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Brian Torff

Brian Torff is a renowned jazz double-bassist and composer. He is currently music program director at Fairfield University in Connecticut. The Fairfield Arts Council named him its 2008 Artist of the Year.

Performer

Brian is a featured bass soloist leading his own trio, and is the musical director for the Django Reinhardt New York Festival, which has appeared at Lincoln Center, the Kennedy Center and Birdland in New York City. He has performed at Carnegie Hall for Fiddle Fest where he appeared with Mark O’Connor, Dave Grusin, Regina Carter, Yo-Yo Ma, Itzhak Perlman, and Pinchas Zukerman. He performs in jazz festivals around the U.S., has founded the Fairfield University Summer Jazz Workshop and has served as co-chair person for the music advisory board for the National Endowment for the Arts.

Brian’s professional career began in 1974 when bassist Milt Hinton offered him the opportunity of touring with Cleo Laine. During the late 70’s, he recorded and performed with pianists Mary Lou Williams and Marian McPartland, and toured Australia, New Zealand, and Hong Kong with the jazz violinist Stephane Grappelli. He played in pianist Erroll Garner’s last group and worked in the big bands of Oliver Nelson, and The Thad Jones / Mel Lewis Orchestra.

In 1979, Brian joined in a duo with pianist George Shearing. In the course of their 3 1/2 year collaboration, they toured throughout the U.S., Europe, Brazil, and South Africa and were featured on The Tonight Show, The Merv Griffin Show, and their own PBS special from the Cafe Carlyle in New York City. They received worldwide acclaim, and were invited to perform at the White House in 1982 for President Ronald Reagan. Their third album won a Grammy for vocalist Mel Tormé.

Composer

Brian has composed works for records with George Shearing and Larry Coryell, and his own recordings “Life in East Bumblepuck,” “Hitchhiker of Karoo,” “Manhattan Hoe-Down,” and “Workin’ On a Bassline.” He has composed scores that have been performed by the Boston Pops, Los Angeles Philharmonic, and the Pittsburgh Symphony, and has appeared as conductor, composer, and clinician for numerous high school and college jazz festivals.

Author

Brian’s book In Love With Voices: A Jazz Memoir chronicles his early musical roots and provides portraits of musicians he has worked with, including Frank Sinatra, Mel Tormé, Erroll Garner, Benny Goodman, Mary Lou Williams, Marian McPartland, Stephane Grappelli, and George Shearing.

Teacher

Brian is a professor of music and the director of the music program at Fairfield University in Fairfield, Connecticut.

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Book Review

In Love With Voices: A Jazz Memoir

Read "In Love With Voices: A Jazz Memoir" reviewed by Ken Dryden


In Love With Voices: A Jazz Memoir Brian Torff Softcover; 236 pages ISBN: 1440112851 iUniverse 2009

Brian Torff is a widely experienced jazz bassist who has recorded and played with numerous greats, including violinist Stephane Grappelli, clarinetist Benny Goodman, singers Frank Sinatra and Mel Torme, and pianists George Shearing, Marian McPartland, Mary Lou Williams and Erroll Garner. He has also recorded as a leader and is active in jazz education. ...

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Photos

Music

Recordings: As Leader | As Sideperson

State Of The Union

Naim Label
1999

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Union

Naim Label
1997

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Hitchhiker Of Karoo

Zebra Records
1987

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Videos

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