Brainkiller has captivated audiences across the USA, Canada and Mexico with "hypnotic landscapes that gallivant through freewheeling jazz, avant-classical and art-rock territories" (Phoenix New Times) since their inception in 2000. The trio of Brian Allen, Jacob Koller and Hernan Hecht create a powerful and astonishingly unique style, owing as much to Coltrane and Monk as Led Zeppelin, Xenakis, Cobain and Piazzola. Their anticipated studio release captures their wildly imaginative and diverse ideas with a focused energy, creating other layers of abstract visual imagery in the process, as Pitchfork describes: "Despite all manner of diversions and mood changes, the direction never seems to change. And when they're over, I feel like I've just been told a short story." Forming a direct connection with their listeners and thriving from this interaction, Brainkiller is constantly touring, with upcoming performances in the USA, Mexico, and new journeys planned for South America and Japan.

The Brainkillers

BRIAN ALLEN performs in a variety of creative musical communities, playing with Anthony Braxton, Gerald Cleaver, Mark Dresser, Ellery Eskelin, Satoko Fujii Orchestra, Drew Gress and Roswell Rudd, leading a trio with Tony Malaby and Tom Rainey and forming a long-standing collaboration with Jacob Koller. In 2008 he completed an international solo trombone concert and masterclass tour of over 20 universities. A composer whose works include wind and percussion ensembles, electronica, chamber groups and big band, Brian received a composition residency from Cite Internationale des Arts in Paris, a Meet the Composer Global Connections Grant spawning his Mexican Project and duo with Hernan Hecht, and had works premiered at several international festivals. Brian is sponsored by the Edwards Instrument Company.

JACOB KOLLER began studying classical piano at age 4. At age 5 he gave his first piano recital and before entering high school won over 10 classical piano competitions, including the Arizona Yamaha Piano Competition. Jacob's most recent album "Music for Bowlers" on Ropeadope Records has garnered unanimous praise for his innovative compositions and playing in the traditional piano trio format, pushing the boundaries of the piano. He was a finalist in the prestigious 2007 Cole Porter Piano Competition and received a Julius Hemphill Composition Competition Award for his original compositions. He has performed all around the globe with jazz and improvised music luminaries such as Mark Dresser, Terrence Blanchard, Tony Malaby, Martin Denny, Kohji Fujika, Coppe, DJ Kensei, Ricky Woodard and Abe Lagrimas.

HERNAN HECHT was born in Buenos Aires, Argentina and played Bill Carrothers, Tim Berne, Dave Fiuczinsky, Elliot Sharp, Ikue Mori, Zeena Parkins, Jay Rodriguez, Elio Villafranca, Dean Bowman, and Pere Soto. Performing worldwide, he leads the "X-Pression Quartet", "Gru-B Project" and plays with the seminal free-jazz cooperative trio Craneo de Jade, Nicolas Santella Trio, RHA Trio, Trio SHO, and singers Ely Guerra, Ximena Sariñana and Natalia Lafourcade. Hernan created and coordinated the festivals "JazzHabito" (2002), "ArtLife JazzFest" (2003) and “Jazz Marathon for the Victims of the Hurricanes in Chiapas and Quintana Roo” (2005). He composed music for the Mexican film “Todos los Besos” (2007), the documentary "MORS DEI", based on British visual artist Damien Hirst's work, and is sponsored by Gretsch, Zildjian and Gibraltar. (read less)