Since leaving college Bruce has worked in numerous bands and situations, performing music, and also in his capacity as a woodwind teacher. Bruce was one of the original members of "Pick Up the Pieces" a Manchester based soul band that played all over the country from 1995 to 2001. Also during this time Bruce was playing in the genre defying 7 piece band "Kuda Bux" described by City Life Magazine as "Manchesters best kept secret...an impressive fusion of ska, reggae and rock, it lifts you higher until you're in the mood to party" Kuda Bux recieved the Best Unsigned Band award at the "In The City" event from the Manchester Evening News. Kuda Bux played venues up and down the country touring on the university circuit, before spliting to pursue different projects in 2001. Bruce formed the duo "Hunnisett & Haworth" in 1999 with guitarist Michael Haworth. The duo performed a subtle and sensitive treatment of jazz standards, recording an album "British Summertime" which also featured guest vocalist Yvonne Barrie. Most recently Bruce has joined the 11 piece jump jive/R&B band "Zoot Serious and the Bellyfull of Bop" playing tenor in the six strong horn section. The band play all over the northwest, performing regularly at Alexanders Jazz Club in Chester. Bruce has also released a solo album - Dark Circles, on his own Ginky Spink Record label - learn more about this in News and Reviews.
In 1992 Bruce moved to Manchester to study for a music degree at Salford University. On the course - BA(hons) in band musicianship - he studied jazz composition and arranging, majoring in jazz peformance and writing a dissertation on Charles Mingus. While at college Bruce was able to hone his skills, studying sax with both Gerard McChystal and Andy Scott and also taking up the flute. In his final year at college Bruce formed his own quartet, they played a mixture of classic standards and Bruce's own original compositions, playing gigs in and around Manchester and over the Midlands. Graduating in 1995 Bruce was given the "Goff Richards" award for being the best jazz peformer in his year, and left college with a First Class honours degree.
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Bruce became interested in jazz aged 15 after coming under the spell of his parents record collection. It was the music of Miles Davis, Dexter Gordon, Sonny Rollins, Mingus and Monk being played in the house that caught Bruce's ear and sparked off a love affair with music. After being taken to some jazz gigs in Derby by his Dad, Bruce decided to take up the tenor saxophone. Taking to the instrument quickly he was soon playing along with those jazz records and getting together with friends to play music, forming his first real band - a trio with bass and piano, in 1989. In the two years after his 'A' levels Bruce continued to study and practice, passing grade 8 in both theory and performance, as well as working with various bands in Derby from jazz and funk to indie and folk.