Brian was born in Cincinnati, Ohio to a family of professional musicians. It is not surprising that he found his passion for rhythm. His father is a specialist in woodwinds and his mother is a singer and pianist. His father was a woodwinds specialist and his mother a vocalist and pianist. The sounds filled the house with their constant practicing and his mother singing to him. His incessant banging on non-animate objects almost led to him being placed up for adoption. However, his parents bought him a drum set as well as earplugs to show their support. Brian’s eclectic style led him to perform with Little Anthony and the Imperials in Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, as well as Faith Prince, a Tony Award winner and Broadway star. Brian has shared the stage with blues legends Sam Myers, Lonnie Mack, and Leroy “Sugar” Bonner of The Ohio Players. He also performed alongside Woody Harrelson, a television and movie star. Brian moved to San Francisco Bay Area because of his growing interest in Latin music, culture and dance in 1999. He soon began to work with many local Latin funk, Latin jazz and Salsa groups. Brian was invited to join Dr Loco (Dr Jose Cuellar)’s band in 2000. Brian continues to perform alongside him in Los Tiburones Del Norte and The Rockin’ Jalapeno band. Dr. Loco had asked Brian to record the original music soundtrack of the Robert M. Young film Alambrista Directors Cut. He was joined by Greg Landau, a Grammy-nominated producer and musician. Before his death, Brian performed with Lalo Guerrero (The Father of Chicano Music) and the National Medal of Arts recipient. Brian, who lives in San Francisco, has performed with many notable musicians, including Ray Obiedo (John Santos (John Santos), Wayne Wallace (Omar Sosa), guitarist Ray Obiedo (Ivory Coast native Fely Tchaco), Grammy Award-winning Pacific Mambo Orchestra, Independent Music Award winner artist, and Ivory Coast reggae singer Black Nature, Sierra Leone Refugee Allstars) and Danilo Paiz, percussionist band leader Danuben Blades). He also performed with East Coast Bachata performers Frankely and Bautista, Frankely, Frankely, Frankely, Frankely, Frankely, Frankely, Frankely, Frankely, and Frankely, East Coast Bachata, Frankely, Frankely, Frankely, Frankely, Frankely, Frankely, Frankely at their West Coast shows. Brian also maintains a private practice for drum set and percussion instruction. He conducts workshops and lectures about the history and culture behind the drum set and percussion. His lesson, “Clave In Odd Meters”, was published in Downbeat Magazine’s November 2014 issue. After spending many years as a sideman and learning his craft, Brian took on the role of bandleader in 2007. The Afro-Cuban Jazz Cartel was introduced to the San Francisco Bay Area. The group features Grammy Award-winning musicians and esteemed Music Educators. It continues to preserve the rich legacy of San Francisco Bay Area Latin Jazz. The group combines the best of jazz’s improvisational and harmonic elements with the exotic rhythms of the Caribbean to create “the perfect combination”. The ACJC is a top Latin jazz group in the Bay Area. Their debut CD Drummer’s Talk, which was released in 2013, San Francisco, and This Could Be That in 2016, made them a household name. They are now regularly performing in the Bay Area as well as touring the Midwest. Brian was voted in the top 20 for Drummers in the Downbeat Magazine 80th Annual Reading’s Poll 2015. Brian is a drummer, bandleader, and sideman. He continues to perform at an elite level. Brian maintains the professionalism of a professional artist while still embracing new opportunities for expression. Brian is a Bosphorus Artist. From www.brianandres.com
