Bruce Forman and Pat Bergeson

Bruce Forman and Pat Bergeson

Sunday, March 29th, 7:30 PM

Nashville Jazz Workshop

The Nashville Jazz Workshop is thrilled to present an evening with two master musicians whose careers reflect the breadth, depth, and restless curiosity of American music: guitarist Bruce Forman and guitarist/harmonica virtuoso Pat Bergeson.

Few artists embody the modern jazz renaissance quite like Bruce Forman. With a relentless touring schedule and more than twenty-one recordings as a leader—alongside countless sideman appearances with legends such as Ray Brown, Bobby Hutcherson, and Roger Kellaway—Forman’s resume reads like a living history of the music. His artistry has also reached beyond the bandstand, with soundtrack performances on three Clint Eastwood films, including the Academy Award–winning Million Dollar Baby. An acclaimed educator and longtime artist-in-residence at USC’s Studio/Jazz Guitar Department, Forman balances virtuosity with deep reflection, storytelling, and humor.

Forman’s creative output is as expansive as it is personal. Projects like Reunion!—a loving homage to the famed Poll Winners sessions with John Clayton and Jeff Hamilton, played on instruments once owned by Barney Kessel, Ray Brown, and Shelly Manne—coexist with his trio work (Formanism), original compositions such as The Red Guitar, and boundary-pushing collaborations like Junkyard Duo. Whether channeling “western bebop” with Cow Bop, chronicling life on the road along Route 66, or engaging audiences through his popular GuitarWank podcast and social media series, Forman’s music reflects a uniquely American journey—rooted in tradition, fueled by curiosity, and very much alive.

Joining him is Pat Bergeson, a profoundly versatile guitarist and harmonica player whose career has bridged jazz, blues, rock, and Americana at the highest level. After formative studies in Illinois and New York, Bergeson’s path took a pivotal turn when Chet Atkins heard him on a demo and invited him to Nashville. That relationship led to recordings and tours with Atkins, including Sneakin’ Around, Read My Licks, and Simpatico, and earned Bergeson recognition as one of Atkins’ twelve favorite guitarists. Today, Bergeson continues to tour internationally, currently as a member of Peter Frampton’s band.

Currently on tour with Peter Frampton, Bergeson’s studio and touring credits span an extraordinary range of artists—from Lyle Lovett, Alison Krauss, Dolly Parton, and Michael McDonald to Bill Frisell, Benny Golson, Joey DeFrancesco, and Tommy Emmanuel. A seasoned educator, producer, and Grammy-winning contributor, his playing is marked by taste, authority, and a deep musical empathy.

Together, Bruce Forman and Pat Bergeson promise an evening of virtuosity, storytelling, and spontaneous interplay—an NJW performance that celebrates the full sweep of American music, past and present, in the hands of two artists at the top of their form.