Los Angeles resident Brian Hughes has carved out an impressive career in the contemporary jazz arena. His first two albums, Between Dusk and Dreaming and Under One Sky, firmly established him as one of the foremost guitarists and composers in the genre, perfectly blending his fluid and emotive guitar style into an exciting, melodic mix of Latin, Jazz and World Music compositions. After being picked as a winner in JAZZIZ Magazine's "Guitars On Fire" competition his subsequent recordings Straight To You, One 2 One, Shakin’ Not Stirred, Along the Way, Live and Fast Train To A Quiet Place have received critical acclaim and major radio air play from coast to coast. With his sizzling fret work and infectious compositions the media are accurate in saying: "Both a great artist and an accessible one. His passion is so obvious, intense and contagious, that his audience shares it.” Brian has received the SOCAN / BMI "Jazz & Instrumental Composer of the Year" award seven times from 1997 to 2011 and the title track from “Shakin’ Not Stirred” was featured on an episode of HBO’s “Sex and the City”.
Hughes is well known for his 35 year parallel career recording and touring with world renowned vocalist Loreena McKennitt (The Mummer’s Dance). Brian’s skills as a musician (guitars, oud, bouzouki) are in the foreground on her 2019 release "Live at the Royal Albert Hall" and his production & mixing talents are evident on her 2012 Grammy nominated recording “Troubadours on the Rhine”. McKennitt has sold over 15 million albums worldwide and Brian has toured the world several times with her, appearing on the "Late Show" with David Letterman and receiving a Juno (Canadian Grammy) nomination as "Producer of the Year” for his work on her platinum selling, Juno award winning album “The Visit”.
Brians' new side project Secret Sky brings together three of the most exciting and creative forces in Celtic/World music; Brian Hughes (guitars, oud & bouzouki), Caroline Lavelle (cello & vocals), and Hugh Marsh (fiddle). The three met over 20 years ago and have played together in Loreena McKennitt’s band since. Their eponymous debut album is produced by Brian Hughes, and is an exciting collaboration that brings thrilling power and emotional depth to both traditional and self-penned songs.
Hughes has also accompanied Celtic music legends, The Chieftains, on several tours and has Produced and Mixed several international platinum selling albums for Greek recording artists Alkistas Protopsalti, Evanthia Reboutsika, Yannis Kotsiras and Panayotis Kalantzopoulos, including the soundtrack for A Touch of Spice the top grossing film in Greek cinema history.
Secret Sky are looking forward to touring together and sharing their passionate music with fans old and new.
