Bruce Sklar has been a performing Jazz and R&B pianist/ organist/synthesist for 35 Years in the New England area. Based in VT since 1983 , when he moved from Boston to join the group Pure Pressure , that group morphed over the years into the Grippo Funk Band, the baddest R&B band in VT at least! grippofunkband.com
As a sideman. he has appeared with ,Ray Vega Joe Lovano,Rick Davies and Jazzismo, Sonny Stitt,Alex Stewart, Jerry Beaudoin, Sandra Wright, The Duke Ellington Orchestra under Mercer Ellington,Jennifer Hartswick ( check HER out!!) Jon Hendricks, Art Blakey, Bobby Watson, Ella Fitzgerald,(ok, one tune !..) Trey Anastasio, The Unknown Blues Band , Chris Potter , Grace Potter, Jon Fishman ,Mike Gordon, Joey Somerville, Micheal Ray, James Harvey, Peter Apfelbam, Bob Gullotti and many more.
He has co-led the Sklar-Grippo Jazz band with stellar alto and baritone saxophonist David " The Truth Grippo" who has world class sideman/ recording credentials including leadership of the Big Country Horns withPhish, Micheal Ray, Trey Anastasio Band and many more.
This band has opened for a large range of artists, Gil scott heron, Tito Puente, Betty Carter, Dr John, Ricky Nelson, Jerry Gonzales, Oscar Hernandes among scores of national acts.
Bruce's latest CD release " Three Days In August" is a classic piano trio playing original material from Bruce's highly eclectic and original book of tunes. With bassist John Rivers and Gabriel Jarrett on the drumset, it is powerful, hard swinging,and totally engaging. It is beautifully recorded ,done at Chas Eller Studios ,engineered by Chas and Lane Gibson and mastered by Lane .