Bruce Helgeson

Bio

Bruce focuses on delivering a unique guitar voice. He is a refined performing guitarist with a strong background in arranging, composition, theory and practical experience. He has warm, full tone, and chord-melody lines fluid with eloquent phrasing. At any moment this might contrast to his dexterity with angular, bop driven lines that swing hard and deep. Born in Joliet, Illinois (Chicago-land), Bruce began playing trumpet at age 10. He took up guitar after a short residence in Manhattan’s Lower East Side at age 15. After realizing he wanted to learn everything about guitar and music, he moved to Boston to attend the prestigious Berklee College of Music. Total focus on instrumental performance for 2-1/2 years was followed by 4 years of composition. Another year was invested, locked in a room completing a Symphony, Sonata and varied works while finally having the chance to apply years of concepts to guitar. Bruce co-led several groups and then in 1995 co-founded RazzMaJazz, a very successful Greenville, SC group. This gave birth to numerous opportunities and 4 CD Releases:10 yrs playing for significant events: Soby's Anniversary parties, Taste of the Nation, Main Street Jazz, featured soloist for stage, and endless club dates in downtown Greenville, and within 300mi radius. He has studied with the following artists: Jim Hall(2), Pat Metheny(5), Pat Martino(2), John Scofield(2), Mike Stern, Charlie Mingus, Bucky Pizzarelli, Russell Malone, Kurt Rosenwinkle, Joe Beck, Buddy Defranco, Dave Liebman, John Abercrombie, Jimmy Bruno, Howard Alden, Rufus Reid, Jack Wilkins, Joe Diorio, Peter Bernstein, Dave Stryker, Rodney Jones, Jody Fisher, David Baker, Corey Christiansen, Chris Vadala, Barry Greene, Sheryl Bailey, Jack Grassel, John Laporta, Bret Willmot, Bill Pierce. Bruce is currently active in projects from Solo to 6-piece (Guitar, Sax, Trumpet, Bass and Drums) http://BruceHelgeson.com