“...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, All About Jazz
“A perfect balance between the known and the exploratory”
-C. Andrew Hovan, All About Jazz
CONTACT
Dan Bruce
773-632-7187
dan@danbrucemusic.com
Dan Bruce
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. Now a resident of Cleveland, 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 fifty albums as a sideman and has
released four albums as a leader. He has worked with several eminent musicians including Seamus Blake, Ali Jackson, Sean Jones, Dan Wall, Lynn Seaton, and Marquis Hill. His 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 (TX), The Toledo Jazz Festival, and The Rubber City Jazz Festival. He has been profiled in Fingerstyle Guitar, allaboutjazz.com, on WDCB 90.9 FM Chicago, WKSU 104.9 Cleveland, coolcleveland.com, and Chicago Jazz Magazine.
In 2020 and 2024 Dan received an Individual Excellence Award in Music Composition from the Ohio Arts Council. He is a member of The Cleveland Jazz Orchestra, Alla Boara, The Oblivion Project, Stephen Philip Harvey Octet and Big Band, and Reclamation Band. Bruce is the founder and Artistic Director of The Hingetown Jazz Festival. In 2024 he was named a “Jazz Hero” by the Jazz Journalists Association.
Bruce is currently on faculty at Cleveland State University.
