Artist Of The Year Brian Torff Assembles All-Star Combo

Fairfield, CT - The Fairfield Arts Council has named renowned bassist and composer Brian Q. Torff as the 2008 Artist of the Year. Mr. Torff is currently the Music Program Director at Fairfield University. Brian will be honored at the Annual Fundraiser/ Gala event on Saturday evening,  FAC will also be celebrating for the first time a Patron of the Year: Bob Scinto, the Shelton-based developer for his sustained support and love of the arts.

Guests will enjoy a special musical program arranged by Mr. Torff that will feature, in addition to Mr. Torff on bass, the artistry of drummer Adam Nussbaum, keyboardist Nick Bariluk and saxist Jarryd Torff.  Among them, these artists have played with many of the giants in jazz, including Cleo Laine and John Dankworth, Sonny Rollins, Michael Brecker, Carla Bley, Jon Lucien, Gil Evans, Stan Getz and Michael Urbaniak to name a few.  Additionally, Bariluk has written music for over 30 films, Nussbaum played on the Grammy winning “Don’t Try This At Home,” while Jarryd Torff has been named “Most Outstanding Performer” twice at the Norwalk Jazz Festival in 2005 and 2997. He has also won the “Louis Armstrong, and Woody Herman Jazz Awards.

Guests will enjoy elegant food and drink served after the musical program. Tickets prices are $75. and $150. and may be purchased through the Fairfield Theatre Company box office at 70 Sanford St., by calling 259-1036 or going to the website www.fairfieldtheatre.org.
Sponsorship opportunities are available by calling the Fairfield Arts Council  at  203-319-1419.

*A private reception for premium tickets and sponsors will be held in the Fairfield Arts Council Gallery prior to the evening’s musical performance that takes place next door at FTC (Fairfield Theatre Company).

Brian Q. Torff  BIOGRAPHY

Brian Q. Torff is a renowned bassist and composer, and is currently Music Program Director at Fairfield University. He is a featured bass soloist, leading his own trio, and is the musical director for the Django Reinhardt New York Festival, which has appeared at Lincoln Center, the Kennedy Center and Birdland in New York City. Torff has performed at Carnegie Hall for Fiddle Fest where he appeared with Mark O’Connor, Dave Grusin, Regina Carter, Yo Yo Ma, Itzhak Perlman and Pinchus Zukerman. He performs in jazz festivals around the U.S., and has served as co-chair of the music advisory board for the National Endowment for the Arts.

Brian Torff’s professional career began in 1974 when bassist Milt Hinton offered him the opportunity of touring with Cleo Laine. During the late 70’s, Torff recorded and performed with pianists Mary Lou Williams and Marian McPartland, and toured Australia, New Zealand, and Hong Kong with the jazz violin virtuoso, Stephane Grappelli. He played in pianist Erroll Garner’s last group and worked in the big bands of Oliver Nelson, and the Thad Jones-Mel Lewis Orchestra.

In 1979, Brian Torff joined in a duo with pianist George Shearing. In the course of their 3 1/2 year collaboration, they toured throughout the U.S., Europe, Brazil, and South Africa and were featured on the NBC Tonight Show, Merv Griffin, and their own PBS special from the Café Carlyle in New York City. They received worldwide acclaim, and were invited to perform at the White House in 1982 for President Reagan. Their third album won a Grammy for vocalist Mel Tormé.

Brian Torff is a noted composer who has contributed works for records with George Shearing, Larry Coryell, Union Trio, and his own recordings- Life in East Bumblepuck, Hitchhiker of Karoo, Manhattan Hoe-Down, and Workin’ On a Bassline. He has written scores that have been performed by the Boston Pops, Los Angeles Philharmonic, and the Pittsburgh Symphony, and has appeared as conductor, composer, and clinician for numerous high school and college jazz festivals. He is a published writer on music and musicians, composes for big band, founded and directs the Summer Jazz Workshop at Fairfield University. Torff is listed in the Groves Dictionary of Jazz and has been featured in the New York Times, Chicago Tribune, Downbeat Magazine, Jazz Times, and many other music publications.

Brian Torff lived in Paris in early 2008, where he wrote his book, “In Love With Voices: A Jazz Memoir.”  which will be published by iUniverse and will be available for the holidays at Amazon.com, Barnes and Noble.com, and B. Dalton.com. Torff is currently featuring his bass playing and new compositions in a trio and quartet setting.

Date and Time:
October 25, 2008 at 7:30pm

Location:
The Fairfield Theatre Company
70 Sanford Street
Fairfield, CT 06824