A Tribute to Dale Bruning’s Music

Original Air Date: 10/20/23 – Dave Corbus on The Morning Set
Featured Music: Sweedish Schnapps – Dale Bruning Quartet

Through the coordination of Roger Green and Kevin Lee, Dale is one of the composers whose music will be shared on October 26, Thursday at 6:30 pm.

Two former students, very talented men and good friends of Dale’s, Dave Corbus and Mark Patterson, lead the way for this tribute to Dale. Joining them will be Eric Gunnison – piano; Mark Simon – bass, and Paul Romaine – drums.

This is the first in a series of concerts celebrating the massive influence of Dale Bruning on the Colorado jazz scene. Each concert will feature a different band illustrating Dale’s composing, arranging, and educational influence. Our first concert features guitarist Dave Corbus as a bandleader.

About Dale Bruning: A native of Carbondale, Pennsylvania, guitarist, composer, arranger, author, and educator Dale Bruning spent time living, working and recording in Pennsylvania, New Jersey and New York during the 1940s and 1950s playing with some of the biggest names. During his tenure in the United States Navy from 1953-57, he was a guitarist and arranger, and when called upon, he also played piano, bass, vibes, and percussion. He studied music and guitar with world-renowned educator Dennis Sandole. In 1961, Bruning became the leader of the house band for The Del Shields Show, a television variety program that originated from Philadelphia on WRCV, an NBC affiliate. In 1964, he and his family moved to Denver. His prowess as a performer is equaled by his talent in composing, arranging and teaching. During his 45 plus years of private teaching, he has expressed the joy of jazz to more than 1,000 students, many of whom went on to become professional musicians. Among those include Bill Frisell, Mark Patterson, Bob Gillis, Tim O’Brien, Pat Donohue, and Mark Simon. Dale has been featured in such prestigious magazines as 20th Century and released multiple albums and performed on stage with greats such as Jim Hall, Red Norvo, Dizzy Gillespie, Specs Wright, Marian McPartland, Erroll Garner, and Chet Baker. Along with his business partner, Jude Hibler, Dale developed the timeless music series, where he performs deep dives into the music of great jazz composers. For a list of recordings, books and more information visit: Dale Bruning/bio

About Dave Corbus: Dave Corbus, instructor of jazz guitar, spent over a decade playing in New York City as part of the “downtown” and mainstream jazz scenes. While his trio played weekly at the New York jazz club Augies (now Smoke) for a three-year stint, he also played in several world music bands, and in some of New York’s finest clubs and shows with the blues/funk/jazz band “Business of Blues.”  Corbus has played with a variety of well-known jazz musicians such as Red Holloway, Dr. Lonnie Smith, Plas Johnson, Lewis Nash, Javon Jackson, Bobby Watson and Joey DeFrancesco, and his trio has performed at Denver’s finest jazz clubs and at Colorado’s favorite music festivals. His first CD, Trios Time on the Synergy label, was met with praise from critics both locally and in New York. According to Cadence Magazine, “Corbus displays sensitivity and fluidity in his conception.” Mr. Corbus’ second CD, Sound Down, was also favorably reviewed: “Corbus’ style is slightly more measured and straightforward than [Bobby] Broom’s, but he navigates his lines with clarity and purpose and has his own springy, distinctive style of improvising.”  You can listen to his music at Dave Corbus

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