Brent’s modern musical evolution began sometime in the high school years after he realized that in spite of his best efforts, his endeavors with the trumpet and trombone were not feeding his need for musical enlightenment. After much persistence he got his first guitar and amp. Before he even knew figured out what to do with them, he and friend Joe Welch persuaded classmate Matt Holloman to form a band with them – thus Soulful Groove was born.

Brent soon realized that he was getting nowhere fast on guitar so he picked up a bass and began to learn the art of the deep end. His bass rumblings helped pave the way for his eventual departure from the ‘Groove. After dabbling with some guitar and bass during the next few years, he ultimately gave up playing for two years and went off to school at Virginia Tech.

Brent’s discovery of improvisational music of groups such as the Grateful Dead and Phish fueled his desire to once again make music. Before he could buy another guitar, he would borrow guitars from anyone who would let him and he began to re-learn and develop his guitar skills. Focusing mainly on acoustic playing, Brent gained confidence and began to develop his own unique playing style.

Around this same time, his friend back at home, Shawn Buddenhagen had begun jamming with bassist Micah Kaplan, forming the seeds of what would eventually evolve into Eclectic Seven. During summers and any weekend possible prior to his graduation, Brent would come home to play and record with the group. Once he had completed his time at Tech, Brent came home to focus full-time on the band. The more he performed with the band, his sound and approach to playing began to evolve from strictly acoustic to a more electric guitar style, with a focus on groove, texture and melodicism.

Brent is currently continuing to work with Eclectic Seven, as well as recently joining The Famous Clever. In his spare time he has also been known to fake his way around a mandolin and Moog synthesizer, and create acoustic, ambient, and electronic compositions.

Equipment: Ibanez AG75 Jazz Box, Fender Stratocaster, Epiphone Chet Atkins SE, Fender Ultimate Chorus, Line 6 Loop Sampler, DigiTech RP200 Modeling Guitar Processor, Vox Wah, Danelectro Cool Cat Chorus

Influences: Phish, The Grateful Dead, Keller Williams, Radiohead, Pink Floyd, Medeski Martin & Wood, Stevie Wonder, Lake Trout, Jane's Addiction, The Disco Biscuits, and many more...