Brian Hughes is a Canadian guitarist and composer, born in 1955, who works in contemporary jazz. He plays guitar and is also credited with oud and bouzouki. His music combines jazz with Latin and world music influences, and his recordings place him within smooth jazz, jazz, jazz fusion and jazz guitar traditions.

Solo recordings

Hughes’ early albums, Between Dusk and Dreaming and Under One Sky, establish his reputation as a guitarist and composer. Later releases include Straight To You, One 2 One, Shakin’ Not Stirred and Along the Way, which receive critical praise and radio play. The title track from Shakin’ Not Stirred also appears in an episode of HBO’s Sex and the City.

Live work and band

LIVE appears as a concert release with an all-star group featuring Tim Landers on bass, Tal Bergman on drums, Ron Powell on percussion, and pianist Les Portelli, who has worked with Hughes for a long time.

Work with Loreena McKennitt

Alongside his solo career, Hughes spends about 20 years performing and recording with vocalist Loreena McKennitt. His work with her includes guitar, oud and bouzouki performance as well as production. He contributes to the platinum album An Ancient Muse, the concert film Nights From the Alhambra, and her previous seven multi-platinum recordings. He also appears with McKennitt on Late Show with David Letterman and receives a Juno nomination for Producer of the Year for his work on her album The Visit.

Collaborations and recognition

Hughes is selected as a winner in JAZZIZ Magazine’s “Guitars On Fire” competition. He receives the SOCAN/BMI Jazz & Instrumental Composer of the Year Award six times between 1997 and 2006. His production credits also include international platinum albums for Greek artists Evanthia Reboutsika, Yannis Kotsiras and Panayotis Kalantzopoulos, including the soundtrack for A Touch of Spice, which becomes the top-grossing film in Greek cinema history. He also tours with The Chieftains.