Born in New Jersey, Gary Bruno began studying guitar at age seven. He showed an interest in music at the age of five with Drums leading the way. Soon after, the drums were put aside to make way for guitar. Taking weekly lessons Gary almost immediately showed prodigious technique and a hunger for learning music. Gary attributes this early desire to his Mom & Dad providing him with a radio which seemed to go everywhere with him as early as age three. He went to sleep with music on and awoke much the same. After a short period of guitar lessons Gary began to learn the songs of the day from the radio. While he was taught to read music the immediate need for it took a backseat to learning pop music from his trusty radio.
By age thirteen Gary had his first professional job with his band. Hired by a family friend to play a Christmas Party, that job was the first of what would become a livelihood for the better part of the next twenty-five plus years. In addition to performing, Gary maintained a rigorous teaching schedule and by junior year in High School Gary was playing three to four nights a week as well as teaching. All four years of High School also found Gary playing first chair in the Local Jazz Ensemble and winning outstanding soloist awards two of the four years.
After High School Gary began to get calls for recording sessions from unsigned local songwriters and local producers creating jingles for radio advertisements. Local club dates with bands served as Garys night job, and the days found him teaching, recording and studying guitar. These club dates kept Gary within the New York, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania area with occasional travel elsewhere. On a recommendation from a friend Gary landed a seat in the Dave Mason Band, which took his playing to a National & International level. This led to playing Greenpeace concerts with John Denver.
In his travels Gary found himself drawn to warmer weather, which brought him to Las Vegas playing the Las Vegas Strip as much as six nights a week. After leaving Las Vegas, (no movie or song innuendos please) Gary settled in Southern California where he currently resides. Considering himself a forever student of music and guitar, Garys future plans include composing, recording & performing.
Press Quotes:
You sound great........
author: Ron Eschete`
Clean...........Smooth..........and Swinging !!
Gary Plays Great .
author: Carmine D'Amico,16 Grammy awards Winning Guitarist.
Gary,you sound just beautiful on this cd.Taste,precision,feel.Just wonderful.This is a Must Buy for The
Jazz Guitar Lover.Carmine D'Amico,studio/jazz guitarist,holder of 16 Grammy Awards.
From Bossa Nova to Swing to Blues and back again...
author: James Schaller
From Bossa Nova to Swing to Blues and back again...it's all here to enjoy. The listener can hear that the
musicians have a high level of respect for the tradition, while pushing that tradition into the future with
fresh, new ideas. As just one example of how a solo should be built, check out Gary's treatment on
How Insensetive...now that's gettin' it done!!! Bravo guys, a beautiful piece of work!!!! James Schaller
author: John Kenney
Hey Gary - I just took a listen to your MP3s ... great early morning motivation! You cut off Bluesette
right when you started ripping ... way to leave me hanging for more ;-) The piano playing on Dream
was very tasty as well ... very tasty John Kenney Faultline Music
He traded solos with their guitar player......
author: Ken Mease
He traded solos with their guitar player who was very accomplished himself. Gary played one awe
inspiring solo after another, things I had never heard him do before, that's why I say I don't think we
really know what he is capable of !
Gary Bruno's debut disc is sure to get the guitar world talking
author: Carpet Cat Records
”Live at the Studio Café” Gary Bruno's debut disc is sure to get the guitar world talking about his fiery
and inventive playing. Recorded live, the mixture of jazz standards and originals, make this disc one of
the year's most exciting.
Your guitar playing is extraordinary. I like the way you think.
author: Dale Gustavson
Dear Gary: I had the opportunity to listen to your CD uninterrupted on our flight to Seattle. It is
outstanding! While I enjoyed being at several of your Studio Café gigs, the downside of being with so
many good friends is that they like to talk. I don’t think I ever got more than one song’s worth of “just
listening” any of the nights we were there. Your guitar playing is extraordinary. I like the way you think.
Fine job. All the best, Dale
Awards:
Outstanding Soloist International Jazz Ensemble Competition 1978,1979.
Equipment:
Benedetto Guitars, Evans Custom Amps, Leonardo Cabinets, Thomastik Infeld
Strings.
