Bruce Henry©Andrea Canter

Perhaps the most easily identified male voice in Twin Cities Jazz, Bruce Henry recently relocated to his home town of Chicago. Fortunately he left behind ongoing projects and gig dates that bring him back often. On June 26-27, Bruce will reunite with his Twin Cities band for weekend gig at the Dakota in downtown Minneapolis. Debbie Duncan, aka "Minnesota's First Lady of Song," will be Bruce's special guest on Friday night only.

Debbie Duncan © Andrea Canter

A Minneapolis resident for over 30 years, Henry has maintained a nonstop schedule of performing, recording, and teaching. In addition to private lessons, his educational efforts include workshops on creativity, vocal performance and Afro-American musicology, including the inspirational workshop, “Evolution of African American Music.” He has served on the faculty of McNally Smith College in St. Paul and as the Music Director for the Hands On Child Care Center for children age 5-16. He also served as the first President of the local chapter of the Jazz Vocal Coalition, now the Jazz Vocalists of Minnesota. Bruce has appeared frequently at the Dakota Jazz Club, Times Bar, Artists Quarter and annual Freedom Jazz Festival. He made a special appearance at the Artists Quarter’s tribute to Leigh Kamman last month, will perform at the Hopkins Center for the Arts this coming spring, and will be the guest vocalist with the Ramsey Lewis band at Orchestra Hall in August 2009.  

It was natural that Bruce Henry would extend his social passions to his music. “All the way through my twenties, my music had a political/spiritual bent to it, especially my religious music.  You have to keep in mind that during my formative years, Medgar Evans, Martin Luther King, Malcolm X and the Anti War movement were major influences in contemporary culture. There were also many performers seek to create conscious music during this time period. People like Marvin Gaye and socially conscious artists John Coltrane and Nina Simone were major influences. Over the years I have sought to find outlets for this expression.” 

One of Henry’s early outlets was the African American Cultural Center. “In 1979 I was the music director of the African American Cultural Center of Minneapolis, where I founded the AACC Ensemble.  The AACC Ensemble featured Black consciousness music and poetry.” And in the past few years, Henry has found a new outlet for socially conscious music through the Freedom Train Ensemble, a multimedia troupe with a mission of sharing African American music and history with all people through song, dance and spoken word. This is one project that keeps Bruce connected to the Twin Cities!  

Darryl Boudreaux & Yohannes Tona © Andera Canter

“Freedom Train will continue after I move to Chicago,” he said in May. We are a family so we will stay connected.” He does look forward to expanding his artistic horizons, however. “I am making contacts with people in the Chicago music scene. I plan on playing jazz and presenting my workshops on ‘The Evolution of African American Music’ in the Chicago area.  Joe Vass' The Soul of Gershwin has had a renaissance.” Henry toured with Vass’ project in Florida last November.  

Private and public gigs have brought Bruce Henry “home” to Minnesota during the fall with performances at the Dakota and Times, and later this winter with a concert hall appearance at the Hopkins Center for the Arts. Now Bruce returns to one of his favorite haunts, the Dakota, for two hot nights with long-time collaborators--Peter Vircks on sax, Bryan Nichols on piano, Yohannes Tona on bass, Wendell Henry on drums, and Darryl Boudreaux on percussion. Making the first night even more special, Debbie Duncan will be on hand to send swirls of blues and ballads into the evening air. And Bruce and Debbie together? Be ready for endless banter and two voices that can elicit chills on the hottest summer night.

Any time Bruce Henry gets near a microphone, it's magic. And the magic seems enhanced now that he's spreading his artistic wings beyond the Twin Cities. As long as he keeps flying back "home."

The Dakota is located at 1010 Nicollet Mall in downtown Minneapolis. Reservations recommended at 612-3323-1010. 

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