Bruce Forman's guitar style has been an important part of the
international jazz scene for more than three decades. He has
been featured as leader as well as sideman at many of the most
prestigious festivals and concert venues throughout the world.
His numerous recording and performing credits include the likes
of Bobby Hutcherson, Ray Brown, Freddie Hubbard, Joe Henderson,
Barney Kessel, Roger Kellaway, Richie Cole, and countless others.
Known for swinging bop-style phrasing and inventive harmonizations,
his ability to work in a variety of settings keeps him in constant
demand. His guitar work is featured throughout Clint Eastwood's
Academy Award winning film, Milion Dollar Baby.
His devotion to sharing knowledge-particularly with children-has
been a constant throughout his career. Having taught since his
late teens, he is keenly aware of the needs of developing musicians
and is personally connected to all of his students, many of
whom have moved on to successful careers as recording and performing
artists. He has served as 'artist in residence' at numerous
music workshops worldwide, has conducted seminars in conservatories
and universities across four continents, is in residence at
USC's Thornton School of Music and a longstanding member of
the Monterey Jazz Festival Education Program.
He has thirteen recordings as leader, the most recent being
a self-produced issue entitled Dedication, Bootleg Vol. I, (re-released
by BluJazz Records, September 2003) a selection of compositions
and arrangements that reveal his personal acknowledgement of
many of the musicians and experiences that shaped his music.
Among his numerous recordings as sideman, Bruce was prominently
featured on Ray Brown's Some of my best fiends are Guitarists
CD, released in 2002.
In 2004, Cow Bop, a jazz and western swing band featuring
Bruce Forman won the Route 66 Challenge, traveling the length
of the storied road, having departed Chicago with a mere $100
a no scheduled gigs. The band's CD, Swingin' Out West and follow-up
CD, Route 66 received wide acclaim and charted on radio charts
in four different catagories: Jazz, Americana, College and Adult
Contemporary.