Spencer Brewer

Pianist, composer, and producer Spencer Brewer is known for his stylistically cross-pollinated classical-, jazz-, and pop-influenced instrumental albums. He first emerged in the early '80s with a series of albums on Narada, two of which, 1989's Dorian’s Legacy and 1991's Piper's Rhythm, hit the Top Ten on Billboard's New Age chart. Along with founding his own Laughing Coyote studio, Brewer has continued to expand his instrumental works, recording with Paul McCandless and Kit Walker. He has written for film and TV, and even drew upon his love of classic film scores for 2008's orchestral Cinematic. In 2023, he returned to his original compositions with Behind the Veil. Born in 1954 in Dallas, Texas, Brewer began playing piano at age seven, learning blues and boogie woogie from his grandmother. He started on classical lessons soon after, but by age 12 had stopped private study in favor of improvising and learning on his own. He progressed quickly, composing his own songs and playing in local rock bands. After high school, he spent a year and a half at Stephen F. Austin State University in Nacogdoches, Texas, where he took some music theory classes. However, he ultimately dropped out of school and moved to Austin. There he found work playing in local bars and restaurants during the day and gigging at night. In the 1970s, he relocated to Columbia, Missouri, where he continued to work with various musicians. He also became the accompanist for several modern dance troupes, among them the companies of Deborah Hay, Martha Graham, Daniel Llanes, and Suzanne Grace. In 1981, Brewer moved again, this time to Northern California, where he founded his Willow Rose Records. By this time, he had developed his own distinctive approach to instrumental new age music, drawing upon a varied mix of influences, including jazz players like Meade Lux Lewis and Oscar Peterson, rock artists like the Beatles and Cream, as well as the French Impressionism of composers such as Debussy, Ravel, and Satie. He began releasing albums, and Willow Rose was soon bought by noted independent label Narada. Among the albums Brewer issued on Narada were 1983's Where Angels Dance, 1984's Shadow Dancer, 1986's Emerald, and 1987's Portraits. Both 1989's Dorian's Legacy and 1991's Piper's Rhythm reached the Top Ten on Billboard's New Age sales chart. While 1993's Romantic Interludes marked Brewer's final full-length album for Narada, he continued to appear on various collections for the label. He then collaborated with Paul McCandless for several albums, including Torches on the Lake and Summer Nights, both in 1996. Also that year, he paired with Kit Walker for Reflections on the Pond. Along with performing, Brewer runs his own Laughing Coyote studio near Ukiah, California, where he has helmed productions for a bevy of artists, including Alex de Grassi, Holly Near, Gene Parsons, Phil Aaberg, and many others. He has composed for film and television, including Home Alone 2, Sex and the City, and Thirtysomething. Brewer also wrote the theme songs for the YMCA and the Japanese Postal Service and contributed to several Olympic broadcasts. In 2008, he released Cinematic, a lush orchestral album inspired by some of his favorite film composers. Another record, Behind the Veil, arrived in 2023.
© Matt Collar /TiVo