About Me
Born in the Bronx,tenor and soprano saxophonist Peter Brainin has distinguished himself over the past 20 years as a member of many important bands,and also as a composer and leader of his own adventurous projects.He began composing music during his early tenure in pianist Joey Calderazzo's quartet where he had a chance to work with Jeff 'Tain' Watts,Ron McClure,and Billy Hart.His involvment in Latin-Jazz began in 1989 when he joined the Hilton Ruiz Ensemble,a gig that lasted for 10 years and provided him the opportunity to play and record(check out Hilton's "Live at Birdland" c.d. on Candid)with Jerry and Andy Gonzalez,Giovanni Hidalgo,David Sanchez,Lew Soloff,and to perform at major venues in Europe,the U.K. and the Caribbean as well as the Blue Note and Village Gate here in New York City. In 1992 he toured the States and Europe for 2 months with Mongo Santamaria and later that year joined Willie Colon and Legal Alien which evetually took him all over Europe,Japan,and North,South and Central America.He joined the Chico O'farrill Afro- Cuban Jazz Orchestra in 1996 and since then has played on 2 of Chico's grammy nominated c.d.'s as well touring internationally,playing at Birdland in NYC every Sunday,and appearing in the films "Calle 54"and "Thomas Crown Affair".Peter can also be heard on Bobby Sanabria's grammy nominated c.d.'s "Live and In Clave","Big Band Urban Folk Tales", and on Steve Berrios' "First World" with Eddie Henderson,Larry Willis,and George Mraz. More recently Peter performed at Alice Tully Hall with the Lincoln Center Afro-Latin Jazz Orchestra with special guests Wynton Marsalis and Paquito D'Rivera and completed 3 concert tours of Spain with pianist Bebo Valdez.For several years Peter was a member of the Danny Moore Quintet which included Harold Mabern and Idris Muhammad and during that time also worked at Smalls with the band One for All. Many of Peter's compositions and arrangements can be heard on his 2 original c.d.'s,recorded with drummer/co-leader Steve Johns."Ceremony"(Cats Paw)and the most recent "No Saints No Sinners"(Playscape)also feature the playing of Ben Monder,George Cables,Conrad Herwig,Jay Anderson,and Eddie Henderson.As a leader,he has performed his music at Birdland,Fat Cat,Smalls,Visiones,Sweet Rhythm,and the Kitano in N.Y.C.,and at jazz festivals and other venues in Colombia,Ecuador,Austria,Switzerland,and Aruba.He was twice awarded the BRIO Fellowship Award for musical composition by the Bronx Council on the Arts. Other bands and individual artists Peter Brainin has performed and/or recorded with include:Randy Weston,the Temptations,Charles McPherson,Edy Martinez Big Band & Quintet,Ronnie Mathews,Ed Simon,Michel Camilo,Bobby Watson,Marlon Simon & Nagual Spirits,Manny Duran & Afro Bop,Scott Colley,Edsel Gomez' 'Cubist Music' Sextet,Papo Vazquez' Pirates & Troubadors,Roger Kellaway,Bill Charlap,Ray Barretto,Carlos'Patato'Valdez,Cliff Korman & the Brazilian Tinge,Roswell Rudd,Uri Caine,Brian Lynch,Luis Perdomo,Israel'Cachao'Lopez,Chuck Clark Little Big Band,the Latin Giants of Jazz,Jon Faddis,Joe Magnarelli,Ruben Blades,Matt 'Guitar Murphy Band,Tom Harrell,Randy Brecker,Frank Foster,Frank Strozier,Deanna Witkowski Quartet,Valeri Ponamorev Big Band,Don Friedman,Luis Bonilla & Trombonilla,the Bronx Horns,Arturo O'farrill & Riza Negra,Chris Washburne & SYOTOS,Badal Roy,Charles Tolliver,Lewis Nash,Chembo Corniel & Grupo Chaworo,Billy Harper,Claudio Rodito,Eddie Palmieri,Ray Anderson,Mike Clark,Barbara Donald Quintet,Ray Vega Latin Jazz Sextet,Bruce Barth,and the late,great Dennis Irwin.
