Album Notes

Jimmy Bruno,
born July 22, 1953 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, is a master jazz guitarist and jazz educator. One of the most critically acclaimed jazz guitarist performing today, Jimmy Bruno came to prominence as a jazz musician in the 1990’s, after a successful twenty-year career as a sought-after commercial guitarist and session musician.

“Get on the bus-we leave tonight”

Those were the words that began Jimmy Bruno’s professional career as a guitarist. Most of the other guitarists auditioning for Buddy Rich’s band that day in 1973 were getting drumsticks thrown at them, Buddy’s not-so-subtle way of showing disapproval. But not 19 year-old Jimmy; he got the gig. A Philadelphia native, he was born into a family no strangers to the music world. Jimmy’s father played guitar on the 1959 hit “Guitar Boogie Shuffle” with Frank Virtue. Jimmy’s mom was a gifted singer. Living in such a musical household, playing guitar 8 to 10 hours a day was normal for this south Philly kid. He hungrily soaked up everything his father could teach him, landing on national television at age 13, the winner of the Ted Mack Original Amateur Hour. Soon he was studying jazz improvisation with local bass legend Al Stauffer. To develop technique, he taught himself to play the violin etudes of Wohlfahrt and Paganini. Although he briefly considered leveraging his perfect SAT scores into medical school, a summer guitar gig in Wildwood NJ (with Larry Cartell), changed the direction of Jimmy’s life forever. He was 17 and has never had a job unrelated to guitar playing since.

After a whirlwind round-the-world tour as the youngest member of the Buddy Rich Orchestra, he went on to play guitar in orchestras for Frank Sinatra, Wayne Newton, Lena Horne, and many more music icons. During his years as an LA session musician with Tommy Tedesco, Jimmy played on dozens of TV and film scores. But his first love was always jazz, and by the time he was in his mid-thirties he was ready to come out of the background and into the spotlight.

Paying his dues by playing blistering guitar in the small clubs and venues around his beloved Philadelphia during the 1980’s, his reputation as one of the hottest guitar players grew. In 1992 he landed a multi-CD recording deal with legendary jazz label Concord Records. Since then Jimmy has recorded over 13 critically acclaimed CDs, including “Sleight of Hand,” “Like That,” and “Polarity.” His most recent CD “Maplewood Avenue” (Affiliated Artists Records) was described as having “…a 'classic' feel to it...like a famous album we somehow hadn't discovered yet.” Jimmy performs constantly as leader of the Jimmy Bruno Trio in jazz venues and jazz festivals around the world, including the Iridium in New York and Blues Alley in Washington DC. He is often described as one of the greatest jazz guitarists of all time.

Jimmy recently entered a third phase of his career when, in May of 2007, he opened the Jimmy Bruno Guitar Institute (JBGI). With his unique insight into jazz and jazz guitar, Jimmy is constantly in demand to teach master classes. Now, employing the latest Internet and video technology, Jimmy’s method and “no nonsense” approach to jazz improvisation is available to guitar students around the world. With virtually no advertising, there are already hundreds of students representing over 32 countries studying at the online JBGI. In response to this innovation and his long-time reputation as a jazz educator, Jimmy has been invited to address the Jazz Improv Education Conference at their October gathering. Teaching hundreds of guitarists around the world, and maintaining a busy performance and recording schedule, Bruno is one of the hardest-working guitarists in the business. He shows no signs of slowing down.


Discography

1993 Sleight of Hand - Concord Records
1994 Burnin' - Concord Records
1995 Concord Jazz Guitar Collective - Concord Records
1996 Like That - Concord Records
1997 Full Circle- Concord Records
1997 Live at Birdland 1 - Concord Records
1997 Live at Birdland 2 - Concord Records
2000 Polarity (with Joe Beck)- Concord Records
2000 Two for the Road (with Jenifer Leitham)- Azica Records
2001 Midnight Blue – Concord Records
2004 Solo – Mel Bay Records
2006 MB3 (with Corey Christensen and Vic Juris) - Mel Bay Records
2007 Maplewood Avenue – Affiliated Artists Records


When not on the road, Jimmy lives in Philadelphia with his wife Peg and daughter Susanna. Jimmy’s son is working on his PhD in linguistics at Rutgers University.

Jimmy endorses Sadowsky guitars.

MAPLEWOOD AVENUE LINER NOTES: (2007)
Jimmy Bruno - Maplewood Avenue

Years of uncompromising musicianship have yielded recognition for Jimmy Bruno as one of the preeminent jazz guitarists of his generation, and certainly, one of the few guitarists to have a truly significant impact on the capabilities of the instrument. With this album Jimmy has a new sound, and with it a new approach to his music. Far from the incendiary live performances for which he is renowned, Maplewood Avenue is chamber jazz - intimate and understated in both composition and interpretation. This is music that touches the heart, and moves the soul. Working with Tony Miceli on vibraphone and Jeff Pedras on bass, Jimmy explores original compositions that were brought forth entirely from within the group. The music is melodic, accessible and ... challenging! The beauty of each song grows with repeated listening.

Anyone who has heard him play live knows that Jimmy can do anything he wants to do with the guitar. He’s made his name as a jazz guitarist, but I have seen him match wits with a delta bluesman, go country with the hottest picker in Nashville and play rock as if he was channeling Duane Allman. No matter what the setting, regardless of whom he is with, Jimmy still sounds like ... well, Jimmy Bruno, which is why this new album is such a pleasure. Recorded in his home studio, it is a striking departure from his other records. The instrumentation is different, there are no drums, and even the sound of the recording is unusual. Yet, this is still uniquely Jimmy - every bit as exciting and rewarding as anything he has done.

Maplewood Avenue expresses just how far Jimmy has traveled and how much he still has to offer. There are many other styles of music waiting for Jimmy to explore and when he reaches them he will do so with the same unflinching integrity that he has maintained throughout his career. The satisfaction for Jimmy will be immense. The rewards for the listener ... limitless.

 Randall Kremer is music director for the Smithsonian Jazz Café.