Brian Abrahams - Musician

Brian Abrahams (born 26 June 1947 in Cape Town, South Africa) is a jazz drummer and vocalist who started out working as a singer with local bands in South Africa. In the 1970s Abrahams participated in a gig in Swaziland as drummer for Sarah Vaughan and Nancy Wilson. In 1975 he moved to the United Kingdom, where he gained his recognition. Abrahams has worked with groups and artists such as Abdullah Ibrahim, Dudu Pukwana, Ronnie Scott, John Taylor, Johnny Dyani, Brotherhood of Breath, Jim Pepper, Dewey Redman, Mal Waldron, Archie Shepp, and Courtney Pine. During the 1980s Abrahams founded his own group, District Six. In 1988 he joined the band Ekaya, which was founded by Abdullah Ibrahim. More recently he has been working in projects led by Tony Haynes from the Grand Union Orchestra
Brian Abrahams has been a tutor and educator in London institutes of music for the past 30 years. (see references)
Brian has recently re-formed District 6 in Melbourne 2009 Australia, first performance at Dizzys Jazz club. Players are: Tony Hicks ts, Nick Lester ts, Eugene Ball tpt, Cameron McAlister tpt, John McAll pno, Zvi Belling bs, Brian Abrahams drs
Brian Abrahams and his new band DISTRICT SIX has performed at Wangaratta Jazz Festival, Stonnington Jazz Festival, Melbourne Jazz Festival, Commonwealth Games, Bennetts Lane Jazz Club etc…

Name: Brian Abrahams

Address: 21 Hawksburn Crescent

Wantirna South

VIC 3152

Telephone: (03) 9887 1319 (h)

0433 266 922 (m)

Email: badrum1@hotmail.com

Nationality: British

Health: Good

Languages: English (Fluent) Afrikaans (Fluent) Dutch, German, Spanish (Basic)

Personal Interests: Contemporary, Jazz, Classical and Pop Music, History, Reading, Sport

Nature

Education & Qualifications:

Athlone High School – Cape Town, South Africa

Music Qualifications

Ø Self Taught from age 12

Ø Worked in South Africa until 1975

Ø Moved to London and continued studies with masters like Philly Joe Jones – USA; Clifford Jarvis – USA

Ø Continued personal development studies and technique improvement

Ø 40 years of Performance Experience in UK, USA, Japan, Europe, Africa and Scandinavia.

Key Strengths:

¨ Outstanding interpersonal and communication skills, communicate well with musicians and students from beginners to advanced

¨ Excellent at establishing students needs and able to identify areas and aspects of development

¨ Experienced in all styles of drumming (i.e. jazz, fusion, rock, world music etc)

¨ Experienced in running rhythm workshops for Latin, African, Eastern European Rhythms

¨ Strong functional and technical knowledge of all styles of drumming

¨ Excellent at mentoring students as I take a personal interest in students development and technical progress

¨ Results oriented – accepting a high level of personal accountability

¨ Able to use sound judgment and make accurate assessments

¨ Thrive in a diverse and challenging environment

¨ Operate as a productive contributor in a team environment and capable of working as a well organised autonomous/solo operator.

MUSICAL EXPERIENCE HISTORY

I have played alongside some of the greatest musicians of all time. Some of these are:

USA - Don Cherry, Dewey Redman, Jim Pepper, Jimmy Witherspoon, Abdullah Ebrahim, Buster Williams, Oscar Brown Junior

UK – London Philharmonic Orchestra, Grand Union Orchestra, London Jazz Orchestra, Ronnie Scott, Courtney Pine, Nigel Kennedy, Brotherhood of Breath, Grand Union Orchestra.

I was a visiting tutor at the following institutions in the

o Guildhall School of Music and Drama

o Trinity College of Music

o Royal Academy of Music

o Wigmore Hall of Music Education (Jazz) – London

I have been an endorsee for SONOR for 25 years

I am able to easily establish a rapport with students and am excellent at one-on-one tutoring and group instruction.

For more information on my musical prowess, please refer to the following websites

www.grandunion.org.uk (musicians)

www.wigmorehall.org.uk

www.gsmd.org.uk

Referees: