Slawson, Brian

Biography

Born:
Country:
Studies: Juilliard School
Teachers: Saul Goodman, Buster Bailey, Alexander Lepak, David Smith and Drew Grouse

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Since his scholarship studies at the Juilliard School, Brian Slawson has continued to pioneer innovative paths in percussion. Grammy-nominated as "Best New Classical Artist," Brian has appeared on NBC’s Tonight Show, Entertainment Tonight, the CBS Morning News and NPR’s “All Things Considered.” Brian Slawson’s extensive discography includes solo releases on Columbia, Sony/CBS and Belltone records. His smash debut, “Bach On Wood,” hit Billboard's Top 10 and remains one of the world's premier vehicles for exposing new audiences to classical music. Brian Slawson has performed with classical luminaries Leonard Bernstein and Aaron Copland, recorded with pop icons from Stevie Ray Vaughan to Marie Osmond, and punctuated jokes for comedians Jerry Seinfeld, Bill Maher and Eddie Murphy. In addition to performing on hundreds of national jingles (American Express, Budweiser, Coca-Cola, McDonald's, Chevrolet and IBM, to name a few), Brian Slawson has recorded with the world’s finest drummers including Steve Gadd, Peter Erskine, Steve Ferrone, Anton Fig, Dave Weckl, Chris Parker and Grady Tate. Brian Slawson is the voice of “Gusto the Bulldog” in Warner Bros. Music Expressions and a featured artist in McGraw-Hill’s Spotlight on Music. In addition to serving as principal timpanist of the Brevard Symphony Orchestra, Slawson is a featured performer at Lincoln Center's, Meet the Artist Series. His Slawsongs multi media company has won Golden Reel, Tele & Addy custom music awards for feature films, television and radio. Mr. Brian Slawson proudly endorses Ludwig-Musser, Zildjian, Vic Firth, Remo, Grover Pro Percussion, Rhythm Tech, Alternate Mode and Humes & Berg.

Legendary vibraphonist, Lionel Hampton, described Brian Slawson as “one of the finest percussionists to come along in many years.” Modern Drummer magazine hails Brian Slawson as "a visionary, be it performer, producer or composer."

Works for Percussion by this Composer

Solos

Two-Beat Tango
Cricket
Animal Cracker Rag

Chamber Percussion Ensemble

Candlesticks - 8 Players
Füm Drum - 9 Players
Odd Duck - 4 Players
Song of All Seasons - 8 Players
Pelican - 9 Players
Rockbox - 9 Players
Tangito - 9 Players
Top Tank - 3 Players
Winterland - 8 Players

Large Percussion Ensemble

Angels in the Moonlight
Animals
Bongito - 13 Players
Book Bash - 10 Players
Christmas Day
Dreams From the Dark Forest - 13 Players
Jokers Wild - 13 Players
La Vida de la Noche (Percussion Ensemble) - 15 Players
Little Lullabies
Nanigo Navidad - 11 Players
Opa! - 10 Players
Pistoleros - 13 Players
Roundup - 10 Players
Santa's Strut - 11 Players
Strum - 10 Players
Tale of the Dragon - 12 Players
Tank Time - 10 Players
The Three Buccaneers
When You Hear the Drum - 10 Players

Mallet Ensemble

A Little Malletmusik
El Paso Waltz
La Vida de la Noche (Mallet Ensemble)

Percussion Ensemble with Other Instrument

An American Dream - Percussion Ensemble & Trumpet

Indeterminate Percussion Ensemble

Pop Drop - 3 or more Players
Yes & No - 5 or 6 Players