Brian Adler- Drummer, Composer, Teacher

Bio

Brian Adler's first musical experience was at the age of five, when he began studying the North Indian mridung and playing for kirtans in upstate New York. Soon after, Adler received a drum set and throughout grade school and high school, developed a deep connection to the instrument. Looking to further expand his rhythmic foundation, he went to New England Conservatory where he studied jazz, Indian music and South American music traditions, as well as how to find his own voice within music. He studied with: Billy Hart, John Hollenbeck, Billy Higgins, Bob Meyer, Dave Rataczjak, Misha Masud, among others.

Adler's recent endeavor, the Helium Music Project, is an ongoing global collaboration with a growing number of musicians including: Kate McGarry, Marilyn Crispell, Ben Monder, Heather Masse, Bendedikt Jahnel, Rodrigo Dominguez, Daniel Piazzolla and many others. Releasing music through a series of "Phases," the Helium Music Project attempts to transcend the boundaries of stylistic genres and geographic borders to create a rich new music and new format for musical output. "A delightfully uplifting representation of [Adler's ] musical philosophy," says Alex Ariff of All About Jazz.

In 2003, Adler and vocalist Sunny Kim founded Prana Trio, a group drawing from the ancient texts of Rumi, Hafiz, Lao Tzu, Kabir, Kukai, Issa and others. Prana Trio has released three critically acclaimed albums: The Singing Image of Fire (2010), Pranam (2006) and After Dark (2004) and has toured throughout the US and Europe. Brad Walseth of Jazz Chicago writes, "Beautiful and haunting... with finger on the pulse of humanity, Prana Trio speaks of the universality of poetry and music across many cultures."

Brian has performed around the world at venues including Carnegie Hall (New York), to Thelonious (Buenos Aires), to the Ear Shot Jazz festival (Seattle) to Passinger Fabrik (Munich). His music has also been used in films and featured at the South by Southwest film festival.

Adler has had the great pleasure of working with: Pablo Aslan, Gene Bertoncini, Ran Blake, Frank Carlberg, Dave “Fuze” Fiuczynski, Mark Helias, Erik Lawrence, Kate McGarry, Stomu Takeishi, Ray Vega and many others. He is also a member of Kelley Suttenfield's band, Nick Kadajski's 5 Point Perspective and the off broadway show Sistas.

In addition to his performing, Mr. Adler is on faculty at Hoff Barthelson Music School, and the Larchmont Music Academy. He has presented clinics at University of Oregon, Jersey City University, the Institute of Contemporary Music Mar Del Plata and Hoff Barthelson Conservatory.