Brian Torff

Infobox Musical artist
Name = Brian Torff

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Chicago, Illinois, United States
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Instrument = Double-bass
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Genre = Jazz
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Brian Q. Torff (born March 16, 1954 in Chicago, Illinois) is a jazz double-bassist and composer.

Career

Torff is currently the Music Program Director at Fairfield University in Fairfield, Connecticut where he makes frequent appearances at the Regina A. Quick Center for the Arts leading the Fairfield University Jazz Ensemble along with guest jazz artists including Randy Brecker, Bob Mintzer, Bernard Purdie, Milt Hinton, Dave Samuels and Paul Wertico.

He currently performs with his seven-piece band, Thunderstick, which uses a horn section and jazz violinist Randy Sabien, as well as the Union trio. He has performed in jazz festivals around the US, founded the Fairfield University Summer Jazz Camp, and has served as co-chair person for the music advisory board for the National Endowment for the Arts. [http://www.briantorff.com/bio.htm Brian Q. Torff - Biography ] ]

Torff's professional career began in 1974 when bassist Milt Hinton offered him the opportunity of touring with Cleo Laine. During the late 1970s, Torff recorded and performed with pianists Mary Lou Williams and Marian McPartland, and toured Australia, New Zealand, and Hong Kong with violinist, Stephane Grappelli. He played in pianist Erroll Gamer's last group and worked in the big bands of Oliver Nelson, and the Thad Jones/Mel Lewis Big Band. In 1979, Torff formed a duo with pianist George Shearing. In the course of their three and a half year collaboration, they toured throughout the US, Europe, Brazil, and South Africa. They appeared on the NBC Tonight Show, the "Merv Griffin" show, and broadcast a PBS show from New York's Cafe Carlyle. They were invited to perform at the White House in 1982 for President Reagan. Their third album won a Grammy for vocalist Mel Tormé.

As a composer, Torff has contributed works for records with George Shearing, Larry Coryell, and his own recordings- Hitchhiker of Karoo, Manhattan Hoe- Down, and Workin' On a Bassline. He has written scores that have been performed by the Boston Pops, Los Angeles Philharmonic, and the Pittsburgh Symphony, and has appeared as conductor, composer, and clinician for numerous high school and college jazz festivals.

External links

* [http://www.briantorff.com/ Brian Torff Website]
* [http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9B02EFDE143BF933A15755C0A964948260 New York Times Feature]
* [http://www.fairfield.edu/x2729.html Fairfield University Music Program]
* [http://www.fairfield.edu/x2811.html Fairfield University Jazz Ensemble]

References