Bruce Arnold (jazz)
Bruce Arnold (born July 31, 1955 in Sioux Falls, South Dakota) is an American jazz guitarist, composer, educator and author residing in New York City. His explorations into the applications of 20th century classical theory in contemporary forms such as rock and jazz has created a unique compositional and improvisational sound. As a guest artist Arnold has toured Australia, Canada, the Caribbean, Europe, Japan, Mexico, Russia, and the United States.
Background
Arnold received a BM from Berklee College of Music in 1980. He moved to New York City in 1988 where he became an active member of the jazz community, producing many recordings as a sideman and leader. He is one of the few electric guitarists in the world to utilize the computer program SuperCollider in both his compositions and improvisations. Arnold is a co-founding member of Spooky Actions, a jazz group which explores improvisation using classical music repertoire.
His performance and recording activities include work with a wide array of styles. He has played with such diverse musicians as Stuart Hamm, Peter Erskine, Joe Pass, Joe Lovano, Lenny Pickett, Randy Brecker, Stanley Clarke, the Boston Symphony Orchestra and the Absolute Ensemble under the baton of Kristjan Järvi.
Arnold's recording credits include over twenty five CDs and DVDs (on Muse-eek Records, MelBay Recordings, Truefire and other labels), ranging from the standard jazz repertoire to free improvisation to the reinterpretations of classical music with the ensemble Spooky Actions. His compositions are published by Muse Eek Publishing and MelBay Productions.
Teaching and writing
He is the director of Guitar Studies at New York University and Princeton University as well as the creator of the New York University Summer Guitar Intensive. He has taught at the New England Conservatory, Dartmouth College, Berklee College of Music, New School University, and City College of New York.
Arnold's theoretical works have explored the use of Pitch Class Set Theory within an improvisational setting. He has also written more than 60 music instruction books covering Guitar Pedagogy, Ear Training and Time Studies.
Discography
As leader
- 1994 Blue Eleven (MMC)
- 1998 A Few Dozen (Muse-eek)
- 2001 Give em' Some (Muse-eek)
- 2004 Duets with Olivier Ker Ourio(Muse-eek)
- 2007 Blue Lotus
- 2009 Multiplicity
- 2010 Art of the Blues
- 2010 Heavy Mental
As sideman
- 2002 Music of Anton Webern for Jazz Quartet
- 2003 Songs of the Nations
- 2004 Early Music
- 2005 Olivier Messiaen Quartet for the end of Time
- 2007 plays Arnold Schoenberg Five Piano Pieces Op. 23