About

Jazz guitarist/composer/arranger and educator Dale Bruning excites his audiences with the superb quality of his playing. 

   A native of Carbondale, Pennsylvania, guitarist, composer, arranger, author, and educator Dale Bruning spent time living, working and recording in Pennsylvania, New Jersey and New York during the 1940s and 1950s. During his tenure in the United States Navy from 1953-57, he was a guitarist and arranger, and when called upon, he also played piano, bass, vibes, and percussion.
   Upon his release in 1957, he studied at Temple University, declaring and graduating with a bachelor of arts degree in psychology. He took as many music classes as he could. Concurrently, he studied music and guitar with world renowned educator Dennis Sandole.
   In 1961, Mr. Bruning became the leader of the house band for The Del Shields Show, a television variety program that originated from Philadelphia on WRCV, an NBC affiliate. In 1964, he and his family moved to Denver.
   An accident in 1988 nearly ended Mr. Bruning’s career as a performing musician. While securing a window pane in the rubbish can, a piece of glass broke and slashed a deep cut across his left wrist. His median nerve to the fingers and the thumb tendon were badly cut. Dr. Charles Hamlin rebuilt the sheath around the nerve, enabling it to regenerate itself. The doctor’s strong suggestion to Dale was to play a few minutes each day so that the muscles would not atrophy.
   Then, a few months later, he was to accept gigs and play out again. Enter vocalist Lynn Skinner, a dear friend with a compassionate heart. She had bee hired to bring in a trio with her and play at LaCouple in Denver. She did. Dale was one of the players on the gig. Because of Dr. Hamlin, Lynn Skinner, his wife, Hazel, and his own perseverance, he once again became his own amazing playing self.
   After this tragedy, his commitment to playing was fueled by his deep passion for the music and his own acts of courage every time he picked up the guitar to practice, knowing the pain would be excruciating. His valor during the slow rehabilitative process was rewarded, however, as he has become an even stronger performer than prior to the accident. Considering that he has little feeling in one finger, he amazes audiences with his ability and agility on the fingerboard.
  His prowess as a performer is equaled by his talent in composing, arranging and teaching. During his 45 plus years of private teaching, he has expressed the joy of jazz to more than 3000 students, many of whom went on to become professional musicians. Among those include Bill Frisell, Mark Patterson, Keith Oxman, Tim O’Brien, Pat Donohue, and Mark Simon.
   He has been featured in such prestigious magazines as 20th Century Guitar and Just Jazz Guitar, with superb CD reviews found in JazzTimes, Jazz Journal of England, Guitar Player, Cadence, Jazzscene of Oregon, The Denver Post, The Oregonian, The Omaha Herald, 20th Century Guitar, Western Australia Guitar Society newsletter, Berman Foundation newsletter and Just Jazz Guitar.
   He is also an entrant in The Jazz Guitar book by Maurice J. Summerfield, Ashley Mark Publishing Company, © 1998, United Kingdom.