Brian Tarquin


Brian Tarquin is an American jazz guitarist, recording artist, sound engineer, record producer, composer, and author who founded Jungle Room Studios in New York. He specializes in guitar instrumental music and smooth jazz. He records for several labels, including his own launched in 2006, BHP Music/Guitar Trax, specializing in music for guitar. Throughout his career he has recorded with and produced projects with Larry Coryell, Gary Hoey, Hal Lindes, Chuck Loeb, Steve Morse, Billy Sheehan, Ron "Bumblefoot" Thal, Leslie West, and Mike Stern.

Early life and education

Tarquin studied at Mannes School of Music, The State University of New York and Center for the Media Arts.

Professional career

Composer

Tarquin wrote the theme music for MTV's Road Rules, All My Children, and The Watcher. He received two Television Academy Emmy Awards for his work on All My Children, and additional nominations.
He has provided musical scores for the films A Bird of the Air, Real Steel, Inferno, and Bart Got a Room; as well as scoring for television in episodes of 24, Alias, America's Next Top Model, Beverly Hills, 90210, Cheers, , Extra, Friends, Grey's Anatomy, ABC's Making The Band, Malcolm in the Middle, Melrose Place, Seinfeld, The Simpsons, TMZ on TV, and Sex and the City.

Producer and recording engineer

Tarquin produced the Guitar Masters Series from the Jungle Room Studios, which featured guitarists Jeff Beck, Steve Vai, Jimmy Page, Steve Morse, Gary Hoey, Santana, Billy Sheehan, BB King, Frank Gambale, Leslie West, Chris Poland, Hal Lindes, and Joe Satriani.
In 2006 Tarquin launched his own record label, BHP Music/Guitar Trax, and released personal projects and a series of Guitar Masters compilations.
In 2012 he founded TV Film Trax, a music production catalog which by 2016 included more than 2,000 songs by a variety of composers for television, and from which editors, music supervisors, producers, or directors can easily access tracks for their productions.

Guitarist and performer

Smooth Jazz

In 1995 Tarquin entered into a recording deal with the MCA-distributed Jazz Inspiration label, and the following year he released a debut smooth jazz album entitled Ghost Dance. He was later engaged by Instinct Records and released three albums, Last Kiss Goodbye, Soft Touch, and High Life. In 2002 he released Sanctuary on the Passion Jazz label. In 2005, with Chris Ingram, he released a recording of electronic music for use in stage and screen called Downtempo Drama Vol. 1 on the Megatrax Production Music Inc. label. In 2008, Tarquin released Fretwork for nuGroove Records.

Asphalt Jungle

In the early 2000s, Tarquin founded the band Asphalt Jungle with keyboardist and programmer Chris Ingram, and in 2002 released Electro Ave., followed by Enjoy This Trip, Jungilzation, Bob Marley Remixed, and Crazy Train. The track "Witchcraft", from Asphalt Jungle's 2002 album Electro Ave., became the theme song to MTV's 1998 season of Road Rules.

Recent projects

In the 2010s, Tarquin worked on charitable projects including releases Brian Tarquin & Heavy Friends: Guitars For Wounded Warriors and Orlando In Heaven, both on Purple Pyramid Records.

Publications and radio

Books

In 2017-2018 Tarquin wrote a series of recording studio articles for Guitar Player magazine. In 2010 he was a regular contributor to Recording Magazine, and in 2007 he wrote a monthly column called "Guitar Studio" for Premier Guitar Magazine. The column focused on studio techniques for musicians and recording engineers. Tarquin also conducted interviews of musicians for the magazine.

Radio show

Tarquin hosts a weekly show called Guitar Trax on NPR's WFIT 89.5FM. The show debuted on Jan 11, 2016 and focusses on jazz and electric fusion styles such as Weather Report, Pat Metheny, Mahavishnu Orchestra, Billy Cobham, Jeff Beck and Frank Zappa.

Discography

Ghost Dance1996
Best of Acid Jazz Vol. 21997
Last Kiss Goodbye1997
Soft Touch1999
High Life2001
Electro Ave.2002
Sanctuary2002
Enjoy This Trip2005
Junglization2006
Bob Marley Remixed2007
Fretworx2008
Brian Tarquin Collection2009
Brian Tarquin Collection II2010
Guitars for Wounded Warriors2014
Smooth Jazz Cafe2014
Exiled in Paradise2015
Orlando in Heaven2017
Band of Brothers2017
Guitars For Veterans2018
Rewind2018
Crazy Train2018
Guitar Masters Collection2018
Smooth Jazz Cafe2019

Awards and nominations

Wins
Nominations
ChartRanking
Radio & Records NAC/Smooth Jazz March 6, 1998 single - "One Arabian Knight"
Gavin Smooth Jazz & Vocals November 26, 1999 single - "Darlin Darlin Baby"
Radio & Records NAC/Smooth Jazz 1998 Year-End Chart
Radio & Records NAC/Smooth Jazz 1999 Year-End Chart
Relix Jam Band charts - Orlando In Heaven
Metal Contraband charts - Band of Brothers
Billboard charts - This is Acid Jazz, Vol. 2