Brian Prunka

Brian Prunka emigrated to New York from the tiny nation-state of New Orleans in the year twenty-aught-three. He had spent the previous decade honing his musical skills in the Home Of Jazz and ingesting what he could of the local culture. Originally from Newtown, CT, Brian grew up in the cultural wasteland of Miami, FL during its well known “Vice” era. Equally proficient on both guitar and oud, Brian composes and performs jazz and middle-eastern influenced music with his own projects (such as the Near East River Ensemble) and with musicians such as Michael Bates and Simon Shaheen. Brian returned to New Orleans in 2008 to teach jazz guitar at Loyola University and to pursue various music projects with Simon Lott, Michael Jenner, Tim Green, and Helen Gillet among others. In 2009, he moved back to New York. He currently performs with Nashaz, The New York Arabic Orchestra, Simon Shaheen and others.

Press Quotes:

”a graceful union of instruments, gorgeous harmonies and colors . . . written descriptions won't do the music justice” �”Dave Madden (Splendid Ezine) ”an eclectic and adventurous composer”�”Dindi Soutine (Where Y'at Magazine) ”a gifted player and composer”�”Steve Masakowski

Awards:

New York City Department of Cultural Affairs/Brooklyn Arts Council Grant, 2008

Equipment:

Guitars: Gibson ES165, D'Angelico EX-DC, Gibson L4ces, Prisloe/Pavan TP-20, quarter-tone modified Fender Strat.
Ouds: 1924 Shukri al-Mulki (Syria), 1930s Nahat rebuilt by Najib Shaheen and Viken Najarian, 1998 Viken Najarian, 1932 Nahat modified by Najib Shaheen.
Buzuq: 2007 Ibrahim Sukkar (Syria)