b. c.1953, New York City, New York, USA. His parents were musicians and from a young age Groder played trumpet and flügelhorn. Early in his professional career he played in hotel and casino bands in Atlantic City backing visiting pop stars. For about a decade he taught in Philadelphia before moving back to New York City in the early 90s. Groder established a reputation among avant garde jazz and improvised music players, including Abstract Truth recording Curiosity on Acoustical Concepts in 1991. Although noted for his innovative work in free jazz, Groder is also a composer of distinction. His bands include the Brian Groder Ensemble and Double Perceptions. The last-named of these has included Rez Abbasi (guitar), Dominic Duval (bass) and Newman Taylor Baker (drums). Other musicians with whom he has worked are trumpeter Taylor Ho Bynum, saxophonists J.C. Feil, Michael Mee, J.D. Parran and Blaise Siwula, pianists JoAnne Brackeen (with whom he also studies), Burton Greene, Katsuyuki Itakura, Francesca Tanksley and Ron Thomas, guitarists Kevin Kuhn and Dennis Sandole, bass players Vince Fay, Andy McKee and Craig Thomas, and drummers Jackson Krall, John McLellan and Tony Vigilante. Groder has also enjoyed a highly commendable association with veteran free jazz saxophonist Sam Rivers and the latter’s trio partners, bass player Doug Mathews and drummer Anthony Cole. Groder recorded Torque in 2006 with the Rivers trio, a release that was greeted with considerable acclaim. Strikingly inventive, Groder plays with flair and suppleness. He has described what he plays as modern progressive music and it is constantly thought provoking and rewarding. He also operates his own label, Latham Records. In addition to his work with jazz musicians, Groder has collaborated with choreographer Cherylyn Lavergnino for whom he composed ‘Music For Dance’, a work that was premiered in New York City in 2006.