Bruce Mandel

Artist Information

Biography

New CD coming summer 2012!
Bruce Mandel’s acoustic guitar, keen lyrical ear, and intimate and honest voice have traveled with him across the country and through musical territory both new and familiar. With the release of his latest CD, "Between Dreams and Regrets", Bruce adds fresh layers to the ground covered in his first, Follow Your Heart. After all, what lies between dreams and regrets but the gritty reality of our complex lives?
The diverse sounds of this latest CD—contemporary folk, Americana, a little bit of Bluegrass—reflect the breadth of Bruce’s experience.
The lyrically driven songs are both personal and probing, whether Mandel is writing from his own experience or weaving the ballad of another’s, as in “Irene Kibbe,” about a young Polish emigrant during World War II. While sometimes delicate, sparse, and reflective—as in “Winter Falls” with its gentle acoustic guitar and cello—Mandel’s sound is at other times full and layered, as he mixes the tones of the mandolin, accordion, clarinet, trombone, dobro, and cajón. Throughout this newest album, however, the acoustic guitar maintains its constant presence, as does Mandel’s warm voice and distinct style.
It began, as it did for so many, with The Beatles back when Motown still triumphed over marketing and FM stood for freedom in music. The sounds of '60s pop, and soul were the rocking soundtrack of his dreams as Bruce hungrily listened each night to the little red transistor radio his grandparents had given him.
Next came the great singer-songwriters of the ’60s and ’70s and Bruce absorbed the rich and varying styles of The Eagles, Paul Simon, Dan Fogelberg, Cat Stevens, Van Morrison, Jimmy Webb and Jackson Browne to pick out just a few.
All this time Mandel was honing his performance and listening skills.
Then with an opportunity to work as an Entertainment Technician for the Trump Plaza Hotel & Casino, Bruce learned the technical side of his musical profession. Soaking up the experience of working alongside the likes of America, Ronnie Milsap, Tanya Tucker, Tom Jones, and The Temptations, all the while staying true to his calling, writing and producing his own songs.
Eventually Mandel’s need to perform what he was writing took precedent and Bruce reprioritized his life with a move to Durango Colorado where he quickly became a true presence in his new home, opening in concert for nationally and regionally touring songwriters.
His work in Durango culminated with his co-founding of the Annual Durango Songwriter’s Expo in 1996. This popular event that features listening sessions, showcases, seminars, panels, and networking opportunities has attracted new talent and high-profile musicians and industry experts alike, and continues to grow and spread to new locations around the country.
Once again Bruce's heart called and he picked up his guitar and returned east early in the new century, to follow his heart and he has settled deep into the fertile artistic community of the Berkshires in western Massachusetts.
In the summer of 2010 Mandel debuted a special song he wrote and recorded to help celebrate the Otis, Massachusetts BiCentennial with a special performance. Long a supporter of Public Libraries, Bruce is donating a portion of the proceeds from the sale of this CD to The Free Otis Public Library.
Summer of 2011 found Bruce debuting SongSpark!, his Creativity/Songwriting Seminar.
Along with writing new material for his next couple of albums, including a children’s recording, Bruce finds the time as a bass player to support some of the Berkshire’s finest songwriters in the studio and on the stage.
Bruce has received multiple Massachusetts Cultural Council Grants and is a NEST eligible artist with The New England Foundation For The Arts.
“What happens when you dig down deep?” Mandel asks in “At the End of the Day.” Perhaps Between Dreams and Regrets, a musical expression of life’s varied landscape, is itself as good an answer as any.

Instrumentation

Bruce Mandel - acoustic guitar, vocals

Bruce performs solo or can bring along 1 - 3 additional musicians to fit your needs. Additional instrumentation would consist of some combination of guitar, mandolin, violin, dobro, pedal steel, percussion and vocals.

Please contact Bruce with any questions.

Discography

"Here's To Otis(1810-2010) - Special BiCentennial Celebration Single
"Between Dreams and Regrets" - CD
"Follow Your Heart" - CD

Links

• Facebook
• ConcertsInYourHome.com
• Matchbook.org

Audio

• Pretty Good Place
  Listen  
• Summer Rain
  Listen  
• Winter Falls
  Listen  
• Irene Kibbe
  Listen  
• At the End of the Day
  Listen  
• Thom and Hannah
  Listen  
• Little Things
  Listen  
• This Message
  Listen  
• You Said Yes
  Listen  
• Make Time
  Listen  

Lyrics

• Pretty Good Place
• Summer Rain
• Winter Falls
• Daddy's Eyes
• Stuck In a Funk That Has No Groove
• Irene Kibbe
• At the End of the Day
• This Message
• You Said Yes
• Make Time

Video

Photo Gallery

Press

• House Concert Review [+ Show ]
  

  Home from the concert and yes, pictures will be uploaded tomorrow. It was fabulous. Bruce's voice is...Home from the concert and yes, pictures will be uploaded tomorrow. It was fabulous. Bruce's voice is so pure, his songs really touched my heart. So nice to listen to songs and feel like they were written just for you! He is an amazing artist. A great time was had by all!

• House Concert Review [+ Show ]
  

  Hey Bruce, Gail and I had a Great time last night at the House Concert! We really enjoyed your music...Hey Bruce, Gail and I had a Great time last night at the House Concert! We really enjoyed your music. Good food and company topped with an outstanding performance by you and it just doesn't get any better!

• "Between Dreams and Regrets" CD Review [+ Show ]
  

  “Reminiscent of the singer/songwriters who penned the soundtrack of the ‘60s and ‘70s, Bruce Mandel ...“Reminiscent of the singer/songwriters who penned the soundtrack of the ‘60s and ‘70s, Bruce Mandel brews up a coffeehouse sound that’s espresso rich in inspiration and experience. While primarily an acoustic player, he’s not married to that sound. As he demonstrates on this CD, there are times when a grinding electric bass line is essential. As a vocalist, Bruce comes across as smooth, comfortable and quite likable. As songwriter, he’s a storyteller. Aptly named, Between Dreams and Regrets, is an enjoyable compilation of thoughts, memories and visions. The track we selected, “This Message” (featuring Bruce accompanied only by Adam Michael Rothberg on piano) spotlights Bruce’s interesting writing style and effortless vocals.”

• “Between Dreams and Regrets [+ Show ]
  

  “What a beautiful collection of songs produced ever so gently with sweet harmonies, arrangements, an...“What a beautiful collection of songs produced ever so gently with sweet harmonies, arrangements, and great playing. Reminds me of a cross between the folkier side of early (Glyn Johns /Bernie Leadon era) Eagles, with the crystal bell tones of Bruce’s voice falling somewhere between Don Henley and Glenn Frey. These songs also harken back to great '70s folk music like Paul Simon's "Still Crazy", Jim Croce, or James Taylor's "Gorilla" album. Nice job Bruce!”

• Michael Laskow
  

  "Bruce has really mastered the art of melding folk and pop. This is a thoroughly enjoyable CD."

• KSUT Public Radio [+ Show ]
  

  "After years of hosting this talented singer-songwriter live on the air, we are thrilled and proud o..."After years of hosting this talented singer-songwriter live on the air, we are thrilled and proud of his CD. The songs are pure Bruce Mandel: honest, well-written, terrific pieces of music."

• Greg Dorschel
  

  "Satisfying combination of personal reflection & true songwriting craft."

Setlist

Can't really say that there is a typical Bruce Mandel Set-List. Every set will have tunes from all of Bruce's recordings along with perhaps new and unrecorded songs mixed in. Bruce may even include one or more of his childrens tunes. Each performance/audience presents itself as unique!

Basic Requirements

Calendar