An innovative jazz guitarist with a be-bopping style influenced by Texas, San Francisco and New York sounds will spend a week teaching, touring and performing state-wide with jazz students and faculty from the Michigan State University College of Music. 

Bruce Forman will be at MSU from Jan. 30 to Feb. 5 to mentor students through the MSUFCU Jazz Artist in Residence Program. While in residence, Forman will share his unique and highly personal guitar style through a week-long stretch of workshops, campus concerts, and outreach. Forman will also hit the road with the MSU Jazz Octets to visit music and jazz programs at public schools and academies in Detroit, Kentwood, Plymouth and Big Rapids.

“Bruce Forman is a renaissance man. He is a composer, educator, published fiction author, bandleader and of course master guitarist,” said Randy Napoleon, associate professor of jazz guitar and associate director of Jazz Studies at MSU. “He's also quirky and fun to be around. He has played with loads of jazz icons and brings a lifetime of experience with him wherever he goes. I'm looking forward to having my students meet him and play with him!”  

Bruce Forman’s life and musical journey provide an American saga that is still in full swing. With his Texas origins, his early career in San Francisco and New York, and his years on the road, Forman “can shred bebop at blistering tempos with the best of ‘em,” but his music is also described as “hobo chic” and “western bebop.” Ever in motion, Forman tours extensively, and has amassed 18 recordings as a leader—including his newest release Junkyard Duo. With countless sideman recordings with the likes of Ray Brown, Bobby Hutcherson, and Roger Kellaway, and soundtrack performances on three Clint Eastwood films, Forman is also a producer, arranger, and educator in residence at the University of South California’s Jazz Guitar Department. 

Celebrating its 10th year, the 2022-23 Jazz Artists in Residence season features a dynamic series of working musicians, educators and composers. In addition to Forman, the series has already welcomed vocalist Carmen Bradford and trombonist Adrian Mears this academic year, with Camille Thurman, saxophone, in town later this semester. Launched in 2013, the pioneering residency program imports high-level talent to spend a week teaching and performing with MSU jazz studies and K-12 students at schools and academies across the state. Coordinated by the MSU College of Music and supported by a $1 million endowment by MSUFCU, the program follows the jazz tradition of established musicians passing on their knowledge to aspiring musicians, while often enriching resource-strapped jazz programs in urban and rural communities. 

Forman will cap his week-long residency with a performance featuring the MSU Jazz Octets at 8 p.m. on Friday, Feb. 3 at Fairchild Theatre in the MSU Auditorium. Reserved seating tickets are $17 for adults, $15 for seniors (age 60 and older) and $7 for students. Information on these and other concerts, as well as tickets is found on the MSU College of Music web site.
 

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Jazz Artist Residency Schedule Overview
Bruce Forman, guitar, January 30-February 5, 2023
For a full bio, visit: https://www.bruceforman.com/bio

With his Texas origins, his early career in San Francisco and New York, and his years on the road, Forman “can shred bebop at blistering tempos with the best of ‘em,” but his music is also described as “hobo chic” and “western bebop.” An innovator and educator, Forman always has multiple projects in the works, and will travel and perform with the MSU Jazz Octet\s to visit music and jazz programs at public schools and academies in Detroit, Kentwood, Plymouth and Big Rapids.

• Monday, Jan. 30, East Lansing, Mich., Rehearsals, Combined Studios 
• Tuesday, Jan. 31, “Blue Mondays,” MSU Federal Credit Union Headquarters at 6 p.m. with MSU Jazz Octets (limited seating, RSVP required, doors open at 5 p.m.)
• Wednesday, Feb. 1, MSU Community Music School-Detroit, with MSU Jazz Octets, 7 p.m. showtime
• Thursday, Feb. 2, Kentwood High School with MSU Jazz Octets, 7 p.m. showtime
• Friday, Feb. 3, East Lansing, Mich. Masterclass and performance at MSU Fairchild Theatre with MSU Jazz Octets, 8 p.m. showtime
• Saturday, Feb. 4, The Village Theatre Cherry Hill with Plymouth Canton High School, 7:30 p.m. showtime.
• Sunday, Feb. 5, Big Rapids, Mich., with MSU Jazz Octets, 4 p.m. showtime.
   

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Press materials

View or download the press release (PDF)
Contact Michael Sundermann, 517-353-2043, sunderm7@msu.edu 

Photography and graphic downloads

A guitarist, composer and educator, Bruce Forman brings a “hobo chic” and “western bebop” jazz style to his performances. The guest artist will perform and travel with MSU Jazz Octets while in residence.

  
Forman tours extensively, and has amassed 18 recordings as a leader and has jazz recordings with Ray Brown, Bobby Hutcherson, and Roger Kellaway, including three soundtrack performances on Clint Eastwood films.