Brian Adler- Drummer, Composer, Teacher

Photo by Daniel Sheehan

Bio

New York drummer, Brian Adler, is well versed in many forms of improvised music including jazz, avant-garde, rock, folk, and Indian music. He is known for being an exceptionally creative musician and composer whose work challenges countless boundaries. According to Cadence Magazine's David Dupont, “Adler's percussion is sure-footed and, when called upon, majestic,” “his command of the drums is stunning...” says Mark E. Gallo of JazzReview.com. In 2003, he founded Prana Trio with Korean vocalist Sunny Kim. Prana Trio is dedicated to exploring the spiritual texts of Rumi, Hafiz, Lao Tzu, Kabir, Issa and others. The trio has produced three albums: The Singing Image of Fire (2009), Pranam (2006) and After Dark (2004) and has performed throughout the United States and Germany. His latest project Helium, brings together talented musicians from all over the world, performing and recording collaborative and original works for an upcoming album. Brian has had the privelage to perform with: Gene Bertoncini, Ran Blake, Dave Fiuczynski, Erik Lawrence, Kate McGarry, Ben Monder, Stomu Takeishi, and Ray Vega among others. Adler holds a Bachelor's Degree from the New England Conservatory of Music where he studied with Billy Hart.

Extended Bio

Drummer/percussionist Brian Adler is equally at ease in many settings of improvised music including straight-ahead and avant-garde jazz, groove-based, ethnic, folk and Indian music. He is known for being an exceptionally creative musician and composer whose work challenges countless boundaries. Brian has had the pleasure of performing with: Gene Bertoncini, Ran Blake, Frank Carlberg, Anat Fort, Dave “Fuze” Fiuczynski, Erik Lawrence, Kate McGarry, Ben Monder, Stomu Takeishi, Ray Vega and many others.

Brian Adler has been featured in the Boston Globe, The Village Voice, Jazz Times, Time Out NY, Vancouver's Razer TV, NPR Musique Machine Magazine, All About Jazz, Cadence Magazine, Performer Magazine, Jazz Review, and many other media sources. His compositions have also been used in film featured at the South by Southwest film festival.

At home in both leader and sideman situations, Adler's musical choices and contributions are always tasteful. In 2003 he founded Prana Trio with vocalist Sunny Kim. The trio is dedicated to exploring original compositions, and free improvisations based on the spiritual texts of Rumi, Hafiz, Lao Tzu, Shankarcarya, Kabir, Issa and others. Described as “beautiful… magical…” by pianist Marilyn Crispell, the trio has produced three albums: The Singing Image of Fire (2010), Pranam (2006) and After Dark (2004) and has performed throughout the United States and Germany.

His most recent project, Helium, brings together many great musical voices from around the world including: Marilyn Crispell, Ben Monder, Sunny Kim, Alper Yilmaz, Rodrigo Dominguez, and Pablo Ledesma.

Brian is also a member of Nick Kadajski's 5 Point Perspective, Sharon Spinetti's jazz/classical cross-over ensemble, the Wendy Gilles band, Kelley Suttenfield's Band, Stone Arabia as well as others.

In 2004, Adler founded Circavision Productions, a record label, production company and music initiative that focuses its energy on creative improvisation, unique compositional voices, digital relations and worldwide partnerships that are able to stimulate, challenge and enrich the minds of listeners. Since its inception it has produced five albums and has sponsored seven national and international tours.

In addition to his performing, Mr. Adler is on faculty at Hoff Barthelson Music School, Larchmont Music Academy as well as maintaning his own private practice. He has presented clinics at University of Oregon, Jersey City University, and Hoff Barthelson Conservatory. In 2003-2005, Adler taught alongside Ran Blake in his Development of Long Term Melodic Memory course and Hankus Netsky with his Jazz Theory course, both at the New England Conservatory, Boston.

Brian Adler received a Bachelor's degree from The New England Conservatory, in 2005. He is grateful to have had the opportunity to study with such inspirational teachers as: Billy Hart, John Hollenbeck, Billy Higgins, Bob Moses, Fred Buda, Bob Meyer, Dave Rataczjak, Misha Masud, Joe Morris, Cecil McBee, and John McNeil as well as others.