BRENDA WARREN
Pianist/Composer, songwriter and recording artist Brenda Warren began playing piano at four years of age and entered the Detroit Conservatory of Music at eight. Brenda chose to attend San Francisco State University to continue studying music and received a Bachelors degree in music composition and theory. While at San Francisco State she studied classical piano with Dutch concert pianist Herman Vanderkamp and after graduation with pianist/composer William Allaudin Mathieu. While in college and after graduation Brenda performed her original solo piano pieces throughout the Bay Area. Her senior thesis was"The Writing and Producing of a Musical" and she went on to write the musical "Breakfast in Marin" which ran in San Francisco for one year and was nominated for a Cable Car award for best musical. Brenda moved to Los Angeles and continued songwriting for other artists and formed a pop band which debuted at the legendary Troubador.
Shortly after moving to Los Angeles Brenda signed a recording contract with Priority Records and released her first collection of solo piano works entitled "Childhood Dreams". This debut album received worldwide airplay and many of the pieces have been used in television programs and documentary films. Her music is featured in "Edens Lost and Found" and "The Grass is Greener" documentaries which aired on PBS. Brenda scored part of the documentary film "The Spirit in Architecture" about legendary architect John Lautner which premiered at MOCA in Los Angeles and has been screened worldwide.
Brenda released her second critically acclaimed solo piano album "As Years Go By". It was recorded at Warner Brothers Eastwood Scoring Stage with sound designer John Paul Fasal as her co-producer. Two of the pieces "Remembering You" and "Ancient One" feature the Los Angeles based string quartet "The Section Quartet" with arrangements by the founder violinist Eric Gorfain. Three selections from this album are included in two compilation albums, "Baby Chill" and "Piano Zen".
Brenda is a member of the piano artist group Whisperings Solo Piano Radio. Her music can be heard on Sirius XM, Pandora, Apple Music and Spotify as well as Music Soundscapes, and all streaming and download platforms. After a 10 year hiatus, Brenda released her third solo piano album 'Beautiful Journey" with instrumentation in April, 2018. It was recorded at Imaginary Road Studios in Vermont with Grammy award winning producer and Windham Hill founder Will Ackerman. This album features Grammy winning musicians adding their talents to many of the twelve new songs. Brenda performed one of the pieces from the new album at Carnegie Hall. "Imagine Spring" , the first track on "Beautiful Journey" is included in "The Gathering IV" compilation album featuring various artists produced by Will Ackerman.Brenda’s first single ”Tender Night” was released in September, 2022.
Primary among Brenda's influences are Erik Satie, Keith Jarrett, and her favorite artists Laura Nyro And Joni Mitchell. Her music is called "hypnotic" “joyful” “introspective" "evocative" "soothing" romantic" and "quite gorgeous". One reviewer described her music after seeing her play live as "painting pictures with each piece". Improvisation has always been a part of Brenda's performances and "A Revelation" on 'Childhood Dreams' and "Goodnight" on 'As Years Go By' were improvised at the end of the recording sessions.
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"Music has always been my passion. I sat down at the piano at 4 years old and I am still there, looking to find the magic in the keys". Brenda Warren