Brian Prunka
I'm an oud player, guitarist and composer drawing on my experiences playing Arabic music and jazz to create music that respects traditions while exploring new and personal territory. My formative musical years were in New Orleans, playing both traditional and modern jazz and learning from the deeply rooted, vibrant musical community there. Since 2003, I've been based in Brooklyn, NY and have been fortunate to work with a truly collaborative community of musicians playing music both old and new.
My move to NY was precipitated by meeting the great Palestinian oud master Simon Shaheen in 2001, who encouraged my interest in the oud and became a mentor for my further development, even inviting me to tour with his fusion ensemble Qantara.
I've worked with many ensembles, as well as writing for film, dance/theater, and performed on Broadway, and am always interested in exploring new collaborations. I also am a co-founder of Brooklyn Maqam.