center. is an award winning nature photographer with gallery shows in NYC, Europe and Asia. He holds a Bachelor's degree in both Jazz Performance and Psychology from Suny New Paltz, a Masters Degree in Music from Brooklyn College, Brian is a Certified Clinical Hypnotist, ...

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Recording

Brian Kastan "Roll The Dice On Life" New Fusion Double Album

Brian Kastan "Roll The Dice On Life" New Fusion Double Album

Source: Jim Eigo, Jazz Promo Services

WITH ROLL THE DICE ON LIFE, GUITARIST BRIAN KASTAN OPENS A WINDOW INTO HIS MUSICAL SOUL Full Of Raw Energy, This Dynamic, Guitar-Driven Double Album Features Vocals By Miles Griffith “Think Zappa 21st Century… Brian's Guitar is Just Killer."—Dick Metcalf Jazz-Fusion guitarist, Brian Kastan introduces his newest CD, Roll the Dice on Life. This double album showcases dynamic original compositions by Brian Kastan. The goal of this album is to balance the integrity of composed songs with the fierce energy ...

Reviews Conversation Colors The three musicians who play with Brian on this enchanting excursion into the wonders of players who can “speak together” are geniuses in their own right… bassist Juini Booth has played with jazz giants like McCoy Tyner, Tony Williams and even Sun Ra; Leo Genovese is a master keyboardist who has been on bills with “big names” like Esperanza Spalding, Wayne Shorter & Herbie Hancock… and drummer George Spanos has played with John Zorn, Marc Ribot, among others… as you listen to the amazing opener, “Spectrum“, you will hear (and feel) just how beautiful their intricate dialogues can be… the 16:48 gem starts off in a slow exploratory mode, gradually engaging each player in intimate expressions from deep inside of them. This piece may be a little “long” for radio, but I predict that it will be getting MANY spins from DJ’s in the experimental and improv zone! One of the most intriguing aspects of these improvisations is the many-hued palette the players paint images for you with… on the beautiful “Colors of my Alpha Waves“, you are treated to the full breadth and depth of the wavelengths in the spectrum as the instruments dip their musical brushes deeply to blend amazing new shades for you. The frenetic atmosphere created by the quartet on the closer, “I Will Meet You There“, is about as jazzy as jazz can get, folks… GREAT keyboard work and flawless recording make this release a MUST HAVE in any true improvised music fans library! You will realize immediately that you (really and truly) need to experience this sonic journey with your headphones on… as I listened to Leo’s subtle keyboard on “I’d Rather Look At The Clouds“, many memories of improvised musical speaking I had with players like LaDonna Smith and Davey Williams came flooding back for me… though it only clocks in at 7:22, it is my personal favorite of the seven songs offered up. ​ ​ ​ Trails Brian Kastan-Fretless Bass, Ryan Berg-Upright Bass, Mike Pride-Drums ​ ​ “Heritage Trail” bring the glory of new pathways straight into your living room… the only way to truly absorb what the trio is doing, though, is to kick back with a long-neck (or a toilet-paper-roll bong of your favorite thang) with your headphones on. At about the 3:12 mark on this piece, you’ll hear some fantastic “coloring” from Mike’s drums… great interplay between the drums, bass and fretless, where their explorations seem to emerge as one! Brian told me that the double album was recorded in only one day, which is amazing in itself… as you listen to the languid pacing on the totally engaging “Stairway to Heaven Trail“, you will feel the energy that emanates from a simple walk through the positive energy and beauty of nature’s creations. Your aural appendages won’t believe the beauty of the weave achieved on “Sterling Forest Loop“… it’s a “simple” sequence, but abounds with the kind of clarity you only find when the players are “in touch” with each other’s vision of the music… this is one of the best performances I’ve heard (yet) in 2021! It was one of the longer performances that I enjoyed so much that it was a “natural” for my choice as personal favorite of the thirteen (long) songs Brian and his crew offer up for our sonic enlightenment… “Ramapo Dunderber Trail” is located next to a lake near Tuxedo Park, New York, and the 9:25 length of the piece gives each player a chance to express the sheer joy of being at one with the surroundings. The interplay between Brian’s fretless action and Ryan’s upright is totally enchanting, and (again) brings all the beauty of fresh air and sunlight right into your listening room. ​ (https://contemporaryfusionreviews.com/positively-natural-pathways/?fbclid=IwAR3XbioPJUP9Y5EOx8tYJHTN_jrou1S_NmyPgzuz9L_BzSo4FwDlortq2vM) Omni original new directions Eric Person, Brian Kastan, Bob Meyer – VIVID LANDSCAPES: For me, there’s nothing more exciting than when an artist (or, in this case, group) takes the listener down totally new pathways… on this new set of omni original new directions, you’ll hear Eric Person’s sax, Brian Kastan’s fretless bass and Bob Meyer’s drums do exactly that… and there’s no better way to get your exposure to their collective improvising genius than to watch them together… I can guarantee you that if you’re a big fan of improvised music, you’ll enjoy many hours of it when you SUBSCRIBE to Brian’s YouTube channel – I’ve been signed up there for a long time now.

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Photos

Music

Recordings: As Leader | As Sideperson

Free Blues

Self Produced
2021

buy

Vivid Landscapes

Self Produced
2021

buy

Conversation Colors

Self Produced
2021

buy

Hear Now

Self Produced
2021

buy

Trails

Self Produced
2021

buy

Pathways On the Edge

Self Produced
2021

buy
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Higher Ground

From: Not So Standard
By Brian Kastan

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