Brent is a Calgary-based multi-percussionist, composer and creative artist. "...but it's his raw talent that speaks to audiences and translates into musical magic." He was thrilled with his recent experience as the "Facilitator of Fun" in the Whistler Olympic Village, leading daily drum circles for the Village athletes, volunteers, security and RCMP. Recently, Brent was honored to perform for the Dalai Lama during his visit to Calgary which was also his Saddledome debut! He has a Bachelors Degree from Brandon University, a Masters Degree from the University of Calgary and has been a resident artist at the Banff Centre on numerous occasions. Brent’s recorded output includes 12 CD’s as composer, arranger or producer and over 40 CD’s as a featured percussionist.
Performance credits include the creative project Red Venus Blue Tango, Latin fusion trio The Shaman, Narada recording artist Oscar Lopez, Persian santour player Amir Amiri, Jazz/Pop Diva Onalea Gilbertson, spoken word artist Sheri D Wilson, Senegalese musician Youssou Seck, Malian griot Karamoko Kouyate, Cuban maestro Emilio Rios and Singer/Songwriters Anne Loree, Steve Pineo and Danielle French. In the Jazz world, Hugh Fraser, Chucho Valdes, Anthony Braxton and Kenny Wheeler. Other special appearances include Eccodek, Jessie Cook, Tea Party and Harry Connick Jr.
Theatre performance highlights include One Yellow Rabbit Performance Theatre, Decidedly Jazz Danceworks, Alberta Theatre Projects and the Whip It Out Ensemble - a 14 piece Frank Zappa tribute show.
In the Classical Music realm Brent has performed with the Calgary Philharmonic, Winnipeg Symphony, Banff Festival Opera, Altius Brass, Red Deer Symphony and many concerts at the Banff Centre and for New Works Calgary, Vancouver New Music and Land’s End Chamber Ensemble. Brent has also enjoyed working with Spiritus Chamber Choir, Vancouver Chamber Choir, Festival Chorus, Revv52, Kantorei, Bow Valley Chorus, Calgary Children's Choir and Calgary Girls Choir.
Brent's innovative compositions and arrangements have been featured at the National Arts Centre's Alberta Scene Festival, the Prairie New Music Festival, Edmonton New Music Festival, the Banff Centre Summer Arts Festival and the Calgary International Jazz Festival. Other commissioned pieces have been presented by New Works Calgary, the Instrumental Society of Calgary and Land’s End Chamber Ensemble.
Brent has composed and designed sound for 6 full-length Theatre productions including The Stone Angel for Alberta Theatre Projects, which received a Betty Mitchell Award nomination for Outstanding Original Composition, Quest Theatre's production of The Peacemaker and for Film, Raw with Kenneth Doren and Nicole Tritter and Trouble with Timmy for the Banff Mountain Film Festival.
Dance highlights: Vertical Summer in Calgary's Olympic Plaza and at the World Dance Alliance’s Global Assembly in Toronto. Other collaborations have been featured at the New Dance Horizons Festival, Dancing on the Edge Festival, Alberta Dance Explosions and presented in Finland and Poland.
