BIOGRAPHY OVERVIEW
Brian Murphy is a Grammy Award Winning, Internationally acclaimed pianist, composer and arranger who has recorded and performed extensively in Canada, the United Kingdom, Europe, Japan and the U.S.A. with many of the world’s most renowned Jazz artists.
ARTIST ASSOCIATIONS
Brian has been associated as music director/accompanist with artists as diverse as
Wynton Marsalis,
Mark Murphy,
Sheila Jordan,
Diana Krall,
Arturo Sandoval,
Paquito D’Rivera,
Tom Scott,
Woody Shaw,
Mark O’Connor,
Albert Collins,
Eddie “Cleanhead” Vinson,
Jimmy Witherspoon,
Kevin Mahogany,
Vivian Reed,
The Dance Theatre of Harlem,
David Liebman,
Bob Berg,
Eddie Daniels,
Plas Johnson,
Wycliffe Gordon,
Jackie Paris,
Dame Shirley Bassey,
Lucie Arnaz,
Engelbert Humperdinck,
Jack Jones,
Bernadette Peters,
Julie Budd,
Nigel Kennedy,
Caroline Rocher,
The Diamonds,
Hal Linden,
Regis Philbin,
Susan Lucci
and many others.
TITO PUENTE
Brian has created/supervised/recorded many special arrangements for the King of Latin Music, Tito Puente, and was honorably noted, along with Tito, in the Salsa Guidebook by Rebeca Mauleon. Their arrangement of Straight No Chaser is cited as a reference for converting a non-clavé melody into clavé.
DISTINGUISHED GUESTS
Brian has performed all over the world with artists of note for many distinguished guests including Prince Charles and Diana, Princess of Wales,
Prince Andrew and
the Duchess of York,
Faye Dunaway,
Esteé Lauder,
Sir Edmund Hillary,
Oscar Peterson,
Bono (U2),
Shirley Horn,
Israel “Cachao” Lopez,
the Dalai Lama and others.
PROFILE OF BRIAN MURPHY BY DEB POWER
Of all the great musical talents in our community, Brian Murphy is without a doubt one of the truly gifted. He grew up surrounded by music as both parents were quite talented. Phyllis Hicks Murphy, Brian's mother, played piano, and every day she sat and played before lunch and sometimes after dinner. She was an excellent sight reader and could play many different popular pieces, which Brian learned while listening to her. Phyllis grew up listening to music herself, as her mother played piano as well. Phyllis' father was George Hicks who was the first school teacher in Grand Falls, as well as paymaster at the mill and the only non-security person permitted to carry a gun. Both Brian's Grandfathers were men of great valor who fought in WW1. George Hicks was awarded the Military Cross, and James Murphy was awarded the Distinguished Conduct Medal. Michael Murphy, Brian's father, played alto saxophone, piano, Eb horn and French horn.
Together his parents played in their orchestra called The Modernaires, which also included James Molloy (saxophone), Art Byrd (accordion), Buster Winslow (drums), and Dorothy Anthony (vocals). There was always music at the Murphy house. Mike and Phyllis loved the Swing Era and had recordings of Glenn Miller, Tommy Dorsey and other big band stars along with the Boston Pops, Henry Mancini (who was a big influence on Brian) and other popular music of the time. All of his siblings were musical as well. Philip played trumpet in high school, Rick played drums and still plays piano today, and Steve played piano, saxophone and still plays drums today. Brian recalls as a child, dancing around to one particular song when the record played. The song was a very old jazz tune by Kid Ory called The Muskrat Ramble, and he was just two years old.¨
EARLY YEARS/PIANO LESSONS
Between the ages of five to 10, Brian became obsessed with music. He knew at this early an age that this would be his life calling. He took piano lessons from the Presentation Sisters, Although Brian was already improvising at an early age, he did learn some technique from the Nuns.What he enjoyed most was being in a group with other piano students. At the time there were only two boys taking lessons, but the prettiest and smartest girls in his class made up the rest of the students and already Brian was becoming an incurable romantic!
While at Notre Dame Academy, Brian played in the regular Christmas and Spring concerts as well as piano recitals, but the Kiwanis Music Festival of 1965 stands out in his mind. He played a piano piece that was also played by 38 other children and he was the first competitor. The judges asked several of the kids to play it again and the final result was Brian tied for first place with Ardyth Morgan (sister of Pamela Morgan) who remains a friend of his to this day. There was one music teacher who influenced Brian. Ray Alyward was conducting the St. Mike's band, and when Brian joined, the first instrument he learned to play was the tuba. He played it for about a week before switching to clarinet and bass clarinet. From Ray, Brian had his first instruction in jazz, being introduced to Dave Brubeck, Bill Evans and others. He says he is very grateful to Ray for not only his musicianship but his open mind, his intelligence, his experience, and the pleasant way he had with his students.
1960s
The first band Brian was in was a short-lived group called The Dymonds.They rehearsed for two weeks and played mostly country music and some rock and roll. He remembers they played once for a wedding at the Orange Lodge (Beaumont Manor). The group consisted of Tony Wall (vocal), Dan Devine (lead guitar), Cyril Devine (rhythm guitar), Warren Way (drums), and Brian playing electric bass.The bass guitar he played was a copy of a Fender Precision.This was 1967 and Brian was 14-years-old. During this year, he also bought his first portable organ from an Italian company called Teisco, the model was a Teischord C. It was around this time that Brian found himself frequently visiting his first mentor, Ralph Gaulton after school. At the time, Ralph had two locations where he operated his electronics repair business - one in the Ryan's Cash Store building and the other in what used to be Garland Morrissey's drugstore. They would spend hours jamming old standard songs and popular hits and he says Ralph gave him an insight into guitar styles and just music in general. Ralph Gaulton, with his wisdom of music, loved to share his knowledge with talented people and Brian was not the only one Ralph musically befriended from Grand Falls.
Brian had two different Hammond organs. The first one was arranged for purchase through Ralph Gaulton and Brian's Dad went to considerable trouble helping him make it more portable. The second one, he bought from Adrian Beaumont.
The next band for Brian was the Growing Concern which consisted of Race Hanlon (vocals), Bruce Moss (guitar), Ted Lane (bass guitar), Butch Pinsent (drums) and Brian on the keys. He remembers Ted Lane being a fun guy to be around as he was always cracking jokes. He was 15 now and this band was together from 1967-68.
1970s
The years 1969-70 saw the formation of the band The Rock Pile. In this group were; Bruce Moss/Kevin Hoddinott-guitar, Ed Cater-bass guitar, Ewen Newhook-vocals, Cyril Gallant/Dave Hillier-drums, and Brian on keys.Then in 1970, Brian's next band was Kite. It consisted of Kevin Hoddinott and Ewen Newhook, with Mack Furlong on the drums and Brian again on keys and keyboard bass. Rockpile and Kite were active traveling bands and Brian saw quite a bit of roadwork in places like the Old Mill and other nightspots in St. John's. Not bad for a 16-year-old. Brian also collaborated on many different projects with his life long friend - bassist, Terry Burke. One of these projects was the Brian Murphy Trio with Paul Hennessey on the drums. They did a series of recordings that were broadcast on the local CBC network. He was always interpreting music in his own way but in this trio he got to experiment with Jazz tunes by such artists as Dave Brubeck and Oscar Peterson. Around this time, Brian was offered a gig at the Holiday Inn in Corner Brook, where he played for several years in a popular duo, with well-known west coast drummer Denny Solo. He did most of the singing back then - something which he has phased out in later years opting to concentrate more on the keyboards. He was also playing a Hammond organ and bass pedals, as well as a Rhodes piano.
Brian and Denny remained close until Denny’s passing on April 11, 2011.
TNT
Brian performed live and recorded from 1975-77 with the Newfoundland band TNT.
TNT was a well known and popular rock/blues band consisting of musicians Denis Parker (guitar/harmonica/vocals), Neil Bishop (guitar), Claude Caines (bass guitar/vocals) and Teddy McNeil (drums).In 1976 he decided to broaden his horizons musically and jumped at the chance when he was offered a band gig in Halifax.
HALIFAX AND NOVA SCOTIA
Brian became Music Director for the Digby Pines Resort Hotel from 1977-78, as well as Music Director for many Theatrical Productions in places such as the Neptune Theatre/Festival Lennoxville, Theatre New Brunswick, Charlottetown Festival and the National Arts Centre. 1979-81
Brian also played the local Jazz clubs and performed with great musicians such as Moe Koffman, Rob McConnell, Guido Basso, Doug Mallory, Dianne Brooks and many others.
He was guest soloist with Dalhousie University Jazz Orchestra and did Lectures and Clinics there and at St. Francis Xavier University.
He became Music Director/Pianist for numerous radio and TV productions in 1980-82 and composed original theme music for CBC Information Morning, he also recorded an album of original compositions at CBC with well known Halifax artists - Skip Beckwith, Don Palmer,
Keith Jollimore, Kevin Dean & Anil Sharma.
1980s TORONTO
In 1982, while in Toronto, Brian spent eight months as music director with New Orleans Hall of Fame member, vocalist Jodi Drake.
He played the local Piano Bar scene in Toronto and places such as the Bellair Café in Yorkville, with such talents as- Marty Melanson, Dave Young, Roberto Occhipinti, Al Henderson,
Joe Bendzsa, Barry Elmes, Bob McLaren and Norman Marshall Villeneuve.
In 1983 he put together the Brian Murphy Quartet Maritime Tour (Nova Scotia/New Brunswick) with musicians - Kirk MacDonald, Marty Melanson, Joe Bendzsa and Anil Sharma.
During his years in Toronto, there were performances/recordings with Clarence "Big" Miller, Don "D.T." Thompson, Lorne Lofsky, Jerry Fuller, Neil Swainson, Woody Shaw, Ralph Bowen, Michael Stuart, Freda Payne, Gerry Niewood, Dizzy Reece, Hugh Marsh, Henry Questa,
Reg Schwager, Archie Alleyne, Eugene Amaro, Bruce Cockburn, William "Smitty" Smith, Molly Johnson, Claude Ranger, Jim Vivian and many others at the DuMaurier Jazz Festival, Ontario Place, Gemini Awards, Royal Ontario Museum, Toronto Science Centre,
University of Toronto, York University, University of Guelph, Norman Jewison Estate,
Ontario Big Band Festival and venues Top of the Senator, Bermuda Onion, Bourbon Street, George's Spaghetti House, East 85th, Bluenote, Albert's Hall, Bamboo Club, Diamond Club & The Horseshoe. (1983-1988)
Brian also received Arts Grants from the Canada Council for studies in electronic music and studies with noted composer DOUG RILEY.
In 1988 Brian performed with the great TITO PUENTE and they began a collaboration with Brian as arranger/pianist/keyboardist on a number of successful recordings for the Concord Picante label that included Grammy Award winner Goza Mi Timbal.
Brian's arrangement of "Airegin" was chosen as the single representation of Tito's 13 year association with Concord Picante in their 30th Anniversary boxed CD set.
His friendship and music with this great artist continued until Mr. Puente’s passing on May 31st, 2000.
During this time, Brian was also featured pianist with trumpet/flugelhorn star Guido Basso and his Orchestra and Quintet. He performed at Jazz festivals in Europe and Canada with Rob McConnell and The Boss Brass, and at the Royal York Hotel and Old Mill with the Bobby Herriot Orchestra from 1987-94.
He also engineered live sound for the Dave Holland Quintet on two occasions from 1990-91.
KEY WEST AND MIAMI
In 1994 Brian arrived in Key West, Florida. He became musical partners with the legendary trumpet/saxophone/flute Jazz master, Ira Sullivan and they performed together at Captain Hornblower’s Jazz Club. Brian looks upon this partnership as a ‘gift’ of making music with this incredibly talented man.
They formed a close musical and personal bond that flourished until Ira’s passing on Sept. 21, 2020.
From 1994-97 he had performances and recordings with—Cecil Brooks, Carol Chaikin,
Teddy Charles, Mike Gillis, Steve Gilmore, Pepito Hernandez, Phil Flanigan, Othello Molineaux, Barry Ries, Dave Valentin, Guy Viveros and many others at Fantasy Fest, Hemingway Days Festival, Key West Jazz Festival and venues….Jimmy Buffet’s Margaritaville, Kelly McGillis’ Caribbean Bar and Tennessee Williams Fine Arts Centre, just to name a few.
After invitations from Ira Sullivan and Othello Molineaux, Brian relocated to Miami Beach, Florida in 1997.
Since that time Othello and Brian have performed for the Ministry of Culture in Berlin Germany, and Ira and Brian were featured at the 2002 JVC Jazz Festival in Toronto where they received enthusiastic response and excellent reviews.
Today Brian resides in Miami with his longtime life partner,
song stylist/actress/poet/photographer, Donna Blue MacDonald.
Donna Blue is from Cape Breton, Nova Scotia and is a multi-faceted artist who divides her time between music, theatre and film/television. She has had a life of performing in Cabarets and premiere Blues Clubs, and the great Albert Collins referred to her as ‘Miss Blue’.
Together Brian and Donna perform regularly in the Miami area.
Over the years Donna has played a major role in Brian’s life and his art, and I don’t need to ask to know that he did with hers as well.
Brian enjoys a long and esteemed career in all facets of music as
Music Director/Producer/Composer/
Arranger/Clinician/Pianist/
Keyboardist.
Miami has opened many doors which have enabled him to create increased global connections that keep him busy with a variety of recording and performance projects, and he is a very busy man who is always in great demand.
GLOBAL ARTIST
Through the years, he has been associated as music director/accompanist with artists as diverse as Wynton Marsalis, Diana Krall, Arturo Sandoval, Paquito D’Rivera, Harry “Sweets” Edison, Albert Collins, Eddie “Cleanhead” Vinson, Jimmy Witherspoon, Kevin Mahogany, The Dance Theatre of Harlem, David Liebman, Bob Berg, Eddie Daniels, Plas Johnson, Dame Shirley Bassey, Lucie Arnaz, Engelbert Humperdinck, Jack Jones, Bernadette Peters, Nigel Kennedy, Hal Linden, Regis Philbin, Susan Lucci and many others.
Brian has performed all over the world (Toronto, Vancouver, Montreal, Miami, Berlin, Tokyo, New York, Boston, Telluride, Edinburgh, Jamaica, Finland, Sicily) for many distinguished guests, including Prince Charles and Diana, Princess of Wales, the Dalai Lama, Esteé Lauder, Sir Edmund Hillary, Faye Dunaway, Bono (U2) and Oscar Peterson.
From Summer 2007 until Summer 2019, Brian, along with Jazz legend, Ira Sullivan (Brian’s music mentor and regular associate), guided the Honors Jazz Ensembles at the Young Musicians Camp (University of Miami).
Brian’s recent recordings include the debut CD from the venerable South Florida Jazz Orchestra (SFJO), the latest offering from award winning vocalist, Nicole Henry entitled “The Very Thought Of You” and Sylvia Bennett's acclaimed "Songs From The Heart"
featuring the 3 tenors - Boots Randolph, Kirk Whalum and Ed Calle.
Brian uses a number of keyboards when he plays. As a pianist, his first love is a concert grand piano and his favorite - a Hamburg Steinway.
He plays a Yamaha P80 and a Casio PX200 (electronic piano) and a variety of synthesizers and synth modules, but would be most happy with a Steinway and of course a Hammond B3.
Since he was 3 or 4 yrs old he has loved the sound of Jazz and music in general.
He says for him it was a natural connection and allowed for a boundless horizon of self expression.
This is why he is also so connected to the music of Paul Bley and to the man himself.
Paul Bley, Brian says, has made a monumental contribution to modern Jazz and to philosophy as well. A piano solo by Paul Bley was described once by Pat Metheny as ‘a shot heard round the world’; in terms of its after effects in subsequent Jazz.
Paul Bley has been Brian’s biggest influence throughout his musical career.
CONTACT INFO.
Cell:
305-333-1882
Website:
http://www.brianmurphymusic.com
Email: brianmurphymusic2020@gmail.com
OSHER LIFELONG
LEARNING INSTITUTE
Brian began his latest career choice as a lecturer at the Osher Life Long Learning Institute (OLLI), University of Miami in 2013 and
he has branched out to Nova Southeastern University, The Palace in Coral Gables and Kendall.
He has lectured on numerous topics such as:
-"The Evolution of Piano Styles", Spring 1 2016
-"The Beatles", Spring 1 2017, 2023
-"The Rat Pack", Spring 2 2017
-"The Rolling Stones",
Summer 1 2017
-"Remarkable Women In Music”, Summer 2 2017
-"The Very Best Of Broadway"
Fall 2, 2017
-"The Great Arrangers"
Spring 1 , 2018
-"Talk Shows"
Spring 2, 2018
-"A History Of Country Music" Summer 1, 2018
-"Musicals In The Movies”,
Fall 2 2018
-"From Berlin To Bacharach" Summer 1 and 2, 2019
(Great Popular Music Composers),
-"Legends Of The Silver Screen"
Fall 1 , 2023
-"Big Bands/Swingin' On A Star" Summer 1, 2020
-"Led Zeppelin" Fall 2, 2020
-“Sinatra” Spring 2, 2021
-"The Great Lyricists" Fall 1, 2021
-"Duke Ellington, Life and Legacy" Fall 2 2021
-"Music Of The 1960s"/Parts 1 & 2, Spring 1 and 2, 2019, 2022
-"The Wonderful World Of
Louis Armstrong" - Spring 1, 2022
-"Great Singers/Songwriters
Parts 1 & 2 - Summer 1 and 2 , 2023"
-"Doo-Wop" Fall 2, 2023
-“Tunesmith/Wordsmith”
Spring 1, 2024
-"A History Of Girl Groups"
Spring 2, 2024
Each of these courses is six weeks in length and the lectures are very popular!
MUSICAL THEATRE
2008
Jack Jones in Concert Savannah Center
The Villages Orlando
Jack Jones in Concert Florida Atlantic University Boca Raton
Piano/Synth.
2007
Bernadette Peters
with Symphony Orchestra Knight Concert Hall (Miami) Piano/Synth.
2006
Tribute to Ella Fitzgerald &
Nelson Riddle South Florida Tour
featuring Kirsten Gustafson
Conducted by Christopher Riddle
Piano
2005
Hal Linden Show Mar-a-Lago (Palm Beach) Synth.
Palm Beach Pops Orchestra
Gala Celebration Accompanist for
Julie Budd
Piano
2004
An Evening With Patty Clark
Coconut Grove Playhouse
Assistant Conductor/Piano
2003
Red, Hot and Cole
Vivian Reed
Miracle Theatre (Coral Gables)
Music Director/Conductor/Piano
1999
Bound for Brubeck
(Maximum Dance)
Miracle Theatre
Piano/Arranger
1997 & 1998
An Evening with
Pamela Lockwood
(Tribute to Patsy Cline)
Tennessee Williams Centre
(Key West)
Music Director/Conductor/Piano
1997
Torch
Melody Cooper
Festival Fringe (Edinburgh)
Music Director/Piano
1993
Catskills on Broadway
Massey Hall (Toronto)
Piano/Synth.
1993
Magic of the Musicals (U.S./Canadian Tour)
Flying Music Inc. (London) Piano/Synth.
1989
Encore
Charlottetown Festival Piano/Synth.
1989
Not Available in Stores
Charlottetown Festival
1989
Music Director/Conductor/Piano
Al Waxman Tribute
Showmakers Productions (Toronto) Piano/Synth.
1988
Are You Lonesome Tonight
Charlottetown Festival Conductor/Piano
1988
Alexandra the Last Empress
Charlottetown Festival Piano/Synth.
1987
The Fabulous Kelly
Young People's Theatre (Toronto)
Piano/Synth.
1987
Piano/Synth. Jacob Two Two
Meets the Hooded Fang
Young People's Theatre (Toronto)
Piano/Synth.
1986
Ford Family Circus Ontario Place Piano/Synth.
1986
Shaklee Trade Show
Asterix Productions (Toronto)
Assistant Music Director
1986
Three Guys Naked From the Waist Down Toronto Free Theatre
Assistant Music Director
1986
I'll Be Back Before Midnight
(Composed Electronic Score)
St. Lawrence Centre (Toronto)
Composer
1986
Don Messer's Jubilee
(Canadian Tour) Neptune Theatre (Halifax) Conductor/Piano
1985
Sleeping Arrangements
Charlottetown Festival
Music Director/Piano
1984
Parade of Stars
(Alpine Stereo Trade Show)
Mariposa Communications (Toronto)
Music Director/Piano
1982
Songmakers
Songmakers Productions (Toronto) Piano
1981
Cocktails for Two Hundred
Charlottetown Festival
Music Director/Piano
1981
Magcap
Charlottetown Festival
Music Director/Piano
1980
Rock and Roll
National Arts Centre (Ottawa) Piano
1979
Eighteen Wheels (Canadian Tour)
Theatre New Brunswick Conductor/Piano
1979
Eight To the Bar
Neptune Theatre (Halifax)
/Festival Lennoxville (Quebec) Music Director/Piano
1979
The Crown of Life
Portus Productions (Halifax) Music Director/Piano
THEATRE ASSOCIATES
Hal Linden,
Vivian Reed,
Caroline Rocher,
Leanne Codrington,
Duncan Cooper,
David Palmer,
Teddy Harrell,
Mal Z. Lawrence,
Dick Capri,
Freddy Roman,
Louise Duart,
Marti Webb,
Bruce Ruddell,
Stellina Rusich,
Susan Gilmour,
Michael Burgess,
Frank McKay,
Brian McKay,
Ben Bass,
Lenore Zann,
Page Fletcher,
Jeff Hyslop,
Stan Lesk,
James Dale,
Fen Watkin,
David Thompson,
Jerry Fischer,
Jeff Braunstein,
Andrew Cadiff,
Tony Van Bridge,
Tom Kerr,
John Gray,
James Saar,
Alan Lund,
Malcolm Black,
Richard Ouzounian,
Rudy Webb,
Susan Cox,
Mag Ruffman,
Keith Dinicol,
John Brennan,
Kimble Hall,
Ron Rubin,
Sean Thompson,
Shirley Eikhard,
Dorothy Poste,
Rick Fox,
Don Harron,
John C. Rutter,
Walter Learning,
Florence Patterson,
John Gray,
Barbara Williams,
Alec Willows,
Lee McDougall
and others.
Brian is a practitioner of the art of spontaneous composition & he embraces the true exploratory spirit of Jazz.
Brian presently resides in Miami, FL with his partner - actress, songstress, poet, photographer and dancer, Donna Blue MacDonald.
FURTHER INFORMATION
For further information, call
(305) 333-1882
or contact Brian by e-mail at brianmurphymusic2020@gmail.com