Bruce Purse is an American musician, composer, producer, vocalist, bandleader, arranger, performer, music educator, and guest lecturer. Proficient at various wind instruments, including the trumpet, pocket trumpet, bass trumpet, and flugelhorn, Purse has performed with many well known artists, such as Lester Bowie, Amy Winehouse, Jennifer Hudson, Alicia Keys, Faith Evans, Nas, Leona Lewis, and Johnny Kemp. He has also assembled large ensembles from a 11-piece bands to 30 piece orchestras, including his premiere ensemble called Bruce Purse and the Pocketbooks. The band performs originals in various genres such as; jazz, reggae, R&B, and heavy blues.[1][2]
Bruce Purse | |
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| Background information | |
| Birth name | Bruce Clayton Purse |
| Born | Birmingham, Alabama, U.S. |
| Genres | Jazz, soul, R&B, blues, avant-garde jazz, hip hop soul, urban, reggae |
| Occupation(s) | Musician, composer, writer, artist, producer |
| Labels | Next Plateau |
| Website | www |
Purse describes himself as a sound mentalist. A mentalist practices Mentalism one who creates sound vibrations, music, and frequencies that create music. He creates music acoustically and digitally. In addition, he writes stories and plays.
Purse is the president of bcpurse music.
Early life
Purse was born in Birmingham, Alabama. He grew up listening to music on the radio, television, and in church. Bruce was exposed to gospel music, jazz, spirituals, rhythm and blues, and country music. He moved to St Louis as an adolescent. Bruce was introduced to the trumpet and instrumental music at an assembly performance at his Middle School in St Louis, Missouri.
Purse started at an early age in his teens at Sumner High School in St. Louis, Missouri with William Paul Overbey. He attended Southern Illinois University Edwardsville for his Baccalaureate Degree. He completed Masters work at Columbia University, ultimately receiving his Master's degree from Lehman College in music education in New York City.[3]
One of his earliest influences in music growing up was Louis Armstrong, who he heard on the radio and television and who inspired his fascination with the trumpet.[4]
Career
Purse has performed as musician with Lester Bowie's Brass Fantasy. His band called Bruce Purse and the Pocketbooks and other ensembles such as his 11-piece big band with members that has included Vincent Henry, Tyrone Jefferson, Bob Stewart (musician), Lonnie Plaxico, and Frank Lacy. He has written, arranged and performed for Amy Winehouse, Johnny Kemp, Peter Brown, Arthur Blythe, Alicia Keys, Craig Harris, Leona Lewis, Faith Evans, Mary J. Blige, Olu Dara, Stanton Davis, Malachi Thompson, Noel Pointer, Melba Moore, Youssou N'Dour, P-Diddy, Heavy D, Erica Badu, Zap Mama, Garland Jeffreys, Toots & the Maytals, Sybil (singer), Nas, Alison Hinds, Anthony Hamilton (musician), Pete Brown, Stanton Davis, Vincent Chancey, Steve Turre, Phillip Wilson, Salaam Remi, Joseph Bowie, Henry Threadgill, Julius Hemphill, The Blind Boys of Alabama.[5][4][6][7][8][9]
He has composed for the anthologies for the Art Ensemble of Chicago.[8][10]
Bruce is a music educator and guest lecturer. He has been an artist-in-residence with the New York City Board of Education, with Lincoln Center Jazz with Wynton Marsalis, LaGuardia Performing Arts High School, New School for Social Research, and the Harlem School of the Arts.
In 2018, Bruce portrayed himself in the Classic Albums (TV Series documentary) Amy Winehouse: Back to Black.
In 2016, Purse wrote the play "The Band Room" about his musical educational experience at Sumner High School, in St. Louis, Mo. His teachers were William Paul Overbey and Ken Billups. The play was produced and directed by the Susan Watson Turner, and performed at Lehman College, in the Bronx, New York City. The play takes place in the late 1968 in St. Louis during the Civil Rights Movement.[11][12]
In 2019, Bruce Purse composed and produced the music for the narrative film entitled Rapid Deployment 'We Belong Network'. It was screened in 2019 at the Black International Cinema in Berlin, Germany.[13]
He is a member of American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers known as ASCAP.
Instruments
Trumpet, pocket trumpet, flugel horn, baritone horn, bass trumpet, French horn
Discography
As a composer, producer, arranger & musician
- 2018The Art Ensemble of Chicago and Associated Ensembles
- 2017Elaborations/Light Blue: Arthur Blythe Plays Thelonious Monk
- 2005Just Got Paid - Johnny Kemp
- 2001 Up Close and Personal; Angie Martinez Guitar, Horn, Keyboards, Horn Arrangements, Keyboard Arrangements, Guitar Arrangements
- 2000PrivacyOphélie WinterProducer
- 1998Logic Pride, Vol. 1
- 1990VincentVincent Henry
- 1990ThirstyJanice Dempsey
- 1990My WayLester Bowie
- 1999Inside My MindDJ Ernie
- 1998Logic Pride, Vol. 1
- 1993Never Lose Your Heart - Noel Pointer
- 1993F Stops- Craig Harris
- 1993Doin' It Now!SybilProducer, Arranger, Composer
- 1992The Fire This Time - Lester Bowie's Brass Fantasy
- 1987Secrets of Flying - Johnny KempProducer, Arranger, Trumpet, Keyboards, Programming, Horn Arrangements, String Arrangements, Composer
- 1987Pale Fire - Alithea / Gust William Tsilis
- 1996Lay Down - Nalini; Producer, Programming
- 1996Case -Case Case (singer)
- 1987Secrets of Flying - Johnny KempProducer, Arranger, Trumpet, Keyboards, Programming, Horn Arrangements, String Arrangements
- 1985I Only Have Eyes for You - Lester Bowie's Brass Fantasy- Trumpet
Side man
- 2015Amy Winehouse [The Original Soundtrack]: instruments - Trumpet, Flugel horn, Trumpet, Trumpet (Bass)
- 2012The Album Collection: Amy Winehouse; instruments - Flugel horn, Horn (Baritone), Trumpet, Trumpet (Bass)
- 2011Lioness: Hidden Treasures: Amy Winehouse; Trumpet
- 2011It's Not the Same: Liam Bailey; Trumpet
- 2011I Remember Me: Jennifer Hudson; Bass, Trumpet
- 2011Back to Love: Anthony Hamilton; Flugel horn, Trumpet
- 2010Mind, Body & Soul/The Soul Sessions: Joss Stone; Flugel horn, Trumpet
- 2009Got the Bug, Vol. 2 : Bugz in the Attic; Flugel horn, Trumpet, Trumpet (Bass)
- 20092 Sides of My Heart, Vol. 1 - Gramps Morgan; Horn
- 2008RemixedAlicia Keys - Trumpet, Flugel horn
- 2008Nas - Nas; Horn, Vocals (Background)
- 2008Better in Time- Leona Lewis; Trumpet, Trumpet (Bass), Flugel horn
- 2007Throwback: Harlem 1979–1983; Leroy Burgess; Trombone (Tenor), Trombone (Bass)
- 2007Spirit - Leona Lewis; Trumpet, Trumpet (Bass), Flugelhorn
- 2007Soca Queen - Alison Hinds; Main Personnel, Trumpet, Trumpet (Bass), Flugel horn
- 2007I Am - Chrisette Michele; Trumpet (Bass)
- 2006Reflections (A Retrospective) - Mary J. Blige; Main Personnel, Trumpet
- 2006Hip Hop Is Dead - Na; sTrumpet, Trumpet (Bass), Flugel horn
- 2006Back to Black - Amy Winehouse ; Trumpet, Trumpet (Bass), Flugel horn
- 2004Take the Box - Amy Winehouse; Trumpet, Trumpet (Bass), Flugel horn
- 2004Street's Disciple - Nas; Trumpet, Flugel horn
- 2004Mind, Body & Soul - Joss Stone;Trumpet, Flugel horn
- 2004In My Bed - Amy Winehouse; Trumpet, Trumpet (Bass), Flugel horn
- 2004Got the Bug - Bugz in the Attic; Trumpet, Trumpet (Bass), Flugel horn
- 2004After the Sunset - Horn
- 2003Stronger Than Me - Amy Winehouse; Trumpet, Flugel horn, Bass
- 2003Frank -Amy Winehouse; Trumpet, Trumpet (Bass), Flugel horn, Horn (Baritone)
- 2002Selected Recordings (Rarum VI)- The Art Ensemble of Chicago; Trumpet
- 2002Selected Recordings (Rarum I-VIII); Trumpet
- 2002A Little DeeperMs. Dynamite; Horn
- 2001FB Entertainment Presents: The Good Life; Horn
- 2000Listening RoomJenjii; Trumpet
- 1997Wildlife Dictionary - Garland Jeffreys;Featured Artist (Trumpet)
- 1997Sweet Emotions - Trumpet
- 1997Light in the Dark - 4PM (For Positive Music); Remix Vocals Arranger
- 1996Movin' in the Right Direction - Count Basic; Trumpet
- 1995Faith -Faith Evans; Trumpet
- 1994My Life - Mary J. Blige; Trumpet
- 1993The Four Horsemen - Ultramagnetic MC's;Main Personnel, Saxophone, Horn
- 1991Bruce Purse - Bruce Purse; Primary Artist, Trumpet
- 1990Gramavision 10th Anniversary Sampler; Trumpet
- 1989Works - Lester Bowie; Trumpet
- 1989Time Peace - Al MacDowell; Trumpet
- 1986Too Strong - Lazet Michaels; Trumpet, Trumpet (Pocket)
- 1983James White's Flaming DemonicsJames Chance / James White - Member of Attributed Artist; Trumpet[14]
Record labels
- CBS
- RCA
- Warner Brothers
- Atlantic Records
- Polygram
- BMG
- Purse was a staff writer for Warner Chappell Music Publishing