Born: December 15, 1952 Primary Instrument: Bass
Born in Providence, Rhode Island, acoustic and electric bass player and composer Bruce Gertz began playing guitar at the age of ten. By age fourteen he changed to the bass guitar and started playing rock, blues and later jazz. While attending Berklee College of Music in Boston as a composition and arranging major, Bruce studied acoustic bass under John Neves and William Curtis. He began freelancing in the Boston area and soon built a reputation as a versatile player and soloist on both acoustic and electric bass. Gertz became associated with Bill Frisell, Mick Goodrick, Mike Stern, George Garzone, Jerry Bergonzi, Joe Lovano, Billy Drewes, Jamie Haddad, Kenny Werner, Ted Lo, Theo Saunders, John Scofield and other top players in Boston through time. Later Bruce studied more advanced jazz improvisation with Charlie Banacos and also through association with Jerry Bergonzi. Bruce has also toured with Billy Eckstine, Maynard Ferguson, Marlena Shaw, Gary Burton, Dave Brubeck, Jerry Bergonzi, Joey Calderazzo, Christian Jacob, Adam Nussbaum, Makoto Ozone and others. Performance Experience: Being an established performer in New England, Bruce has accompanied many well known, jazz artists: Gil Evans,Danilo Perez, Junior Cook, Dave Brubeck, Bob Berg, Mike Stern,Charles McPherson, George Cables, Diane Schurr, Bobby Tucker, Tom Harrell, Joe Lovano, Bill Frisell, Lee Konitz, Jon Hendricks, Cab Calloway, Joe Williams, Oliver Lake, Mark Murphy, George Coleman, John Abercrombie, Gary Burton, George Garzone, Tim Hagans, Kenny Werner, Billy Hart, Mick Goodrick, Pat Metheny, Ted Curson, Eddie Harris, Eric Kloss, The Fifth Dimension, The Coasters, Freddie Cole, Donald Byrd, Charlie Byrd, Joey Calderazzo,Cyrus Chestnut, Aaron Goldberg, Larry Goldings and Cecil Payne are some of these artists.
Awards:
Awards • 1987 Boston Music Awards - “Outstanding Bassist” • 1988 Boston Music Awards - “Outstanding Bassist” • 1990 Boston Music Awards - “Outstanding Bassist” • 1991 Boston Music Awards - “Outstanding Bassist” • 1992 Billboard Song Contest - Third Prize for the song, “Blueprint” • 1992 National Endowment for the Arts. "Jazz Performance Grant" • 1993 the album, “Blueprint” • 1995 the album, “Third Eye” • 1996 the album, “Discovery Zone” • 1997 the album, “Blueprint” all nominated for “Outstanding Jazz 1997-present, many moreAbout THIRD EYE: Once again the members of the Bruce Gertz quintet have revealed themselves to be a master of the art of music” Charlie Banacos ( Master,Jazz teacher and Pianist ) Beatiful compositions..Great Playing.. Great Album...Killin!” Mike Stern They say that those who can't do teach-but guess what:Bruce Gertz can teach and do.In addition to his duties at Berklee College,he leads a first rate quintet that plays some of the freshest,most cliche'-free jazz around.It's epecially rewarding music for bassist to listen to because Gertz lays down powerful walking lines on the acoustic and then switches to lyrical melodies (with chordal accompainment) on the electric.in short,he's got all the basse covered. Jim Roberts ,Editor, Bass Player Magazine , ”The Angular lines and beatiful singing sound of Gertz's bass is textually intriguing,as well as awesome” Tim Price ”His support work pushes and pulls with just the right tensionat the other lines under,over and around him.His solos are melodically compelling and effortless” Stu Vandermark,Cadence ”All of the numerous musicians that have worked with Bruce will tell you he's a monster” Bob Blumenthal,Boston Globe In my opinion and in the opinion of many other excellent musicians that i know,Bruce is a great bass player and teacher. Mike Stern
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Primary Instrument:
Bass
Location:
Wakefield, MA
Credentials/Background:
Teaching Experience
• 1974 - present private instructor
• 1976- present professor at Berklee College of Music, Boston
• 1985 - present Bruce has taught workshops with Berklee in Japan, Spain,
Germany, Italy and Santa Cruz de Tenerife and as a leader or with Jerry
Bergonzi in Australia, Venezuela, Israel, Slovenia and the U.S
Author: Walkin, 22 Contemporary Studies for Bass, Mastering The Bass 1 & 2,
Mel Bay, Let's Play Rhythm, Advance Music
Clinic/Workshop Information:
I teach Improvisation and rhythm section performance as well as ensembles and
composition/reharmonization techniques. Bass technique. Walking, grooving,
soloing, melody playing.
