Brian Torff

from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Brian Torff (2005)

Brian Quade Torff (born March 16, 1954 in Chicago , Illinois ) is an American modern jazz bassist who also regularly composes for orchestras such as the Boston Pops , the Los Angeles Philharmonic Orchestra and the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra.

Live and act

Torff studied double bass at both the Manhattan School of Music and the Berklee College of Music . In 1974 he accompanied Cleo Laine and then from 1975 Erroll Garner . He also recorded a duo album with Mary Lou Williams (Live at the Cookery). With Stéphane Grappelli from 1976 he went on several worldwide tours. In the late 1970s he worked in a trio with Marian McPartland and Jake Hanna . Between 1979 and 1982 he formed a duo with George Shearing . He also worked with Hank Jones , Clark Terry , James Moody , Jimmy Cobb and Red Rodney . Since 1995 he has headed the Union group , to which Paul Wertico and Laurence Hobgood belonged, and also traveled with Dave Samuels , John Etheridge and Larry Coryell . He can also be heard on recordings by musicians as diverse as Sonny Stitt , Dave Amram , Roy Kral , Oliver Nelson , Carrie Smith , Tony Bennett , Henry Mancini , Milt Hinton and Toots Thielemans .

As a professor at Fairfield University, Torff is responsible for its jazz program and directs the Django Reinhardt New York Festival . He was also a member of the Advisory Board of the National Endowment for the Arts and has also emerged as a jazz writer.

Discographic notes

  • George Shearing Blues Alley & Jazz (1979)
  • George Shearing On a Clear Day (1980)
  • Manhattan Hoe Down (1984)
  • Working on a Bassline (1997, with Joe Beck and Grisha Alexiev)
  • State of the Union (1998)
  • Life in East Bumblepuck (2006)

Lexigraphic entries

Web links

personal data
SURNAME Torff, Brian
ALTERNATIVE NAMES Torff, Brian Quade (full name)
BRIEF DESCRIPTION American jazz musician
DATE OF BIRTH March 16, 1954
PLACE OF BIRTH Chicago , Illinois