WELCOME!! Here you will discover Bruce Helgeson/ Musician/Guitarist and keys to some of
his favorite information and resources. Vibrant music info and links will tap you into focused musical know-how
and music making joy. Go for it, and enjoy the tour.
Press
"F11" for the Full Experience
Bruce
Helgeson - Guitarist
"Back
in high school I had to make a choice between buying a Harley-Davidson motorcycle and a Les Paul guitar. It's a choice I have
never regretted. Not only has the guitar given me a lifetime of pleasure but I've become good enough at it that I no longer
have to wear a helmet when I play. But seriously, I think I have the best job in the world. Playing Jazz Guitar for
people is a real privilege." Even before Bruce pioneered the first Music Theory Class in his high school (Anderson,
SC) his passion was clear. He became totally immersed in progressive Jazz Guitar for 6 years at Berklee College of Music in Boston. First came 2 years of Instrumental
Performance and then 4 years of Composition. "I'm so glad I did it, I'm still applying the compositional ideas into every
solo". After college, a year was spent locked in a room composing, just trying to "put it all together" and completing a
Symphony, Sonata, 4 part Fugues and varied works. Then the performing career ramped up. "Some of my first jobs were with Keith Lockhart (now
conductor of Boston Symphony Orchestra) playing local venues and High School proms. It's hard to believe we played weekends
together in an Elvis impersonator Band!!"
Six months were spent at UNCC researching solos of Bruce's idol, Charlie
Parker, designing a curriculum named "Bird Lives".
Twenty five+ years of gigging and teaching has helped build a solid foundation.
Teaching/playing and holding a guitar all
day and half the night since 2002 hasn't hurt a thing.
MASTER CLASS STUDIES with: Jim Hall, Joe Pass, Pat Metheny,
Pat Martino, John Scofield, Mike Stern, Charlie Mingus, Bucky Pizzarelli, Russell Malone, Kurt Rosenwinkel, Joe Beck,
Buddy Defranco, Dave Liebman, John Abercrombie, Peter Leitch, Joe Satriani, John Patitucci, Romero Lubambo, Harvie S (Swartz), Itzhak Perlman, Kenwood
Dennard, ....Various National Guitar Workshop, J Aebersold, IAJE, Berklee activities.
CLASS ROOM STUDIES: Jimmy Bruno, Howard Alden, Rufus
Reid, Jack Wilkins(Gt), Joe Diorio, Peter Bernstein, Dave Stryker, Rodney Jones, Eric Alexander, Jody Fisher, David Baker,
Fred Hamilton, Corey Christiansen, Chris Vadala, Barry Greene, Sheryl Bailey, Jack Grassel, Jamey Aebersold, Jerome
Harris, Tom Dempsey,Dan Haerle, Jim Rotondi, Ed Soph, Gary Campbell, Frank Potenza, Steve Erquiaga, Peter Mazza,
Jim Snidero, Adam Rafferty, Steve Allee, Kenny Wessel, Pete McCann, Will Ray, Pat Bergeson, Ansyn Banks, Mike DiLiddo,
David Hazeltine, Ron Jackson, Ben Sher, Dave Fiuczynski, Chris Buono, et al.
The BERKLEE guys: John Laporta, Bill Pierce, Bill Bresnahan(Gt),
Jim Kelly(Gt),Al Defino(Gt), Mike Grady(Gt), Lou Mucci, Bill Maloof, John Bavicci, Tom McGah, Hal Crook, Jon Damian,
Jeff Stout, Tony Germain, Peter Hume, Tony Lada, Matt Marvuglio, Stu Balcomb, Gary Brunotte, Roberta Radley, George Zonce,
Pat Pattison, Tom Lee, Peter Hazzard, Michael Rendish, Walter Harp, Don Sterling, Ernest Wiehe, Robert Harrigan, John
Stevens, Ben Silver, Chris Frigon, Jon Klein, Alex Radulescu, Don M Gohn, George Corderro, James Williamson, Paul Lemke, Stefan
Schindler
-Each artist/individual has left a marked influence on Helgeson-
CLINIC TEACHING COMRADES: Pat Harbison, John
Fedchock, Doug Norwine, Scott Wendholt, Rick Simerly, Stockton Helbing, Thomas Taylor, Ariel Alexander, Tom Hildreth, Wes
Funderburk, Ana Gui Gui, Greg Day
To see next Web Page "Gigs" Click Here
STAGE/FRIENDS: Doug
Norwine, Joe Gianono, Charlie Mariano, Buddy Wachter, Lyman Golden, Piers Lawrence, Torsten Goods, Johnny Mann, Matt
Olson, Dave Maher, Greg Alewine, Colin Campbell, Ken Allison, Jeff Hook, Kym MacKinnon, Charlie Parker(Trpt), Mike Parker,
Andy Nagel, Byron Burns, Hazen Bannister, Jay Tyer, Alan Nowell, Jean Calvert, John Brookshire, Moss Mack, Tony
Waldrep, Suzie Blackwell, Terry Reck, Alan Nowell, Dave Fry, Chris Devido, Marlon Slater, Murphy Pitts, Durwood Peed, J Michael
King, Joe Jones, Chris Hyatt, Ira Kamp, Cary Palmer, Derek Dodson, Dickie Fredricks, Lachlan Macleay, Dean Plowman,
Gregg Emory, Dave Daniels, Durwood Peed, Jerry Scala, Joe Osborne, Sonny Thornton .. ah etc etc
"I had a private lesson with Jody Fisher in
2007. What a great way to kick off some serious chord melody work!"
I also worked a week with Dave Stryker in combo... Whew......
I just Don't have the
words... maybe Total Intensity...and private lessons since....Yeow.. good stuff.
"I spent a 2 days studing improv and playing in
a rhythm section with Chris Vadala (Sax)..once again, I'll never be the same....his intensity and level of motivation is ....unbelievable".
(The insight gained over a simple lunch or coffee.....is .....well... Amazing.. but it's the music that speaks the
most!!!)
EQUIPMENT: Notes for those who
share the Passion of Guitar...Bruce plays:
Main
rig:
-Gibson L-4, TI .011 Strings,
Acoustic Image Clarus 2R Amp (200W @ 4 Ohms). Two Raezer's Edge Stealth S10 Speakers (8ohms ea).
-Gibson L-5, with Magnetic Benedetto S6 Pickup(or Johnny
Smith Pup-now 2008) & Piezo Bridge(occasionally mixed into Pendulum SPS-1 Stereo Mix parametric EQ), .011 RW
Thomastik Infield Bebop.
-Ibanez
AK-85(sim to Ak-86) Archtop; -Hamer Newport/PhatCat
Pups;TI .012's Flat wound.
-for Commercial
work:Matchless Chieftain 40W Amp El-34's-Groovetubes-#6, or #5, 4-10's Open back. Pedal board, Picks: Dunlop
205.
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