• Lessons : Bryan takes on a small number of students who are interested in rhythmic studies on a variety of percussion instruments as well as foundational rhythm studies for all instruments. He also teaches a small number of guitar students at beginner and intermediate levels. Please contact me here if you are interested in lessons and we can figure out what might work best for your practice.
• Music : I’m working on recording some original songs and hope to release them by June of 2025!
Bryan has played and performed music for over 40 years. As a true multi-instrumentalist, he performs solo and with a variety of groups. Bryan founded the Flagstaff based Brazilian percussion ensemble Sambatuque, a community drumming ensemble, which he continues to lead and direct. Sambatuque has opened for groups such as the Mickey Hart band, Ozomatli, and The Wailers, among others. He sings and plays sax (his first instrument!) with the Flat Fives, and frequently sits in with local blues and rock bands as a rhythm and sax player. Bryan discovered the world of percussion over 20 years ago and played and studied West African music with djembefolas such as Moussa Traore, Fara Tolno, and his friend and mentor of many years Amara Mansare with whom he accompanied many dance classes. When Bryan discovered Brazilian music he went on a decades+ long journey of discovery in the many rich styles of Brazilian musical tradition, studying with many fantastic teachers (Jorge Alabe, Mark Lamson, Marcus Santos, Jorge Martin, and the wonderful body rhythm musician Keith Terry, among others!)
Bryan also plays guitar and writes original compositions. He has studied guitar most recently with Robb Cappalletto, and performs around Flagstaff as a solo act. Bryan has taught music at all levels from grade school to adults. Those include the Curry Summer Music Camp, Northern Arizona University percussion ensemble, Puget Sound Guitar Workshop, California Coast Music Camp, Katie Glassman’s Mountain Retreat, as well as numerous community workshops for various organizations.
Photo by Nathan Clements
