Alto saxophonist Brian Hogans hails from Morrow, Georgia. While in high school, he studied privately with trumpeter Danny Harper. In 1998 he received the Louis Armstrong Jazz Award from the magazine The Instrumentalist and the Georgia Excellence in Music Award. Hogans performed in the Georgia Music Educators Association All-State Jazz Ensemble from 1997-2000 and has also participated in the National Grammy High School Jazz Ensemble in 1999 and a Georgia State University Jazz Combo while in high school.
Brian Hogans toured with Valdosta State University Jazz combo in St. Petersburg, Russia. He studied with legendary saxophonist Bunky Green at the University of North Florida, and was part of the 2001-2002 University of North Florida Jazz Band One, which won the Downbeat award for best big band in the nation. Brian has participated in Betty Carter’s Jazz Ahead (A Kennedy Center residency for young people), which included faculty members Terrence Blanchard, Winard Harper, Carmen Lundy, George Cables, John Patitucci, and Nathan Davis. Hogans participated in the 2002 Steans Institute Program for Jazz (a division of the Ravinia Festival in Chicago, Illinois) which included faculty Rufus Reid, Danillo Perez, Nathan Davis, James Moody and David Baker.
He recently graduated with a Bachelor’s degree from William Paterson University in Wayne, New Jersey, where he studied with composer and saxophonist Don Braden, legendary pianist Harold Mabern, pianist Armen Donelian, and internationally renowned pianist James Williams. Brian has performed with drummer Winard Harper and performed with James Williams and trumpeter Bill Mobley at Porter’s in New York City. He has toured as a pianist with trumpeter Ken Waters during the fall of 2003 in the Midwest area of the United States. Brian has performed as a saxophonist and pianist in various venues in the Atlanta, Georgia area as a sideman and with his own group, and recorded with musicians in the area, including trumpeter Russell Gunn. Hogans is currently working on his Master’s degree at Queens College in Flushing, NY, and is a member of the Sean Jones Quintet.
