Meet Brian Monroney and Alexey Nikolaev
During over three decades as a busy sideman and session musician, guitarist Brian Monroney has performed or recorded with artists including Gloria Estefan, Natalie Cole, Barry Manilow and Tom Jones (Brian toured as Sir Tom’s guitarist and Musical Director for nearly 18 years). In addition to performing and session work, Brian works as an arranger, music copyist, and guitar teacher. Currently a resident of Tacoma, Brian has performed with a number of notable PNW artists and bands including Lee Oskar, Nearly Dan, Greta Matassa, Bill Anschell, Teatro ZinZanni and his own quartet.
“Having chemistry on the stage is really, REALLY important!” saxophonist Alexey Nikolaev says. Not the kind of chemistry involving careful experiments and lab coats, but the unctuous intuition between performers that greases the gears of improvisation. And that ingredient is precious, priceless, and rare. “You have to pay a lot of attention to EVERYTHING that’s happening in the band. You have to keep your ears open and respond really quick, this way you can really create music.”
Nikolaev’s accent is from Russia, near Moscow. He inherited musicianship from his father Vladimir and mother Olga. The Russian winters were no match for the passionate artistic fire in his heart. With a Bachelor of Arts in Saxophone and Arrangement, he graduated from Gnesin’s Music Academy of Russia. Gnesin, considered second only to the elite Moscow Conservatory, is celebrating its 70th anniversary this year. During the year after graduation, Nikolaev studied with saxophonist Dave Liebman in Dublin, Ireland. Liebman’s direct lineage to the jazz tradition through his work with Elvin Jones and Miles Davis oriented Nikolaev to the artistic path ahead.
Earshot Magazine