Brian Knave bio
I started out messing around on piano as a kid, learning to pick out tunes by ear. When I was 10 my grandmother gave me a percussion kit--bongos, claves, maracas--and a harmonica, which I adored. By 15 I was addicted to what would become my main instrument, if not love of my life: the drum set. I started playing Appalachian lap dulcimer a few years later.
My first pro gig (drums) was playing for my high school prom dance in 1977. After high school I studied tabla at Ali Akbar College in San Rafael, CA, then drums and percussion at Percussion Institute of Technology (now Musician's Institute) in Hollywood, CA. I started recording and learning the ins and outs of audio production around that same time.
By age 20 I was making my living playing--mostly drums, but also harmonica--and in that regard little has changed since. I worked (played) my way through two college degrees: BA from East TN State U (English) and MA from UC Davis (English, Creative Writing). I've played mostly bars, festivals, and parties (lots of weddings), but also the occasional arena, fashion or even strip show. Also the occasional tour--I've played in half or more of the 50 states, as well as in Canada, Germany, France, USSR, Cuba, and Brazil.
Always I've been blessed to study, play, and record with some of the best musicians and teachers--some famous, some not. To date I've played in more than 50 bands and appeared on hundreds of recordings. I play pretty much all styles, but have mostly played rock, pop, country, blues, funk, jazz, reggae and Latin.
Some of my former instructors: Zakir Hussain, Joe Porcaro, Ralph Humphreys, Joey Baron, Joe Morello, Danny Gottlieb, Alan Dawson, Billy Cobham, Dom Famularo, Sam Ulano, Jim Chapin, Colin Bailey, Richard Wilson.
Some folks I've played and/or recorded with: Johnny Heartsman, Jessica Williams, Norton Buffalo, John Tchicai, Joe Craven, Rob Ickes, Lady Bo, EC Scott, Jack West, Lygia Ferra, Shelley Doty, Buddy Craig, Mike Lawson, Eugene Chadbourne, Merl Saunders, Paul McCandless, Paul Peña, Alex de Grassi, Vince Welnick, Bill Spooner, Bob Coons, Buzzy Linhart, Carl Weingarten, Michael Manring, Zeu Britto.
Music is my life, and at one time or another I've delved into most every aspect of it: studying, performing, teaching, composing, recording, mixing, producing--even marketing (the part I really sucked at). I've also written about it: I was a technical editor at Electronic Musician magazine (now EM) for 8 years, where I specialized in recording technology and wrote and edited reviews of studio recording gear.
Now I'm back to focusing full-time on playing, songwriting and recording. I have a recording/drum studio in the Land of the Drum--Salvador, Bahia, Brazil--where I practice, rehearse, and/or record most every day. I also perform weekly with various local bands. 2009 will be my third year playing on a trio eletrico during Carnaval--and my second Carnaval as drummer for cover-band Arapuka, which plays the music of Brazilian rocker Raul Seixas.
In my studio, White Cow (aka Vaca Branca), I work for clients both local and worldwide. I regularly record and send uncompressed audio files via the internet--whether of me playing drums, harmonica and/or percussion, or of one of my Brazilian musician friends playing his or her instrument (pandeiro, cuica, berimbau, violao, guitar, bass, you name it)--mostly to folks in the US and Europe.
Here in Salvador I have recorded a bit of everything: CDs, band demos, voice-overs, even a historical collection of original instruments handmade by composer/sculptor Walter Smetak. I also do occasional audio and acoustics consulting and design for studios, bars, restaurants, theaters, home-theaters, or what have you.