Bruce Gertz Musician - All About Jazz

Updated: November 9, 2023

Born: December 15, 1952

Every morning, world-renowned jazz bassist, composer, and educator, Bruce Gertz, makes himself a cup of coffee and sits at the baby grand piano of his Melrose, MA living room. Surrounded by quirky plants, records of his esteemed inspirations, and albums of his own, Gertz composes something every day, regardless of the day’s events ahead. He says, "Sometimes I only get a short idea but that can be the seed of a beautiful composition." His counterparts applaud him for his restless commitment to self-improvement.

Gertz is known for his superb mastery of the upright bass and was named “Outstanding Bassist” by Boston Music Awards. What some fans don’t know is that he grew up playing electric bass from the age of 14 and still plays (and teaches) the electric quite often. His extraordinary contribution to music education has earned him multiple recognition awards from The International Association of Jazz Educators and the Jazz Education Network. He has been serving as a Professor of Bass at Berklee College of Music since 1976. Additional educator credits include serving on the advisory board of the International Society of Bassists and as an adjudicator at the Clark Terry UNH Jazzer's Festival.

Gertz has performed and recorded with such artists as Gary Burton, Jerry Bergonzi, John Abercrombie, Joey Calderazzo, Kenny Werner, Mick Goodrick, Kurt Rosenwinkel, Billy Hart, Bill Frisell, Bob Berg, George Cables, Gil Evans, Tom Harrell, Jon Hendricks, Diane Schuur, Dave Brubeck, George Garzone, Mike Stern, Larry Coryell, Joe Lovano, Cab Calloway, Maynard Ferguson, Count Basie and many others.

He is an author of six books and contributing editor to Bass World Magazine. As a bandleader, Gertz has recorded more than twenty albums. His 2017 quartet release, Blue Cube received four stars in Downbeat, December, 2017.

Singularity, solo bass received 3.5 stars in the same issue. Other recent recordings include Blue Shadow, Trio-Now, Tone of Spirit, solo bass, 2017, Running in the Background, 2020 and Gently Said, 2022 Bruce Gertz Quintet, In Real Time, solo pizzicato bass. 2023, Waltz 1/19, single, Quintet 2023

Awards

1987-1991 Boston Music Awards - “Outstanding Bassist”

1992 Billboard Song Contest - Third Prize for the song, “Blueprint”

1992 National Endowment for the Arts. "Jazz Performance Grant"

Gear

Phil Jones Bass amps, Mooradian Covers, GK bass amps, Fishman, Full Circle pickup and David Gage, Realist Pickup. Thomastic Strings and D'Addario Strings

Bruce Gertz Quintet Kicks of Jazz at the Arsenal Series in Watertown on Monday, September 19

Source: MassJazz: Jazz in Massachusetts
September 19, 2011

Jazz bassist Bruce Gertz and his quintet are performing at the Arsenal Center for the Arts in Watertown, Massachusetts, on Monday, September 17, 2011 at 7:30 p.m. Tickets to the show are $18 and can be ordered online. In addition to Gertz, the quintet includes Jerry Bergonzi on tenor sax, Phil Grenadier on trumpet, Steve Hunt on piano,and Austin McMahon on drums. The performance is part of the newly named Jazz at the Arsenal series taking place this fall. For ...
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Music Industry

MATTHIAS LUPRI QUINTET with Bruce Gertz

Source: All About Jazz

Mainstream contemporary jazz vibraphonist Matthias Lupri, will be performing music from the release of his latest cd“Shadow of the Vibe", (Chartmaker Jazz CMG5060) with his quintet in concert on Thursday, July 20, 2000 at the Quincy Festival, Mainstreet Quincy, Ma at 12 noon (Free) and Friday, July 21, 2000 at the Acton Jazz Cafe, 452 Great Rd., Rte. 2A, Acton. (978) 263-6161. (Admission $10). Show starts 9PM. Performing with Lupri will be Steven Kirby (g), Bill Vint (s), Bruce Gertz ...
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About BLUEPRINT

"This music is an association between viguor,(up tempos) and passion of knowledge.It satisfies the spirit giving peace of mind" Jazz Magazine, France A disc of indispensable fire...the bebop with vision of the future' (Cd of the month) —Mateu Serra, Audio Mag, Spain

"Just about every song features a solo by Bruce Gertz and the're all great. His modal,post bop and swing derived harmonies and melodies prove he's equally versed as a player and as a writer...give the disc a listen.it would satisfy even the most discerning jazz palette,leaving you wanting a second helping' —Matthew Bowman, New England Performer

About BLUEPRINT

About 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

"Bruce's new solo recordings are like meditations that vibrate in the solar plexus and resonate through your being. His command of the instrument and imagination are an elixir for being transported to the pure music channel. Bravo Bruce."

- Jerry Bergonzi

"Gertz taped his first date as a bandleader in 1991, and has shown a consistency that the vast majority of his better-known contemporaries have failed to match. Ask him about his evolution and he will note that he has become a “less selfish” musician over time, one more aware of his listeners, but this has not led him to ‘dumb’ his music down or to momentarily pursue fashionable trends. As with his previous efforts, the music he creates here has the power to evoke feeling, thought, and motion. He continues to work at it, and the fruit of his efforts is unmistakable every time he plays."

– Bob Blumenthal, Boston Globe

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Primary Instrument

Bass

Location

Boston

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