Brian Charette

Last updated

Brian Charette
Brian Joseph Charette.jpg
Background information
Birth nameBrian Joseph Charette
Born (1972-11-24) November 24, 1972 (age 51)
Meriden, Connecticut, U.S.
GenresJazz
Occupation(s)Musician, composer
Instrument(s)Piano, Hammond organ, pipe organ, guitar, drums, flute, trumpet
Website www.briancharette.com

Brian Charette (born November 24, 1972) is a jazz pianist, Hammond organist, and electronic music producer. He took 1st place in the 2014 "Downbeat Magazine Critic's Poll Rising Star: Organ" [1] category and "Fan's Decision Jazz Award for Best Organist 2015" [2] in Hot House Magazine. Charette has recorded and performed with music artists such as George Coleman, [3] Oz Noy, Jaimoe, Michael McDonald and Cyndi Lauper.

Contents

Early life

Charette began learning about piano from his mother Catherine. He then studied piano for most of his childhood with George McKinstry. Charette attended Orville H. Platt High School where he began seriously studying music, piano, guitar, and trumpet. After high school, he attended Berklee College of Music for a three-week summer course where he studied with John LaPorta and Rick Peckham. While attending College at The University of Connecticut, Storrs, Charette studied piano with Ellen Rowe, Kenny Werner, Mark DeCozio, Mark Templeton, Charlie Banacos and Neal Larrabee. He graduated with a Bachelors in Fine Arts from UConn in 1994.

Career

While still in high school, Charette started to perform at local clubs around Meriden and New Haven, Connecticut. At age 17, he started working regularly as a pianist with other area musicians such as Jimmy Greene, Paul Brown, and Jeff Pitchell. Charette was often employed as a pianist for established jazz artists like Lou Donaldson, [4] Houston Person, Charles McPherson, Matt "Guitar" Murphy, and Gregg Bissonette. His first professional engagements were in Hartford, Connecticut where he became a member of Street Temperature, a jazz fusion group that played regularly at the 880 Club. After finishing high school, Charette toured Europe with Czech trumpeter, Laco Deczi [5] and upon returning to the United States moved to New York City in 1994.

1990s

Upon graduating from college Charette began working with brothers Jimmy Vivino and Jerry Vivino, backing up artists such as Cyndi Lauper, Michael McDonald, and Michael Bublé. Charette also appeared on television, performing on the Martha Stewart Show, Tony Danza Show, Conan O'Brien Show, Last Call with Carson Daly, and in a recurring role as a pianist on The Guiding Light . In 1999 He performed as a Hammond B3 organist in "Joni's Jazz", a concert in New York's Central Park featuring Joni Mitchell, Chaka Khan and Joe Jackson. [6]

2000s-present

Throughout the 2000s Charette continued to record and play with many artists from all genres including David Hidalgo and Cougar Estrada of Los Lobos and singer Laura Branigan. Charette was signed to SteepleChase Records in 2008 and began touring often in Europe and Asia with his own groups and as a sideman.

In 2011 Charette began recording with the LA based label, Posi-Tone Records, first as a sideman and in 2014 as a leader. In 2012 Charette became endorsed by Hammond USA. He continued to work with many groups including The Allman Brothers Band drummer Jaimoe in Jaimoe's Jasssz Band [7] and with NEA Jazz Masters George Coleman.

Charette continued to perform and tour as both band leader and sideman. In a New York Times jazz review of his sextette Nate Chinen wrote, "The Hammond B-3 organist Brian Charette weighs the ageless objective of soul-jazz with a trace of restless modernity". [8] Jazz critic Ken Micallef wrote in his Downbeat Magazine review of Once and Future, "Both B-3 stylist and student, serious jazz scholar and glitzy entertainer, Charette is a burning soloist who understands the tradition of the Hammond B-3 as well its future—just as certainty as he understands his place in that lineage". Charette also recorded and toured with guitarist Oz Noy [9] and singer Morgan James.

In 2017 Charette began mixing Hammond organ with electronic music and released "Kürrent" on his own label, Dim Mak. [10] In 2019 Charette became endorsed by IK Multimedia. [11] His album of Hammond electronica, Like the Sun was released in December 2020 and a new SteepleChase recording, Power from the Air will be released in 2021.

Since 2011 Charette has been an active educator, lecturer and writer. He has written articles for Keyboard Magazine, [12] Jazz Times, [13] Downbeat, [14] Electronic Musician, [15] and The New York City Jazz Record. He has a book about Hammond organ published by Hal Leonard Corporation, "101 Hammond B3 Tips: Stuff all the Pros Know and Use" as well as a series of four instructional videos out with My Music Masterclass. Charette regularly gives music masterclasses all over the world including at the Czech Jazz Workshop in Prague, Czech Republic where he regularly teaches in the Summer.

Awards and honors

Personal life

Charette had partial hearing loss in his youth and needed ear tubes inserted in 1979 and 1981 which restored his hearing. From 1983 to 1985, Charette was a member of the gifted and talented program at Talcott Mountain Science Center in Avon, Connecticut where he studied computer music and aeronautics. In 1990 he won the Hicks Essay Contest from Orville H. Platt High School. He has been a student of Chinese martial arts since 2004 and received a black sash in Fujian White Crane from Sifu Glenn Green in 2008. He has a bent pinky finger on his right hand from an accident that restricts his ability to use the finger in performance. [18]

Discography

As a leader

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Grant Green</span> American jazz guitarist and composer (1935–1979)

Grant Green was an American jazz guitarist and composer.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Niels-Henning Ørsted Pedersen</span> Danish jazz double bassist

Niels-Henning Ørsted Pedersen, also known by his abbreviated nickname NHØP, was a Danish jazz double bassist.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Chris Potter (jazz saxophonist)</span> American jazz musician and composer

Chris Potter is an American jazz saxophonist, composer, and multi-instrumentalist.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jaimoe</span> American drummer and percussionist

John Lee Johnson, frequently known by the stage names Jai Johanny Johanson and Jaimoe, is an American drummer and percussionist. He is best known as one of the founding members of the Allman Brothers Band.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Conrad Herwig</span> American jazz trombonist

Lee Conrad Herwig III is an American jazz trombonist from New York City.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bruce Katz</span> American musician

Bruce Katz is an American musician, playing piano, organ and bass guitar. From 1996 to 2010, he was on the faculty at the Berklee College of Music in Boston as an associate professor. He founded his own musical group, the Bruce Katz Band in 1991 and has recorded and toured with that band to the present. He has also recorded and toured with many other well-known artists in the Blues, Jazz and Rock music world.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Larry Goldings</span> American musician, composer and arranger

Lawrence Sam "Larry" Goldings is an American jazz keyboardist and composer. His music has explored elements of funk, blues, and fusion. Goldings has a comedic alter ego known as Hans Groiner.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mike LeDonne</span> American jazz pianist and organist

Michael Arthur LeDonne is a jazz pianist and organist known for post-bop and hard bop. He has worked with Benny Golson since 1996 and performs under his own name all over the world.

Akiko Tsuruga is a jazz composer, Hammond B-3 organist and pianist from Osaka, Japan.

Dave Stryker is an American jazz guitarist. He has recorded over twenty-five albums as a leader and has been a featured sideman with Stanley Turrentine, Jack McDuff, and Kevin Mahogany.

James J. Snidero is an American jazz saxophonist.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jared Gold (organist)</span> American jazz organist

Jared Gold is an American jazz organist who plays the Hammond B-3 organ.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pat Bianchi</span> American jazz organist

Pat Bianchi is an American jazz organist from New York, known for playing the Hammond B-3 organ.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sam Yahel</span> Jazz pianist and organist

Sam Yahel is a jazz pianist and Hammond organist. In 1990 he moved to New York City and worked with Bill Frisell, Wycliffe Gordon, Ryan Kisor, Maceo Parker, Madeleine Peyroux, and Joshua Redman.

Edward E. Cherry Jr. is an American jazz guitarist and studio musician. Cherry is perhaps best known for his long association with trumpeter Dizzy Gillespie, with whom he performed from 1978 until shortly before Gillespie's death in 1993. Since that time, he has worked with Paquito D'Rivera, Jon Faddis, John Patton, Hamiet Bluiett, Henry Threadgill, and Paula West. He has recorded a number of albums as a leader.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Walt Weiskopf</span> Musical artist

Walt Weiskopf is an American jazz saxophonist, multi-instrumentalist, composer, author and educator. He has released sixteen albums as a leader, and performed on countless other albums as a sideman. He has collaborated with artists such as Buddy Rich, Frank Sinatra and Steely Dan.

Joseph Anthony Magnarelli is an American jazz trumpeter and flugelhornist.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Joe Locke (musician)</span> American jazz vibraphonist

Joseph Paul Locke is an American jazz vibraphonist.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Alexa Tarantino</span> American jazz Musician

Alexa Tarantino is an American jazz saxophonist, woodwind doubler, composer and educator.

<i>Renaissance Man</i> (album) 2011 studio album by Jaimoes Jasssz Band

Renaissance Man is an album by Jaimoe's Jasssz Band, a group led by drummer and percussionist Jaimoe, best known as a founding member of The Allman Brothers Band. On the album, which was released in 2011 by Lil' Johnieboy Records, Jaimoe is joined by guitarist and vocalist Junior Mack, saxophonists Kris Jensen and Paul Lieberman, trumpeter Reggie Pittman, keyboardists Bruce Katz and Jon Davis, and bassist David Stoltz. Percussionists Lafrae Olivia Sci and Marc Quiñones also appear on several tracks.

References

  1. ↑ "62 Annual Critic's Poll". Downbeat Magazine: 68. August 2014.
  2. ↑ "The 2015 Hot House Jazz Magazine Fan's Decision Jazz Award for Best Organist". Hot House Jazz Guide: 39. October 2015.
  3. ↑ Greenlee, Steve. "Brian Charette/George Coleman: Groovin' With Big G (SteepleChase)". Jazz Times. Retrieved October 31, 2018.
  4. ↑ McNally, Owen (May 11, 1995). "Funkmeister Lou Donaldson will perform at the Blue Star". Hartford Courant.
  5. ↑ Velinger (May 6, 2011). "Laco Deczi Jazz and Real Life in Prague and New York". Radio Prague International. Retrieved May 6, 2011.
  6. ↑ Ratliff, Ben (July 3, 1999). "Jazz Review". The New York Times.
  7. ↑ Berndtson, Chad. "Allman Brothers' Jaimoe on his Jasssz Band". The Patriot Ledger. Retrieved June 29, 2017.
  8. ↑ Chinen, Nate (August 2013). "Jazz listings". New York Times.
  9. ↑ Sieff, Adam (November 16, 2020). "CD Review: Oz Noy: Snap Dragon". London Jazz News. Retrieved November 16, 2020.
  10. ↑ Mirello, Ralph A. (July 31, 2017). "Welcome to the future of organ trios". Huffpost.
  11. ↑ "IK Multimedia Site". NAMM 2020 Events Schedule. Retrieved January 18, 2012.
  12. ↑ Charette, Brian (April 2011). "Messiaen's Modes for Jazz Improvisation". Keyboard Magazine.
  13. ↑ Charette, Brian (March 2016). "B3 101". Jazz Times.
  14. ↑ Charette, Brian (January 2014). "Drawbar Settings for Modern Jazz Organ". Downbeat Magazine.
  15. ↑ Charette, Brian (January 2020). "Review: Casio Privia PX-S 3000". Electronic Musician.
  16. ↑ "68th Annual Critic's Poll". Downbeat Magazine. August 2020.
  17. ↑ "Critic's Poll/Organ". Downbeat Magazine. 88 (8): 40. August 1, 2021.
  18. ↑ O'Connell, Sean J. (January 23, 2012). "Brian Charette is One Weird Organist". LA Weekly. Retrieved January 23, 2012.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.