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Gregg Brennan

Gregg Brennan is a composer, drummer, educator, bandleader and painter currently living in London, England. He is a graduate of Berklee College of music and has studied with, among others Bob Moses, Ian Froman, Skip Hadden and Joe Hunt. Gregg has recorded 3 albums as a leader with his own bands and has appeared on numerous other co-led and sideman outings in the United States and Canada. He regularly plays and records around London with a number of the city’s top musicians in a variety of contexts and scenarios and teaches privately in North London and at The Conservatoire.

Gear

Paiste Cymbals, Gretsch and Sonor Drums, Vic Firth Sticks and Mallets, Hubback Bells


Tags

119

Event

Gregg Brennan Aiseiri Live in Toronto January 31

Gregg Brennan Aiseiri Live in Toronto January 31

Source: All About Jazz

On Wednesday, January 31st, composer/drummer Gregg Brennan will bring his quintet Aiseiri to the Rex Hotel (194 Queen St. West) in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Show starts about 9:30, $5 CDN @ the door.

Gregg Brennan is a graduate of Berklee College of Music in Boston Mass. USA. He is an active composer and painter as well as a bandleader and educator. He has performed with, among others: Jeff Perry, Zulfugar Baghirov, Neil Swainson, Chris Robinson, Miles Li, Jeff Stout, Ed ...

76

Event

Gregg Brennan/Aiseiri's End of Summer Duet of Sounds

Gregg Brennan/Aiseiri's End of Summer Duet of Sounds

Source: All About Jazz

On Wednesday, August 23rd, composer/drummer Gregg Brennan will bring his quintet Aiseiri to the Rex Hotel in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Show starts about 9:30, $5 CDN @ the door.

On Friday September 1st, Aiseiri will be at the Dominion On Queen in Toronto, beginning the first of 2 sets around 9:00pm. $5 CDN @ the door.

Gregg Brennan is a graduate of Berklee College of Music in Boston Mass. He is an active composer and painter as well as a ...

157

Performance / Tour

Gregg Brennan Aiseiri Quintet @ The Rex in Toronto, Canada Apr.26th

Gregg Brennan Aiseiri Quintet @ The Rex in Toronto, Canada  Apr.26th

Source: All About Jazz

On Wednesday, April 26, composer/drummer Gregg Brennan will bring his quintet Aiseiri to the Rex Hotel in Toronto, Ontario Canada. Show starts about 9:30, $5 CDN @ the door. Gregg Brennan is a graduate of Berklee College of Music in Boston Mass. He is an active composer and painter as well as a bandleader and educator. He has performed with, among others: Jeff Perry, Zulfugar Baghirov, Miles Li, Jeff Stout, Ed Saindon, Paul Elmen, Fernando Mainer, Stephane Wrembel and Danny ...

Review of Jeff Perry and Gregg Brennan’s ‘Music for Brass and Percussion’ by Blair Sanderson, All Music Guide:

There's not much window-dressing on Music for Brass and Percussion (2005), presumably because trumpeter Jeff Perry and percussionist Gregg Brennan prefer to let the music speak for itself, without additional help from descriptive liner notes or suggestive packaging. This may be due also to the ambiguous, abstract qualities of the music, which can be taken as either free jazz or avant-garde improvisation, depending on one's expectations or point of view. But such categories are beside the point and possibly distracting from the album's substance, which is fluid and difficult to pigeonhole. Perry's intensely expressive trumpet and flügelhorn lines and Brennan's virtuosic drumming are apparently spontaneous and mostly unsynchronized, and what few connections there are emphasize the disparities: usually a shared rhythmic pattern serves as the only tie between the two, whose phrasing and timing are elastic and usually free of any sense of a downbeat. However, the long duets of Threshold, Conversation, and Finale do have continuity and consistency, and the musicians exhibit remarkable stamina and control to pull them off without extraneous riffs, breaks, or repetitions. The smoothness and the emotional depth of the performance make it compelling listening, and the tasteful blending of jazz and experimental techniques make this a crossover album in the best sense of the word. Standback's sound is natural and clear, so everything is audible at a modest volume, even though the performers recommend that the disc should be played loudly for optimal effect.

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Primary Instrument

Drums

Location

London

Willing to teach

Advanced only

Credentials/Background

I currently have a few daytime openings for private students during the day in North London, intermediate- advanced only. I've been teaching privately for over 17 years. I offer workshops, lectures and clinics on a variety of subjects pertaining to Jazz, Improvisation and related ideas either alone or with a group. I guest lectured at Berklee a few times while I was there and at various other schools and venues since then. I'm still working on finishing my instructional book containing exercises, 'cymbal theory' and that kind of thing. Some of my students are already using sections or drafts of it and are checking for spelling and grammar errors as well as presumably learning the material.... For availability and prices, send me an email through here or at greggbrennan.com.

Clinic/Workshop Information

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Photos

Music

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