BRUNO PELLETIER-BACQUAERT

(Cliquer ici pour la Bio en français)

I was born in Paris, France in 1960. I grew up in a musical family  and was encouraged at an early age to develop a talent as a composer and instrumentalist. Note: it has been said that my dad had played with gypsy guitarist Django Reinhardt. That is true. However, it should be mentioned that they only played pool together...

I studied guitar and Jazz Composition at the University of Miami, FL with Randall Dollahon & Ron Miller. I also studied with John Hart, Dave Creamer, Barry Harris & film-scoring with Laurent Petitgirard.

Moved to San Francisco in 1987 where I now work as a free-lance guitarist, bandleader and educator-- with performances at the world-renowned Jazz club Yoshi's with my own Quartet, at the SF Museum of Modern Art, at local Jazz Festivals, and at the Mill Valley International Film Festival.

I have played with Buddy Collette, Sonny Simmons, Norah Jones, Bruce Dunlap, Trevor Dunn ("Mr. Bungle", "Fantomas", John Zorn), Reid Anderson ("The Bad Plus"), Jenny Scheinman, Ben Monder, Steve Cardenas, Kenny Wollesen (Bill Frisell), Phillip Greenlief, Flip Nu�ez, J. Granelli, Adam Levy (Tracy Chapman, Joey Baron, Norah Jones), percussionist Mingo Lewis (from "Santana"), African World Beat group "Zekele Sounds", and the"Broun Fellinis".

I currently teach Music Theory, Harmony and Ear-Training classes at the SF Academy of Art University, and have taught a variety of Guitar Classes, Music Theory, Jazz Composition and Improvisation Workshops at the University of Wisconsin at Madison, WI and at the Conservatory of Music of Cannes, France.

I teach privately at Russo Music in Noe Valley (on 24th St. near Sanchez St.) and at the Sunset Academy of Music (Irving & 15th Avenue) http://samsf.org/

Aside from writing and performing original compositions, I have been working on a "French singer-songwriters project": adapting songs by Serge Gainsbourg, Georges Brassens, Jacques Brel & Charles Trenet and using them as new "standards" (or "vehicules") for adventurous instrumental Jazz improvisations.

Wrote the original score for the experimental film "The Making of El Capistrano" by avant-garde director Claire Bain. Original music performed by the Bruno Pelletier-Bacquaert Quartet is also featured on the 2006 television movie "The Best Kept Secret", produced by the San Francisco Academy of Art University and made for the "Documentary Channel".

My composition "Lady L." was recorded by saxophonist Nancy Wright on her 2009 CD "Moanin'" featuring the Tony Monaco Trio.

I performed as a special guest with the Iranian band KIOSK and was featured on their 2010 album "Triple Distilled: Live at Yoshi's San Francisco".

I still travel regularly to New York City (where I lived in 1999-2000) and to Europe where I perform and present workshops.

A book of my original Jazz Compositions is awaiting publication by Drake Mabry Publishing, San Diego, CA.