By embracing the influence of his heroes from the jazz tradition and retaining his own musical personality, guitarist Dan Bruce has developed a unique and impressive musical voice. A recent transplant to Ohio after spending a decade as an important member of Chicago’s vibrant jazz scene, he is active throughout the United States as a performer, recording artist, composer and educator.

    

     Bruce has performed on more than twenty-five albums as a sideman, and has released two albums, A Single Thread and Earthshine, as a leader. Martin Gladu of allaboutjazz.com wrote, “A Single Thread combines his learned guitar work, which is at times reminiscent of Ben Monder, with substantive yet airy, contemporary sounding compositions.”

 

     As a performer and recording artist he has had the opportunity to work with a number of eminent musicians including Seamus Blake, Ali Jackson, Dan Wall, Lynn Seaton, Daniel Lippel, Rose Colella, The Cleveland Jazz Orchestra, and Marquis Hill.

 

     Bruce’s groups have been featured in The Chi-Town Jazz Festival, The Chicago Composers Collective series at the Green Mill, The Chicago Cultural Center Chamber Music Series, The Jazz Institute of Chicago NextGen Jazz Series, South by Southwest, The Toledo Jazz Festival, The Rubber City Jazz Festival, The Tri-C Jazzfest, and a special live radio broadcast on WDCB FM Chicago.

 

     Daniel continues to compose for his own group, :beta collective, an octet comprised of some of the top improvisers in Northeast Ohio. His works have also been performed by The Cleveland Jazz Orchestra and The Brad Wagner Nonet as well as a number of college ensembles. Several of Bruce’s compositions and arrangements have been published in Fingerstyle Guitar Magazine, and he recently received an Individual Excellence Award in Music Composition from the Ohio Arts Council.

 

     Bruce is currently on faculty at Youngstown State University and Cuyahoga Community College. 

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“…a generous, accessible sound with an exploratory edge, Bruce brings a finely-polished technique that is at the same time subtly discontent, searching for new expressions and willing to take some chances along the way.”

-Troy Dostert, allaboutjazz.com