July Musical Artist of the Month — 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. He returned to Cleveland, Ohio in 2017 after spending a decade as an important member of Chicago’s vibrant jazz scene. Bruce is active throughout the United States as a performer, recording artist, composer and educator.
Dan Bruce has performed on more than forty-five albums as a sideman and has released four albums as a leader. 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, The Toledo Jazz Festival, The Rubber City Jazz Festival, and The Ohio City Summer Festival. He has been profiled in Fingerstyle Guitar, on WDCB 90.9 FM Chicago, WCPN 90.3 FM Cleveland, WYSO 91.3 FM Yellow Springs, WKSU 104.9 Cleveland, coolcleveland.com, Chicago Jazz Magazine, and The South Bend Tribune.
In 2020 and 2024 Bruce received an Individual Excellence Award in Music Composition from the Ohio Arts Council. He is the Board President of the Local 4 Music Fund, and he is on faculty at Cleveland State University.
“…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
Follow Dan Bruce on his website and social media:
www.facebook.com/danbrucemusic
www.instagram.com/danbrucemusic