Al Brant

Artist Information

Biography

With ‘Wide Open’ Al Brant finally got to do something for himself. This new recording has an amazing core band guitar wizard KEVIN BREIT ( Nora Jones,Harry Manx) drummer Gary Graig( Blackie & the Rodeo Kings) and producer and bass Mike Lent (Jann Arden , KD Lang) . The 20 year music veteran put a lot of things on hold being a single father. A few years ago he almost gave up music completely when this talented singer/songwriter finally caught a break.
Al became an itinerant musician as part of the ‘Artist on the Wards’ at University of Alberta Hospital. This life-affirming program gave Brant the means to continue in the business. It also gave him the opportunity to connect with with people on a daily basis. "My work at the hospital has changed me as a human, "he says. "It has made me more aware, intuitive, and compassionate. My hospital experience is rich, and sometimes the people I meet and the stories I hear provide material and inspiration for new songs."
Some of that material found its way into the studio. Recorded with the talented Mike Lent in the producer’s chair, ‘Wide Open’ is the cd Brant always wanted to make. The songs are honest and the production respects the material. Al Brant’s dynamic vocal performance is spiced with terrific session musicians including Lent, Kevin Breit and Gary Craig. ‘I’m proud of it’ says Brant ‘…it’s something I want to stand in front of and say yeah, that’s mine’.
Brant’s eclectic musical background was the perfect training ground for this project. As the front man for such diverse acts as local Edmonton legends ‘Tacoy Ride’, ‘The Stone Merchants/SMAC’ and ‘The Waterbirds’ Brant’s style defies easy categorization. ‘Wide Open’ leans to Americana or Blues, but the songs will find a broad audience.
In addition to his music Brant has been a major participant and contributor to ‘The Christmas Carol Project’. Starting a decade ago a Al has written songs for and performed annually in this musical version of the classic Dickens tale. A televised version of the show aired across Canada on City TV, Access, A-Channel and Bravo!

Instrumentation

Michael Lent - and Vocal, Electric and Standup Bass
Barrie Nighswander - and Vocals, Acoustic & Electric Guitars
Bill Hobson - Drums, and percussion.
Mark Stirling - Guitar &Vocals

Discography

* Wide Open 2010
* Songs for the Early Morning Sun 2007
* Here's the Picture *Tacoy Ryde 2003
* Have another blue juice, mister *The Stone Merchants 2003

Audio

• Wide Open
  Listen  
• Shaman's Dream
  Listen  
• Common Thread
  Listen  
• One of those days
  Listen  

Lyrics

• Wide Open
• Shaman's Dream
• Common Thread
• One of Those Days

Video

Al Brant 2010 'Wide Open'

Photo Gallery

Press

• Have Guitar, Will Perform [+ Show ]
  

  AL Brant With Jeff Stuart and the Hearts, Lizzy Hoyt, and many more as part of HOMEFEST. TransAlt...AL Brant
  With Jeff Stuart and the Hearts, Lizzy Hoyt, and many more
  as part of HOMEFEST.
  TransAlta Arts Barns
  Sunday, Nov. 7, 12 p.m. (Al Brant at 1:25 p.m.)
  Tickets: $15 at Myrhe’s Music, Earth’s General Store and
  Tix on the Square
  By curtis wright
  A musical performance piques when
  a connection is made; that unique
  relationship between an audience
  member and the performer can transcend
  the moment and evoke the
  most unspeakable emotions. It’s trite
  to write about it, but we’ve all felt
  some form of it one time or another;
  whether it’s part of an audience of
  20,000 or part of an intimate 150 capacity
  room, or maybe a solo-show.
  One-on-one.
  Al Brant, on the eve of his latest
  offering of roots and Americana,
  Wide Open, indicates that although
  a distinct closeness was achieved at
  his release party in a smaller Edmonton
  café the night previous to this
  discussion, it doesn’t quite reach the
  intimacy levels of some of his other
  gigs.
  “I’ve been at the University of Alberta
  Hospital working on the Friends
  Artist on the Ward program for seven
  years now — it’s designed to bring
  art to the bedside of the patient,”
  says Brant. “I go room to room in
  the ICU and play for patients there.
  Sometimes it gets pretty heavy. But
  it’s a definite honour to get asked to
  play for someone who is maybe on
  their way out.”
  For many, you would think that this
  heaviness would create a lost, maybe
  disjointed musician, yet, as Brant admits,
  it’s created courage and inspiration
  for the singer celebrating his
  fourth solo release.
  “It’s a totally different vibe.
  The difference is that one is a strict
  performance; the other is more of a
  deeply personal connection. I suppose
  that connection happens in a
  concert as well, but when I play in the
  ICU a patient may start talking to me
  and I stop playing. I think playing in
  the hospital has helped my live performances
  because I really connect
  in my one on one performances.”
  This encouragement comes
  through on the eclectic Wide Open —
  the title track being homage to exactly
  that, being wide open to musical
  ideas and inspirations as they come
  along. Brant recognizes how his
  music affects the lives of others and
  made him a very fortunate full-time
  musician — backed by local legends
  Mike Lent, Sandro Dominelli, Mark
  Sterling and Barrie Nighswander.
  “There are times when I get lost
  in my head as a solo musician; it’s
  a piss off. For me when I’m playing
  live it’s about what is going on with
  the band, or what have you. When
  you get stuck in your head — outside
  of the moment — it totally takes you
  away from the precious moment of
  playing music for an audience.”
  For Brant, much the same as for
  anyone he visits at the hospital, a
  song offers that moment of escape
  and serenity. There’s nothing you
  can physically grasp with music,
  Brant admits, but there is so much
  there.
  “Music allows me to escape as well
  — nine out of 10 times,” says Brant.
  “It has a really interesting way of
  taking people away from what is happening.
  Sometimes you’ll see people
  who are really stressed out or in pain,
  like at the hospital — you get the
  feeling that for those few minutes,
  they weren’t thinking about that.
  That has value.”

• It’s a Talent Smorgasbord [+ Show ]
  

  The title of this disc reflects Al Brant’s attitude to life, music and stylistic influences. He near...The title of this disc reflects Al Brant’s attitude to life, music and stylistic influences. He nearly quit the music business a little over four years ago, after sixteen years of playing and touring both with bands and as a solo act. Since making the decision to continue he’s been hired by the University of Alberta Hospital’s Artists On The Wards program to play for patients, an experience he finds very rewarding. He received an honourable mention in the international John Lennon song-writing competition in 2003. He’s also been involved in The Christmas Carol Project with other Edmonton-based musicians including Maria Dunn, Bill Bourne, Dale Ladoucer, Tom Roschkov, Terry Morrison, Ken Brown and Kevin Cook. Bellstruck Productions Inc. in association with CHUM Television produced a televised version of the show, which aired on City TV, Access, A-Channel and Bravo! across Canada in December 2006. This new disc, produced by session bass player, Mike Lent, gives the listener a solid slice of Brant’s music: sensitive, heartfelt and varied, from his own singer-songwriter mode to more rocky and funky fare, from a trombone section on Chasin’ Nothin’, to jazzy flute on Digital Girl, including a cover of the Allman Brothers’ Come & Go Blues. It’s a talent smorgasbord that deserves to be widely heard. Hopefully, the disc will help break his career wide open, too.

• An Album Full of Great Artistic Integrity [+ Show ]
  

  Al Brant WIDE OPEN AB 470 ***1/2 Canadian Al Brant has been making music most of his life and for t...Al Brant WIDE OPEN AB 470 ***1/2
  Canadian Al Brant has been making music most of his life and for the past twenty-odd years as a professional he has been part of the duo Brant and Skelly, followed by a jazz-fusion outfit and for the past seventeen years as a vocalist with pop-rock band Tacoy Ryde. Alongside this he has also been building a reputation as a singer-songwriter and this fourth album showcases his talent as an intuitive writer and fine interpretive vocalist. There is an obvious rock influence in the musical arrangements with some stunning electric lead guitar by Kevin Breit, but he adds a more rootsy sound to the sensitive 'Common Thread' with some timely interweaving dobro, whilst the yarn of 'Shaman's Dream' features some fine banjo plucking to create a fine country-blues vibe. 'Advocate Of Love' is a well-constructed mid-tempo rock tune with an impassioned vocal. An album full of great artistic integrity from start to finish.

• Concert helps keep Ryga legacy alive [+ Show ]
  

  Concert helps keep Ryga legacy alive Edmonton singer-songwriter Al Brant is at Okanagan College K...Concert helps keep Ryga legacy alive
  
  Edmonton singer-songwriter Al Brant is at Okanagan College Kalamalka Campus Wednesday, April 20 to perform in a fundraiser for the ninth annual George Ryga Award.
  Photo submitted
  By Kristin Froneman - Vernon Morning Star
  Published: April 13, 2011 1:00 AM
  
  
  Edmonton singer-songwriter Al Brant remembers the first time he stepped inside the George Ryga Centre around a decade ago.
  
  
  He had arrived at the former home of the acclaimed novelist and playwright, located under the shadow of the Giant’s Head Mountain in Summerland, to take a weekend workshop intensive with legendary musicians Bill Henderson and Roy Forbes.
  
  
  The home, which now serves as an artistic retreat, is where many over the years have secluded themselves among the surrounding fruit orchards with a pen and paper, their thoughts and a musical instrument to create and be creative –– just like Ryga did before he died in 1987.
  
  
  Brant is about to give back to the legacy that Ryga left behind to not only musicians, but writers whose pen has been pointed towards social justice issues and those maligned by society.
  
  
  Long noted as one of Edmonton’s prime vocalists, Brant is hitting the road with bassist Michael Lent and guitarist Barrie Nighswander in support of his new CD Wide Open, and to support the George Ryga Award for Social Awareness in B.C. Literature.
  
  
  “I am honoured to be able to play in honour of Ryga and the award in his name,” he said. “This will be a live concert with my acoustic trio. We will play songs off our new CD and my last recording in 2007, plus some covers.”
  
  
  Besides Brant’s connection to the Ryga centre, bassist Lent also has one to the area.
  
  
  He is the brother to Vernon writer/musician John Lent, one of the founders of the Ryga award, and also the regional dean of Okanagan College’s Kalamalka campus.
  
  
  “I remember playing at a jam on (Edmonton’s) Whyte Avenue and the Lent Brothers were the back-up band. They are legendary in Edmonton,” said Brant.
  
  
  A first-call bassist who has worked with the likes of kd lang, Jann Arden and the late Long John Baldry, Michael Lent is also the owner of a recording studio in the Alberta capital, and produced Wide Open.
  
  
  “I’ve known him for years, but we were more acquaintances, but when I approached him to produce my new CD, he was all over it. He brought in all these great players to perform on it,” said Brant, who attributes his 2007 CD, a live off-the-floor acoustic recording, in getting the ball rolling.
  
  
  “I was able to connect with Mike, and get some funding and then the players. We’ve had great feedback and response about it so far.”
  
  
  This is coming from a man who almost quit music all together.
  
  
  A single father to a 16 year old daughter, Brant says he almost gave up on the music business due to concerns about finances.
  
  
  “I’d been in music forever at that point and I had it in my head that I had to get this whole big income in order to raise my daughter,” he said.
  
  
  What changed his mind was his life-affirming work as an itinerant musician with the University of Alberta Hospital’s Artists-on-the-Wards program.
  
  
  The unique program is designed to bring music, writing and visual arts to the besides of patients, many of whom are hospitalized long term due to serious illnesses.
  
  
  “My work at the hospital has been a rich experience,” said Brant. “I think it has helped the patients in that we come in without the medical staff, and get to know the person. We come in to provide a diversion and distraction.”
  
  
  Brant has also been the front man for reggae-rock band Tacoy Ryde, who have been performing around Edmonton for the past 43 years, and is bringing along the band’s co-founder, guitarist Nighswander, to perform with him at the Ryga award fundraiser in Vernon.
  
  
  The event will be a bittersweet celebration, as it will also be the last time the award is administered by John Lent, who is retiring from Okanagan College after 32 years of service, both as a creative writing professor and more recently as regional dean.
  
  
  Lent, along with George Ryga Centre manager Ken Smedley and B.C. Bookworld’s Alan Twigg, founded the awards in 2003, and is handing over the administrative reins to Dr. Matt Kavanagh, chair of the department of English at Okanagan College in conjunction with Smedley, artist Reg Kienast and The George Ryga Centre Society.
  
  
  “The reason we are staging this fundraiser is that we are trying to set up an annual budget for this award that will help us to market it better,” said Lent, adding, “The award has received more entries already than any of the previous years (the deadline for entries is at the end of this month), so we’re delighted about that.”
  
  
  The ninth annual Ryga award will once again be presented in Summerland at a gala ceremony in early October (details to be announced).
  
  
  The fundraiser concert with Brant takes place Wednesday, April 20 at 7:30 p.m. in the lecture theatre at Okanagan College Kalamalka campus. Tickets are $20, available at the Bean Scene, Okanagan College Kal campus’ administrative office (250-545-7291) or at the door.

• Al Brant Wide Open to New Ideas [+ Show ]
  

  Al Brant Wide Open to new ideas, July 2010 By Roger Levesque, Special to the Edmonton Journal . E...Al Brant Wide Open to new ideas, July 2010
  By Roger Levesque, Special to the Edmonton Journal
  .
  Edmonton singer-songwriter reaches new level of communication with his upcoming album
  EDMONTON - He's been making music in one context or another for more than 20 years now, but Al Brant has still had his fair share of doubts about career choices.
  
  "I finally realized just how much I love music," the Edmonton-born Brant admits, "and in the end music is the only thing I really know."
  
  The roots-oriented singer-songwriter recommitted himself to his muse a few years ago. He approached Mike Lent last year to serve as a producer, and the result is a life-affirming new project, Wide Open.
  
  That album will have its official release in October. But tonight you can hear Brant and his crew preview most of the songs in concert as this summer's Qualico Patio Series gets underway at Festival Place in Sherwood Park.
  
  Wide Open is Brant's fourth solo album overall. It's named after a specific tune, but that title really reflected his attitude going into the project.
  
  "The whole process for me was about being open to other people's ideas. I was really open to Mike's suggestions about the songs or the music, and a lot of ideas came up in the studio too from the different players. For me, it felt kind of freeing. And some things turned out better than I ever expected."
  
  One piece of luck came after Lent helped him hire Kevin Breit. The famous Toronto-based guitar genius was originally scheduled to play on a few tunes, but wound up lending his touch to the whole disc. Ditto for drummer Gary Craig (Blackie & the Rodeo Kings) who also became part of the core band.
  
  Lent's bass, guitars from Mark Sterling, Russell Broom and Brant, and various guest vocalists filled out the sessions here or in Toronto. It all makes for an accomplished set of tracks, some leaning a little toward the blues or country, or even taking a popular sheen, but making you listen.
  
  Growing up, Brant recalls, there was always music around the house. His mother trained to be an opera singer in New York before she married and had kids. Then there was the older brother who turned him on to classic rock. By 16, Brant had picked up guitar and started to write his own songs.
  
  After winning a talent contest at the defunct Sidetrack Cafe early on as part of a duo, Brant met mentors like George Blondheim, who produced his initial demos, and Eddie Patterson, who hired him to sing with his fusion band.
  
  Working with Patterson, John Armstrong, Jamie Kidd and others, Brant put out his first solo album, Let It Fly, in 1991, followed by Al Brant & the Waterbirds in 1996. The guitarist-singer also put out several albums with the Stone Merchants (later SMAC), and joined Tacoy Ryde in recent years. He is also an ongoing cast member of the Christmas Carol Project and plays for other musicians.
  
  Still, his most unusual job has involved being an Artist in the Wards at the University of Alberta Hospital for the past seven years.
  
  "Sometimes it can get pretty heavy when you know someone is dying, but it's usually very rewarding because you're helping people connect to their own musical experience and sometimes you write songs together."
  
  Whether he knows it or not, you have to wonder if that work has rubbed off in the meaningful depths and uplifting bent that some of his songs take, but the material on Wide Open draws inspiration from all over. There's an ill-fated trip to Europe ( Italian Skies), a number about belief and faith ( Common Thread), a tune about how real communication has fallen off in the computer age ( Digital Girl) and the title piece about moving beyond a culture of fear.
  
  Wide Open sees Brant stepping up to a new level of musical communication.
  
  Brant plays Sherwood Park's Festival Place tonight with Mike Lent, Sandro Dominelli, Mark Sterling and Barrie Nighswander. Country singer Brooke Telenberg plays an opening set starting at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $8 at the door.
  
  Brant is just the first of 16 acts playing Festival Place's Qualico Patio Series over eight Wednesdays at the popular outdoor venue during July and August. In case of poor weather, the show can move indoors on short notice.
  

Setlist

My set list is compiled mainly of original compositions.

Basic Requirements

Calendar