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Brian
Gorrell serves as Head of the Jazz Studies Division
for the University of Central Oklahoma School of
Music. Gorrell, a former pianist for the Lawrence
Welk Orchestra, also manages operation of the Jazz
Lab Recording Studio and teaches Applied Saxophone,
Jazz Ensemble, Jazz Theory & Analysis, Music
Technology, Jazz Improvisation, and Jazz Piano. Mr.
Gorrell completed a bachelor's degree in Music
Education from the University of Central Oklahoma
and received a master's of music degree in
Saxophone Performance from Oklahoma City
University. Equally proficient on both saxophone
and keyboards, Gorrell has produced many album
projects including In Some Other World (1995),
Soulmates (1999), In The Swing of Christmas (2001),
and The Jazz Company Live @ the UCO Jazz Lab (2008 release). In addition to the Welk Orchestra, Brian
has performed on saxophone and/or keyboards with
such notables as The Manhattan Transfer, Louie
Bellson, Phil Woods, Bill Trujillo, Jay Migliori,
Jay Daversa, Clark Terry, The Lennon Sisters, Ralna
English, Patti Page, Slide Hampton, Kay Starr,
Steve Allen, Jim Nabors, Ty England, Diane Schuur,
Christopher Cross, The Temptations, The Drifters,
and many others. Gorrell has always been passionate
about music education and has been aggressive in
developing new programs at UCO including the Minor
in Jazz Studies and the new Master of Music in
Jazz Studies. Brian's
debut album entitled IN SOME OTHER WORLD was
released in 1995 and his second album
SOULMATES was released in 2000. Brian and
Shane Conaway also released a Christmas album
entitled IN THE SWING OF CHRISTMAS in 2002.
Brian is also releasing a new live CD in 2008 - LIVE AT THE UCO JAZZ LAB. Besides the Welk
Orchestra, Brian has performed on saxophone or
keyboards with such notables as The Manhattan
Transfer, Bobby Shew,
Louie Bellson, Phil Woods, The Temptations, Slim
Man, Samantha Siva, Jay Daversa, Larry Cansler,
Chris Hicks, Bill Trujillo, Jay Migliori, The
Lennon Sisters, Ralna English, Patti Page, Slide
Hampton, Kay Starr, Steve Allen, Jim Nabors, MAYA,
Joe Davis, Dr. Kent Kidwell, Lee Rucker and many
others. Brian is
currently booking his band "The
Jazz Company"
and other groups for all types of events
ranging from small wedding receptions to large
outdoor concert venues. The Jazz Company is
performing regularly at local and regional venues
so please check our Performance
Schedule
for the latest dates & times. If you would like
additional information regarding bookings including
current rates, please call us at (405)245-9965.
Click below to download full length MP3 files!
from the album "In Some Other World":
A
LITTLE SLATER (MP3)
CONFIRM
IT'S 26-2 (MP3)
TAKE
THE A TRAIN (MP3)
from the album "Soulmates":
MIDNIGHT
IN JULY (MP3)
SOULMATES
(MP3)
GHOST
TOWN (MP3)
RETURN
TO SENDER (MP3)
Read
an article about Brian Gorrell & Shane Conaway that was
published in "The Edmond Life & Leisure"
Read
an article about Brian Gorrell that was published in "The
Original Entertainer"
Read
an article about Brian Gorrell that was published in "The
Wichita Eagle"
Watch
a television interview by Kimberly Loman with Gorrell that
aired on KOCO-TV Ch. 5
(Real Video Format)
Hear
a radio interview by Sandi Craig with Gorrell that aired on
Z99-KUCO
Read
an article about Brian that was published in "The Yukon
Review"
Read
an article about Brian that was published in "Backstage Pass
Magazine"
Below are some
of Brian's favorite pictures from his time with The Lawrence
Welk Show (1994):
Brian & Eric Leonard on the set of The Lawrence Welk
Show
Eric is driving the wave runner with Larry Welk (Lawrence's
Son) in the middle and Brian on the rear!
This is Ralna English - a truly great singer that Gorrell
accompanied on the Show!
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