Bruce Forman is a masterful jazz guitarist whose playing blends dazzling technique, deep swing, and a storyteller’s soul. Born in Springfield, Massachusetts in 1956, he began on piano before falling in love with the guitar at 13. By the early ’70s, he had relocated to San Francisco, quickly becoming a vital part of the Bay Area jazz scene. There, he shared stages with legends like Ray Brown, Joe Henderson, Freddie Hubbard, and Eddie Duran. Get your TICKETS now!

Forman’s national breakout came during his years touring with alto saxophonist Richie Cole (1978–1982), and his 1992 album Forman on the Job climbed to #14 on the Billboard Jazz Albums chart. His guitar work has also graced the silver screen, contributing to Clint Eastwood’s Oscar-winning films Million Dollar Baby, Flags of Our Fathers, and Hereafter.

A passionate educator, Forman is on faculty at USC’s Studio/Jazz Guitar Department. He leads the trio Formanism, the Western swing band Cow Bop, and performs his acclaimed one-man show The Red Guitar, a theatrical journey through music and memory. Through his podcast GuitarWank and books like The Jazz Guitarist’s Handbook, he continues to inspire and mentor the next generation of players.