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Bruce Dudley

Jazz Pianist and composer BRUCE DUDLEY has performed at Jazz Festivals in Canada and the United States since 1974 when he was the featured “Young Talent” winner at the Wichita Jazz Festival. Since then he has performed across Canada and throughout the United States in clubs, concerts, and festivals including the Houston International Festival, Vancouver Jazz Festival, Jazz in June, Calgary Jazz Festival, Edmonton Jazz Festival, and Corpus Christi Jazz Festival. Dudley has performed with Herb Ellis, Marvin Stamm, Eddie Daniels, Chester Thompson, Jamie Baum, and many others. He was the pianist for the Middle Tennessee Jazz Orchestra with whom he has performed with Randy Brecker, Eric Alexander, Kenny Werner, Scott Robinson, Jim McNeely, Tim Hagens, and the Sacred Music Concert of Duke Ellington.

Dudley is currently on the faculty of Commercial Music at Belmont University and is adjunct instructor of jazz piano at Vanderbilt University. Dudley previously held positions at Middle Tennessee State University, San Jacinto College in Houston, and St. Francis Xavier University in Nova Scotia

Dudley’s own groups include a jazz septet and a jazz trio plus string quartet, for which his arrangements and compositions have received rave reviews. His recordings include his trio CD “Semblance” and his wife, jazz singer Sandra Dudley’s CD “Close To You”. Dudley is sought after not only as a pianist but as a clinician as well. He has conducted clinics on jazz improvisation in Canada and the U.S. at universities including Brigham Young University, Western Washington State University, Tennessee State University, Eastman School of Music, Houston Community Colleges, Humber College, University of Saskatoon, University of Alabama and others.

As a composer, Dudley has received commissions from Meet the Composer, The Commission Project, The Canadian Saxophone Quintet, East Nashville Center for the Creative Arts, and Murfreesboro Youth Orchestra.

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What the press has to say about BRUCE DUDLEY……

"He can range from a strong two-handed approach to a sensitive lyricism, and seems to share a characteristic with the late great Bill Evans: both hands always seem to be in perfect balance, which gives every note a harmonic richness making repeated listening a pleasure." TENNESSEE JAZZ AND BLUES NEWS

"Dudley’s well-schooled piano style is guided by dominant but subtle right-hand figures that galvanize one of the most cohesive trios in town." THE NASHVILLE SCENE

"Dudley plays the piano with such grace and authority that he has quietly become the pianists that other pianists go to hear." HOUSTON POST

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Primary Instrument

Piano

Willing to teach

Advanced only

Credentials/Background

I have taught at the university level since 1986 after graduating from Eastman with a Master degree in Jazz Performance. I have conducted big bands and coached jazz combos, taught jazz improvisation (beginning through advanced), jazz theory and arranging, music business, and private jazz and commercial piano. My goal is always to help the student develop his or her craft, technique, and to foster creativity and originality.

Clinic/Workshop Information

I have conducted clinics at colleges and universities across the United States and Canada covering jazz improvisation, rhythm section playing, vocal accompaniment, and jazz ensemble festival adjudication.

Music

Recordings: As Leader | As Sideperson

The Solo Sessions

Jazz Music City
2012

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Bruce Dudley The Solo...

Jazz Music City
2012

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Mostly Monk

Self Produced
2010

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Semblance

Keuka Waters Music
1997

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