Bruce Arnold (born July 31, 1955 in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, USA) is an American jazz guitarist, composer, educator and author residing in New York City. His explorations into the applications of 20th century classical theory in contemporary forms such as rock and jazz has created a unique compositional and improvisational sound. As a guest artist Arnold has toured Australia, Canada, the Caribbean, Europe, Japan, Mexico, Russia and the United States.
His performance and recording activities include work with a wide array of styles. He has played with such diverse musicians as Stuart Hamm, Peter Erskine, Joe Pass, Joe Lovano, Lenny Pickett, Randy Brecker, Stanley Clarke, the Boston Symphony Orchestra and the Absolute Ensemble under the baton of Kristjan Järvi.
Bruce Arnold's recording credits include over twenty five CDs and DVDs (on Muse-eek Records, MelBay Recordings, Truefire and other labels), ranging from the standard jazz repertoire to free improvisation to the reinterpretations of classical music with the ensemble Spooky Actions. His compositions are published by Muse Eek Publishing and MelBay Productions.
Mr. Arnold's theoretical works have explored the use of Pitch Class Set Theory within an improvisational setting. He has also written more than 60 music instruction books covering Guitar Pedagogy, Ear Training and Time Studies. He is the director of Guitar Studies at New York University and Princeton University as well as the creator of the New York University Summer Guitar Intensive. He has taught at the New England Conservatory, Dartmouth College, Berklee College of Music, New School University, and City College of New York.
Discography:
2010 Bruce Arnold Heavy Mental
Bruce Arnold Guitar
Andy Galore Bass
Kirk Driscoll Drums
2010 Bruce Arnold Art of the Blues
Bruce Arnold Guitar
Dean Johnson Bass
Tony Moreno Drums
2010 Valencia 3 Muse Eek Recordings
Bruce Arnold Guitar
Vicent Colonques Piano
Avelino Saavedra Drum and Percussion
2010 Heard Instinct Muse Eek Recordings
Bruce Arnold Guitar
Andrea Quartorone Guitar
2010 Invocation Muse Eek Recordings
Bruce Arnold Guitar
Gilbert Isben Guitar
2008 Sonic Infestation Bruce Arnold John Stowell Muse Eek Recordings
Bruce Arnold Guitar
John Stowell Guitar
2008 Secret Code Bruce Arnold Jane Getter Muse Eek Recordings
Bruce Arnold Guitar
Jane Getter Guitar
2008 Dakota Gumbo Bruce Arnold Mike Miller Muse Eek Recordings
Bruce Arnold Guitar
Mike Miller Guitar
2008 Spooky Actions Songs of the Nations Volume 2 Muse Eek Recordings
Bruce Arnold Guitar and Bass
John Gunther Woodwinds
Kirk Driscoll Drums
2007 Bruce Arnold Trio Live DVD Muse Eek Recordings
Bruce Arnold Guitar
Ratzo B. Harris Bass
Tony Moreno Drums
2007 Mediations DVD Dusan Bogdanovic Bruce Arnold Muse Eek Recordings
Bruce Arnold Guitar
Dusan Bogdanovic Guitar
2007 Spooky Actions plays Schoenberg 5 Piano Pieces Muse Eek Recordings
Bruce Arnold Guitar
John Gunther Woodwinds
Dave Phillips Bass
Tony Moreno Drums
2006 Bruce Arnold Trio Blue Lotus Muse Eek Recordings
Bruce Arnold Guitar
Ratzo B. Harris Bass
Tony Moreno Drums
2006 Aspirations Dusan Bogdanovic and Bruce Arnold Muse Eek Recordings
Bruce Arnold Guitar
Dusan Bogdanovic Guitar
2005 Spooky Actions plays Webern Live in Moscow DVD Muse Eek Recordings
Bruce Arnold Guitar
John Gunther Woodwinds
Aaron Jackson Piano
Dave Phillips Bass
Tony Moreno Drums
2005 Spooky Actions Messiaen Quartet for the End of Time Muse Eek Recordings
Bruce Arnold Guitar
John Gunther Woodwinds
Aaron Jackson Piano
Dave Phillips Bass
Tony Moreno Drums
2005 Soul Eyes Bruce Arnold Mimi Fox Rhapsody Muse Eek Recordings
Bruce Arnold Guitar
Mimi Fox Guitar
2005 Intersections Tamez Arnold Hamilton Muse Eek Recordings
Bruce Arnold Guitar
Tom Hamilton Synthesizer
Omar Tamez Guitar
2004 Ursel Schlicht Bruce Arnold String Theory Muse Eek Recordings
Bruce Arnold Guitar
Ursel Schlicht Piano
2004 Bruce Arnold Tom Hamilton Disklaimer Muse Eek Recordings
Bruce Arnold Guitar
Tom Hamilton Synthesizer
2004 Bruce Arnold Olivier Ker Ourio Duets Muse Eek Recordings
Bruce Arnold Guitar
Olivier Ker Ourio Harmonica
2004 Bruce Arnold Mike Miller Two Guys From South Dakota Muse Eek Recordings
Bruce Arnold Guitar
Mike Miller Guitar
2003 Early Music Spooky Actions Songs of the Nations Muse Eek Recordings
Bruce Arnold Guitar
John Gunther Woodwinds
Mike Richmond Bass
Kirk Driscoll Drums
2003 Spooky Actions plays the music of Anton Webern Muse Eek Recordings
Bruce Arnold Guitar
John Gunther Woodwinds
Peter Hubert Bass
Tony Moreno Drums
2002 Jamie Begian Big Band-Jamie Recordings
John O’Gallagher, Marc McDonald, Ben Kono, Dimitri Moderbacher, Dan Goble (reeds)
Tom Goehring, Dave Scott, Marty Bound, Jason Colby (trumpets and flugelhorns)
Jeff Bush, Deborah Weisz, Paul Olenick, Max Seigel (trombones)
Bruce Arnold, Jamie Begian (guitars)
Dave Ambrosio (bass)
Peter Retzlaff (drums).
2002 Roberta Piket Alternating Currents - Thirteenth Note Records
Bruce Arnold Guitar
Kirk Driscoll Drums
