bruce boardman

Studied piano at London's Royal Academy of Music and worked regularly in the nineteen-seventies and eighties with performers such as Terry Lighfoot, George Melly, Val Doonican etc. Led own band from the mid-nineteen-eighties which often worked with guest artists such as Barney Kessel, Herb Ellis, Charlie Byrd, Jim Mullen, Tal Farlow, Barbara Thompson, Ronnie Scott, George Chisholm, Harry "Sweets" Edison, Al Grey, Red Rodney, Jean Toussaint, Georgie Fame, Norma Winstone, Roy Castle, Harry Beckett, Dick Heckstall-Smith, broadcaster Benny Green etc. For around twenty years the band performed regularly throughout the U.K. and abroad. Nowadays works as pianist/vocalist with a variety of wonderful musicians including bassist Ruth Bitelli, her brother, tenor saxist David Bitelli, altoist Sarah Kelly, clarinetist Martin Nickless etc. and performs as a solo pianist, usually playing jazz but sometimes classical repertoire. Also plays organ and harpsichord. Collaborated with singer Laoise Davidson on her project "Zing", writing and performing jazz arrangements of Jewish repertoire. Appeared with Laoise, Ruth Bitelli and drummer Phil Johnson for three evenings in the Leeds Jewish International Arts Festival as a follow-up to jazz concerts at similar events in Liverpool and Newcastle. Was invited to be one of sixteen rehearsal pianists for the BBC Two series "Maestro". This involved playing orchestral excerpts in a piano duo context for Blur's bassist Alex James to practice conducting. It was great fun. Recently played organ at a church service given by a Chaplain to the Queen (she wasn't present!). --------------------------------------------------------- “Pianist Bruce Boardman ..... His versatility allows him to perform graceful ragtime pieces or hard-swinging uptempo things with equal facility”. - Peter Vacher. “Bruce Boardman’s inventive, intelligent piano lead and accompaniment .....” - Leeds Jewish International Arts Festival.