Welcome...
...to the official website of award-winning saxophonist, composer, and multi-instrumentalist Brian Krock! Here you will find everything you need to know about his recent musical activies and plans for the future.
News
Just added two new upcoming shows! I'm also booking a short summer tour through the Midwest, so keep an eye out for those dates... we're extremely excited about it!
-Brian
Alto saxophonist, composer and multi-instrumentalist Brian Krock began his musical career at an early age. Before discovering his love of jazz music, he studied classical guitar and piano. He received a bachelor's degree in Jazz Studies from the University of Illinois with a minor in Business. While in Illinois, he became an in-demand alto saxophonist and woodwind doubler. He can be heard playing alto and soprano saxophone, flute, clarinet, and oboe on the University of Illinois Concert Jazz Band's most recent recording, Free Play (2010). In 2011, he was a recipient of the ASCAP Young Jazz Composers Award for his composition "Yes, It's True" from that album.
Currently, Brian is studying Jazz Composition with Jim McNeely at the Manhattan School of Music. Within the last year, he has premiered an extended work for string quartet and written music for the Manhattan School of Music's Jazz Philharmonic (a large orchestra plus a big band) and Concert Jazz Band.
Small Group
All compositions are by Brian Krock except where noted.
1. "Petition"
-This piece features my great friends Frederick Menzies on tenor sax, Olli HIrvonen on guitar, Darwin Noguera on piano, Ethan O'Reilly on bass, and Philippe Lemm on drum set. Recorded live at Myers Recording Studio in Manhattan School of Music.
2. "Vim-Pim Opposite"
-Selections 2-6 feature Peter Shankman on piano, Mike Harmon on bass, Jay Sawyer on drum set, Euan Edmonds on trombone and Sam Hasting on guitar. Recorded at Smith Hall in Urbana, IL.
3. "Bay-Bug"
-Three blues in three different keys played simultaneously at different tempos... it's hard to explain, but came out sounding interesting!
4. "Two"
-A fugue with a bass melody that is transposed through the cycle of fourths inspired by Bartok.
5. "Chelsea Bridge" (Strayhorn)
-Dan Pierson replaces Shankman on piano for this track- a classic ballade by one of my compositional heroes.
6. "Ark of Miriam"
-A ballade for Cavalier and Clay.
Big Band
1. "Everything Else is Temporary"
-Selections 1, 3, and 4 feature a big band of some of my best friends in Illinois. This one has a trombone solo by Josh Torrey. All of the material is derived from the diminished scale, and I made it my challenge to make it sound happy!
2. "Yes, It's True"
-Featured on the University of Illinois Concert Jazz Band's 2010 double-disc album Free Play . This composition won the 2011 ASCAP Young Jazz Composers Award.
3. "Book of Images"
-Featuring an intro by Peter Shankman, as well as solos by Mikael Templeton on tenor saxophone and Euan Edmonds on trombone. Inspired by a Rilke book.
4. "Janus Face"
-Written about my move from Illinois to New York City. Janus was the Greek god of transitions and new beginnings, with two faces: one looking forward and planning for the future, and one looking back and remembering where it came from.
5."Very Early" (Evans, arr. Krock)
- A fun re-construction of a classic tune that isn't played enough!
Orchestra & Chamber
1. "Endless Peace" (lyr. Andrea Wood)
-I had the pleasure of writing an original piece for the Manhattan School of Music's Jazz Philharmonic Orchestra last fall. I can't wait for another opportunity to write for such a large group of talented musicians! This features Andrea Wood on vocals and Cam Collins on soprano saxophone.
2. "String Quartet No. 1"
-Featuring Tallie Brunfelt and Grace Nakano on violins, Celia Hatton on viola, and Eunji Kong on cello. This is three of the four movements I wrote over the summer of 2010, inspired by Ligeti, Berg, Dutilleux, Debussy, and so many more amazing string quartet composers!
Upcoming Shows
Monday, Feb. 27th
8:00-9:00pm
The Local 269, New York City- www.thelocal269.com
The Brian Krock Quintet
feat: Frederick Menzies- ten. sax.
Angelo Di Loreto- pno.
Jeff Koch- bs.
Philippe Lemm- dms.
Tuesday, Feb. 28th
7:30pm
ADES Hall, Manhattan School of Music
The Brian Krock Ensemble w/ Strings
Sunday, March 4th
9:00pm
nublu, New York City- www.nublu.net
The Basak Yavuz Group
Sunday, April 1st
2:00pm
Studio 610, Manhattan School of Music
Adam Neely Master's Recital
Previous Shows
Thursday, Feb. 2nd
6-8 pm
The Shrine, New York City http://www.shrinenyc.com/
The Brian Krock Toof-tet
feat. Frederick Menzies- tenor saxophone
Adam Kromelow- piano
Jeff Koch- bass
Philippe Lemm- drum set
Feel free to get in touch at:
brikrock_gmail.com
for any questions about booking or purchasing scores.
"Oh" - Live at the Shrine, NYC
Brian Krock- composer, alto saxophone, bass clarinet
Frederick Menzies- tenor saxophone
Adam Kromelow- keyboard
