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Bruce Forman Trio - Sparkling Guitarist of World-Wide Renown

Jazz at Pearl's
San Francisco, CA

Bruce Forman's fluid, soaring guitar style has helped define the sound of the modern jazz guitar. Graceful, propulsive saxophone-like lines jump off his guitar in turn with shimmering chordal tapestries. That style has also made Forman a truly international star.

Thirteen albums as a leader, recordings and performances with musicians like Joe Henderson, Eddie Jefferson and Bobby Hutcherson, and, of course, the beauty of Formanâs playing, firmly establish him in the front ranks of the worldâs most influential jazz musicians. For example, Formanâs guitar playing is heard throughout Clint Eastwoodâs Academy Award winning movie, Million Dollar Baby. Closer to home, Forman recently joined forces on the Pearlâs stage with sax great David âFatheadâ Newman.

But as huge a star as Forman is around the globe, he is also very much a hometown hero. Now living in Monterey, Forman came of age as a musician on competitive San Francisco jazz scene of the 1970s and never broke stride. At the 2003 Monterey Jazz Festival, Forman was honored during a special tribute to influential Bay Area guitarists. And for years, Forman led a now legendary weekly session at Jazz at Pearlâs with a trio consisting of bassist John Wiitala and drummer Vince Lateano.

And now, during a very special weekend residency at Pearlâs, Forman, Wiitala and Lateano will recreate that magic, as these three longtime friends, jazz champions all, reunite for three evenings of intimate and electrifying jazz.

Bruce Forman's original fascination with jazz came through his discovery of Charlie Parker, so it's not surprising that the first major artist to take the guitarist on the road was reedman Richie Cole, well known as a Parker and Phil Woods disciple.

"I met Richie through Vince Lateano," Forman remembered during an interview for JazzWest.com. "Richie's thing was going around and using local rhythm sections, and when he came to San Francisco he would play with Vince and Smith Dobson. Vince and I had a gig at a place in North Beach called Payda's. Vince said to him, 'Hey, I've got this gig on Columbus. Why don't you come down and play?' So Richie showed up and sat in with us. After the first solo he heard me play, he walked over and said, 'Hey, you sound like Sonny Stitt on the guitar.' And the fact is that I did listen almost as much to Sonny Stitt as I did to Bird. His playing was easier to bring off the record, but equally incredible. So Richie invited me to play on some of his dates, and that started a good thing."

Remembering back to his earliest playing days in the mid-70's, Forman said, "Richie was the first big touring act I joined, but by the time I played with Richie, I'd already played with Woody Shaw. I played with Smith Dobson a lot, and Hadley Caliman, and I'd played with John Handy, Dave Marshall and Eddie Moore. You know, the guys around town. Just phenomenal talents who were living in the Bay Area. I'd even played with Joe Henderson a number of times."

Note: TICKET TIERS FOR THIS SHOW Show Ticket: Sold in advance online and by phone. Includes guaranteed seating AND show ticket for our first or second show for arrival before curtain. 2 beverage minimum. Cash only. ATM on premises. VIP Ticket: Sold in advance online and by phone. Includes tickets to both shows, front of line access, instant seating, chilled bottle of champagne waiting at your table (included in price), reserved VIP table for both shows (stay at your table), CD of act with autograph. No beverage minimum.

Kid Friendly: No

Dog Friendly: No

Non-Smoking: No

Wheelchair Accessible: No

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