Brainkiller creates a wildly diverse and original soundworld forged through a blend of seemingly contradictory elements: the intimacy of a chamber trio, the expressionism and immediacy of improvisation, and the raw energy of rock and electronic
music. Born in 2000 in Banff, Canada, BRAINKILLER is the core duo of Texas trombonist Brian Allen and Phoenix pianist Jacob Koller. Brainkiller has frequently collaborated with Bay area percussion Corey Fogel, including a 2003 west coast to gulf coast tour and residency at Houston's Diverse Works, as well as contrabassist Mark Dresser and backtednted. The first duo recording is called "Brainkiller." In November 2007, the teamed up with Argentinian drummer Hernan Hecht for a Brainkiller Trio Mexico Tour. March 2008 will see the US debut and studio recording of the trio.
BRIAN ALLEN performs in a variety of creative musical communities, including his own trio with Tony Malaby and Tom Rainey and other notable performances with Dave Ballou, Anthony Braxton, Gerald Cleaver, Mark Dresser, Ellery Eskelin, Satoko Fujii Orchestra NY and Duo, Frank Gratkowski, Drew Gress, Roswell Rudd and Nate Wooley. As composer of works for wind ensemble, electroacoustic, percussion, jazz and chamber ensembles, Brian recently received a Meet the Composer Global Connections Grant spawning his new Mexican Quartet and duo with Hernan Hecht. Brian is sponsored by the Edwards Instrument Company.
JACOB KOLLER began studying classical piano at age 4. At age 5 he gave his first piano
recital and before entering high school he won over 10 classical piano competitions
(including the Arizona Yamaha Piano Competition). He was a finalist in the prestigious 2007 Cole Porter Piano Competition and awarded Honorable Mention by the Julius Hemphill Composition Competition for his original compositions. He has performed all around the globe with jazz and improvised music luminaries such as Mark Dresser, Terrence Blanchard, Tony Malaby, Martin Denny, Kohji Fujika, Coppe, DJ Kensei, Ricky Woodard and Abe Lagrimas.
HERNAN HECHT was born in Buenos Aires, Argentina in 1975, and has played with Bill Carrothers, Dave Fiuczinsky, Dean Bowman, Frank Gambale, Scott Henderson, Gabriel Hernandez, Pere Soto, Statements Duo, Jarry Singla as well as with most recognized jazz musicians in Argentina and Mexico. He leads two projects: "X-Pression Quartet" and "Gru-B Project", with whom he will release a CD in late 2007. He’s also the drummer of the seminal free-jazz cooperative trio Craneo de Jade, and member of Brian Allen’s Mexican Project, Nicolas Santella Trio, Israel Cupich’s Quartet and Quintet, RHA Trio, Trio SHO, and
singer Ely Guerra’s touring band. He created and coordinated the festivals "JazzHabito" (2002), "ArtLife JazzFest" (2003) and the “Jazz Marathon for the Victims of the Hurricanes in Chiapas and Quintana Roo†(2005). He wrote the music for the Mexican film “Todos los Besos†(2007) and for the documentary "MORS DEI", based on the work of the British visual artist Damien Hirst. He is sponsored by Gretsch, Zildjian and Gibraltar
