Sunday at the Boo 1/8/23
CFJS Presents: Brendan Lanighan Octet
https://www.brendanlanighanmusic.com/
Brendan Lanighan earned degrees in Jazz Trombone Performance and Music Education from the Eastman School of Music in 2015, and a Masters Degree in Jazz Studies from Juilliard in 2020. There he honed his skills under the tutelage of jazz masters such as Steve Turre, Wycliffe Gordon, Elliot Mason, and Kenny Washington.
During his time at Eastman, he was an active member of the vibrant Western New York music scene, developing his skills as a highly versatile musician. After graduating, Lanighan left Western New York to join the World Famous Glenn Miller Orchestra under the direction of Nick Hilscher. During his time on the road, Brendan played over two hundred shows in concert halls throughout the U.S., Canada, and Japan.
Brendan has been heard around New York City as both a leader and sideman in notable jazz venues such as Dizzy’s Club, the Kitano Hotel, Zinc Bar and others. Lanighan is featured on several tracks of an upcoming album from one his earliest influences, Wycliffe Gordon, to be released later this year. He also began working and traveling extensively with the Gordon Webster Band, one of the premier Lindy hop dance bands in the world.
An inspired writer, Lanighan’s compositions and arrangements for large ensemble have been played by the Eastman New Jazz Ensemble, the Juilliard Jazz Ensemble, the Williamsville East Jazz Orchestra featuring Bill Charlap, as well as by his own groups, most notably, the Brendan Lanighan Octet.
Some notable awards include being a finalist for the 2015 International Trombone Festival’s Carl Fontana Competition, Outstanding Arrangement Award from Downbeat magazine in recognition of his arrangement of the great trombonist J.J. Johnson’s ballad, “Lament”, for small ensemble in 2015, and Winner of the International Trombone Festival’s J.J. Johnson Jazz Solo Competition in 2017.
Presently, Lanighan resides in Buffalo, NY, where he maintains a diverse teaching and playing schedule (recent performances include Bright Eyes, the World Famous Glenn Miller Orchestra, guest soloist with the Penn State Behrend Jazz Ensemble, etc). He holds the position of Director of Bands at Williamsville East High School, where he is a proud alum. He is also adjunct professor of Tuba, Euphonium, and Trombone at the University at Buffalo.
His Octet is performing Sunday, January 8, 2023 at 3 PM
