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Brian Prunka performs an intimate yet energetic style of World Fusion music which draws on his
influences from jazz and middle-eastern music. By turns contemplative and passionate, his
adventurous music appeals both to the senses and intellect.
The oud (or 'ud), an ancient instrument of middle-eastern origins, found its way into Brian's life in 1998. After hearing the pioneering music of Lebanese oudist Rabih Abou-Khalil, he fell in love with the dark, expressive sound of this fretless ancestor of the lute (the very word lute comes from the Arabic al'ud). Initially he was self-taught on the instrument, drawing on his years of guitar playing and studying the recordings of great oudists like Anouar Brahem and Simon Shaheen. In 2001, 2002, and again in 2003, Brian was awarded scholarships study oud, along with Arabic classical music theory & repertoire, at the Arab Arts Retreat led by Simon Shaheen, where he studied with Arabic music luminaries Shaheen, Jihad Racy, and others. Since relocating to New York in 2003, he has been furthering his study of Arabic music with Shaheen as well as the Lebanese multi-instrumentalist Bassam Saba. This ensemble, which evolved from a group begun in 1999, represents the culmination of Brian's study of jazz and Arabic music. With a Master's Degree in Jazz Performance from the University of New Orleans and 10 years of soaking up the New Orleans' deeply rooted jazz tradition, Prunka is well-equipped to fulfill his goal of creating a bridge between the world of jazz and that of Arabic classical music. Renowned jazz guitarist Steve Masakowski has commented that "Brian is a gifted player and composer, and one of the new breed of creative jazz musicians who are redefining the music." Through formal study of Arabic music, he brings a new dimension to jazz; although many jazz musicians (notably Duke Ellington, John Coltrane, Charles Lloyd, Keith Jarrett, and Pharoah Sanders) have incorporated some mid-eastern sounds into their music to varying degrees, there has been very little serious attention paid to the deep musical tradition of the middle east. In contrast, Brian's music gives jazz and mid-eastern music equal importance. Dave Madden of Splendid Ezine wrote, "written descriptions won't do the music justice; you have to listen to understand . . ." |
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