Patricia Brennan

Mexican-born vibraphonist, marimbist, improviser and composer Patricia Brennan is “one of the most exciting and innovative vibraphonists at work today,” notes Peter Margasak in DownBeat. As Giovanni Russonello writes in the New York Times “The jazz world can get stuck in a battle between the head and the heart, but rarely do you find an improviser like Patricia Brennan (whose) music seems to exist in a realm outside the body, but stays loaded with feeling.” Brennan’s fiercely original third album “Breaking Stretch” was hailed on more than 30 “best of the year” lists including NPR Music, The New York Times, Bandcamp, Stereogum, PopMatters, The Wire and more, earning Album of the Year as well as Vibraphonist of the Year in the DownBeat Critics Poll and taking the top spot on the annual Francis Davis Jazz Poll. She was also named “Mallet Instrument Player of the Year” by the Jazz Journalists Association. Her 2025 album “Of The Near And Far” looks to the universe for inspiration and blends jazz, classical and alt-rock influences.

Brennan’s extensive sidewoman work includes the Grammy-nominated John Hollenbeck Large Ensemble, Michael Formanek Ensemble Kolossus, Mary Halvorson’s Amaryllis and Arturo O’Farrill’s Grammy-winning Afro Latin Jazz Big Band, among other groups and collectives. Brennan’s own projects include the solo project Maquishiti; MOCH, a collaborative duo with percussionist, drummer and turntablist Noel Brennan (Arktureye); More Touch, a quartet with Mauricio Herrera on percussion, Marcus Gilmore on drums and Kim Cass on bass; the Patricia Brennan Septet, featuring the rhythm section from More Touch supplemented by Adam O’Farrill on trumpet, Jon Irabagon on alto and sopranino saxophones and Mark Shim on tenor saxophone; and Talamanti, a piano and mallet percussion duo with the extraordinary pianist Sylvie Courvoisier.

https://www.patriciabrennanvibes.com/bio