BREAKING STRETCH IS BREAKING GROUND INTO THE BEST ALBUMS OF 2024 LISTS!!!
Breaking Stretch free Listening Party on Bandcamp!
THURSDAY AUGUST 29, 6PM (EST)
Join me in listening to the whole Breaking Stretch album at this free Bandcamp Listening Party! Let's celebrate together the release (in advance) of my septet record Breaking Stretch. You will be able to pre-order the album in all available formats directly from the Listening Party. At showtime (6PM) the album plays once from start to finish.
Live chat will be available during the Listening Party. I'm very much looking forward to sharing the stories behind the music and celebrate this record with all of you!
THE SINGLE “earendel” IS OUT NOW ON ALL DIGITAL PLATFORMS!
I’m so excited to share the news that the single “Earendel” from my upcoming septet record “Breaking Stretch” is out now on all digital platforms under the label Pyroclastic Records.
The video below is a wonderful music video for the single “Earendel” created, directed and edited by filmmaker Frank Heath and produced by David Breskin.
About the single “Earendel” - This composition takes its name and feeling from Earendel, the oldest and more distant star we have yet discovered. The name derives from the old English word meaning “morning star” or “rising light”. Earendel, discovered by the Hubble Space Telescope in 2022, lies 28 billion light years from earth. (It is also known by the less poetic name: WHL0137-LS). Astronomers estimate that Earendel is twice as hot and 1 million times brighter than our sun! This song begins and ends over a pulsing, fading heartbeat, which represents the beginning and end of matter, including Earendel itself as it journeys away from us. In this piece we explore the concept of constant expansion, the elasticity of the universe, and our never ending travel through space into infinity.
The full album will be released on September 6 but you can pre-order NOW on Bandcamp HERE while you enjoy listening to the first single.
THE SINGLE “PALO DE OROS (SUIT OF COINS)” IS OUT NOW ON ALL DIGITAL PLATFORMS!
I’m so excited to share the news that the single “Palo de Oros” (Suit of Coins) from my upcoming septet record “Breaking Stretch” is out now on all digital platforms under the label Pyroclastic Records.
The full album will be released on September 6 but you can pre-order NOW on Bandcamp HERE while you enjoy listening to the first single.
The septet features an incredible group of musicians and humans: Adam O’Farrill on trumpet with electronics, Jon Irabagon on alto & sopranino saxophones, Mark Shim on tenor saxophone, Kim Cass on bass, Marcus Gilmore on drums & Mauricio Herrera on percussion.
I hope you enjoy it. Thank you for listening and for all the support.
The video below was filmed by the amazing Frank Heath during the recording of this single at the legendary Power Station BerkleeNYC.
Happy to share the incredible album cover of my upcoming septet album “Breaking Stretch”
An incredible image taken by the amazing Julian Charrière. This photograph was taken during the making of Stone Speakers. Photographed at Fagradalsfjall and Litli-Hrutur, Iceland. Album design& layout by Spotswood Erving and July Creek for Janky Defense.
On AUGUST 9, the first single of my septet record “Breaking Stretch” will be released on Pyroclastic Records. I really can’t wait to share this record with you!
“Breaking Stretch” expands on the percussive and rhythmic signature of my More Touch quartet. That quartet with Kim Cass, Marcus Gilmore and Mauricio Herrera is now joined by three virtuosic horns players carrying unique rhythmic capabilities: Adam O’Farrill on trumpet, Jon Irabagon on alto and sopranino saxophones, and Mark Shim on tenor.
Save the date: AUGUST 9, first single release! Full record release on SEPTEMBER 6. Stay tuned!
UPCOMING SEPTET RECORD “BREAKING STRETCH” TO BE RELEASEd SEPTEMBER 6, 2024 ON PYROCLASTIC RECORDS!
I’m really excited to share that my new septet featuring Jon Irabagon on alto & sopranino saxophones, Mark Shim on tenor saxophone, Adam O’Farrill on trumpet & electronics, Kim Cass on bass, Marcus Gilmore on drums and Mauricio Herrera on percussion will be released on September 6 on Pyroclastic Records!
Save the date!
“Breaking Stretch” expands on the rhythmic and percussive signature of my More Touch quartet. That quartet (with Kim Cass, Marcus Gilmore and Mauricio Herrera ) is now joined by three horns carrying unique rhythmic capabilities: Adam O’Farrill on trumpet, Jon Irabagon on alto and sopranino saxophones, and Mark Shim on tenor. On this album, I seek to create depth through the exploration of density and shifting rhythmic layers, and by using orchestral techniques that create what might be called broadness: essentially, depth through width, width through depth. For instance, I use extreme ranges, asking the horn players to explore the outer edges of their sonic envelopes in my written material and their improvisations.
Photo credit: Frank Heath
“UNQUIET RESPECT” listed on NPR’s 100 BEST SONGS OF 2022!!!
WoW! This is awesome! So happy to see my song “Unquiet Respect” - from my recent quartet record “More Touch” listed on NPR Music 100 Best Songs of 2022 along with so many incredible artists from all kinds of styles of music!!
This list includes artists like KaRoL G, Leon Bridges and Madison Cunningham! My song is listed No. 75. What an honor!
See full list HERE
2022 WINNER OF THE 70th ANNUAL DOWNBEAT CRITICS VIBRAPHONE RISING STAR AWARD!!!
See full list of 2022 winners HERE
My QUARTET album “MORE TOUCH” is available ON ALL PLATFORMs!
I’m really excited to share the release of my second album as a leader: “More Touch”
This quartet record, represents a process of inner search, backwards to my roots in Veracruz, Mexico and forwards into my future. A music of fluidity, flexibility, precision, and density. And above all, a music rich in imagined imagery.
The quartet features a quite unusual instrumentation: mallet percussion, percussion, drum, and bass. Essentially, a small percussion ensemble with bass, carving a space where rhythm, color, and texture could flourish.
More Touch is Kim Cass on bass, Marcus Gilmore on drums, Mauricio Herrera on percussion and myself on mallet percussion and effects.
Released on November 18, 2022 under the label Pyroclastic Records.
ORDER ‘MORE TOUCH” HERE
*Also available on all digital platforms and streaming services.
NEW SINGLE “UNQUIET RESPECT” AVAILABLE ON ALL PLATFORMS!
I’m excited to share that my single “Unquiet Respect” from my upcoming quartet record “More Touch” is available on all platforms under the label Pyroclastic Records.
“Unquiet Respect” is a reggae soca-inspired composition. This groove-heavy song is reminiscent of the unquiet nature and party-like vibe of my hometown of Veracruz, where this rhythm was popular in the mid-‘90s.
The quartet features Kim Cass on bass, Marcus Gilmore on drums, Mauricio Herrera on percussion and myself on mallet percussion and effects.
Stay tuned for the full album release on November 18! You can pre-order on the Pyroclastic Records Bandcamp page -click HERE.
Short film by Frank Heath
MAQUISHTI HITS #4 ON NEW YORK TIMES 10 BEST JAZZ ALBUMS OF 2021
My ebut solo album “Maquishti” was listed number 4 in The New York Times 10 Best Jazz Albums of 2021. It’s an incredible honor to be included amongst greats like Pharoah Sanders, Jason Moran, Adam O’Farrill, and Esperanza Spalding to name a few.
Thank you to Giovanni Russonello from The New York Times for including my music. Also, thank you to everyone that has supported my music and has believed in my journey as a leader. It means so much.
Read the full article HERE
FEATURE ON THE WIRE MAGAZINE - JANUARY 2021 (ISSUE 443)
I’m grateful to The Wire magazine for the feature on the January 2021 issue!
Daniel Spicer wrote a wonderful article about my background and upcoming record “Maquishti” to be released January 15, 2021 under the label Valley Of Search. Also, Julian Cowley wrote a great review of my upcoming record which you can read on this issue as well. The magazine is also featuring my single “Sonnet” on their playlist Below The Radar 35. Check out this awesome magazine and subscribe!
Spotlight feature on Highsnobiety jazz tv in partnership with the newport jazz festival
New single “Improvisation VI” is out!
This improvisation is another preview track of my upcoming debut solo album MAQUISHTI and features my love for the marimba.
A little background on this track: the second day (and last day) of recording, I recorded a series of free improvisations on marimba and vibraphone. “Improvisation VI” is one of those improvisations that reflects the influence that my past as a concert marimbist has on my voice as improviser and composer.
Stay tuned for the full album release on January 15, 2021 on the wonderful label Valley of Search. Can’t wait!
My debut solo album “maquishti” is available for pre-order!
I'm really excited to announce the release of my debut full length album MAQUISHTI, January 15, 2021 on the Valley of Search label.
“This album is a personal statement not only as a vibraphonist but also as an improviser and composer,” says Brennan. “From bowing and bending pitch, to the use of extended effects via guitar pedals, this album reflects my vision for the vibraphone and the potential of all the possible ways it can be played. I wanted to not only incorporate all those techniques in the compositions but also wanted them to become part of my general improvisatory language.”
My single ‘Magic Square’ is available on all platforms!
‘On this piece, a piano montuno pattern serves as a playground for Brennan to showcase her improvisational skills. The glassy notes fall in place with a mathematical design that shares the song’s name, tickling our brains and painting an abstract picture of disassembled Cuban landscapes.’ Remezcla, 2020
Check out the “Magic Square” single feature article on REMEZCLA
Stay tuned for the full record release on January 15, 2021 on the label Valley of Search