Bruce Dudley Quartet w/ Sandra Dudley, Roger Spencer & Larry Aberman

Pianist Bruce Dudley with vocalist Sandra Dudley, bassist Roger Spencer and drummer Larry Aberman.
Bruce Dudley is a Steinway Concert Artist and has been performing jazz piano for over 40 years on concert stages, in clubs, and private residences throughout North and South America. He specializes in the Great American Songbook, as well as in the rich history of American jazz styles, from Ragtime and Stride to Modernism, Post Modernism, and performance of original music. In addition to his work as a solo artist, he leads a trio, quartet, and larger ensembles, with horns and/or strings, while also enlisting the award winning voice of his wife, Sandra Dudley. An active educator, Dudley has presented clinics across Canada, the United States, and in Colombia, South America. His recordings as a leader include DPSW Quartet - Live at the Cave (2019), The Solo Sessions (2012), Mostly Monk (2010), and Semblance (1997). Dudley has also performed with artists Aretha Franklin, Crystal Gayle, Nelson Riddle Orchestra, Herb Ellis, Randy Brecker, Little Anthony and the Imperials, the Ink Spots, and has played keyboards for over 35 touring Broadway shows, including Beautiful, Wicked, Jersey Boys, Guys and Dolls, Grease, Fiddler on the Roof, Legally Blonde, among others. Bruce Dudley has published articles for Downbeat magazine and presented scholarly research at conferences in the Netherlands, Canada, and the United States. His book 25 Piano Etudes in Idiomatic Styles was published in 2021 by Keuka Waters Music. Dudley is Associate Professor of Music at Belmont University. He has a Doctorate of Musical Arts from the University of Colorado, a Master of Music in Jazz Performance from the Eastman School of Music, and a Bachelor of Science in Music Business and Technology from New York University.
"As the leader, Dudley set the evening’s tone with a supple, rich blend of assertive melodic statements, delightful accompaniment, first-rate phrasing, counterpoint and harmonizing." Ron Wynn - ArtsNash
"Dudley, whose fluent lines jet around the keyboard, absorbing motifs into the stream, without a split second of hesitation, at any point of rhythm in the bar, are stunning to listen to…" HALIFAX CHRONICLE HERALD
"Dudley plays the piano with such grace and authority that he has quietly become the pianists that other pianists go to hear." HOUSTON POST
Jazz vocalist Sandra Dudley is a versatile, award-winning singer that has entertained audiences in clubs and concerts for more than three decades. Sandra has sung with numerous small groups, big bands, orchestras, and studio orchestras, including the Nashville Symphony Orchestra, the Eastman Studio Orchestra, the Nelson Riddle Orchestra, and more, performing with artists such as husband, Bruce Dudley, Fred Hersch, Lori Mechem, Duffy Jackson, Bobby Militello, Marvin Stamm, Dave Catney, Barney Kessel, Jeff Hamilton, and many others.
Besides being a seasoned jazz artist, Sandra is an educator as well, having served on the faculty of Belmont University teaching commercial voice and jazz for over 25 years. She has presented lecture/performances on great jazz vocalists, such as Ella Fitzgerald, Sarah Vaughan, and Carmen McRae, singing the songs they popularized. She has appeared on many nationally recognized albums, including her own album Close To You, a duo album with pianist Lori Mechem called All of My Life, a tribute album of Alan and Marilyn Bergman, and with the dynamic vocal quartet Third Coast Vocals on their album 3CV. She can also be heard singing on The Jazz Orchestra of the Delta’s Big Band Reflections of Cole Porter.
Originally from Terre Haute, Indiana, Roger Spencer has had an extensive musical career. He has performed, traveled and recorded with such artists as Les Brown and His Band of Renown, Harry James, Rosemary Clooney, Sam Butera, Tony Bennett, Ray Conniff, Eddie “Lockjaw” Davis, Terry Gibbs, Buddy DeFranco and Carl Fontana. He and his wife Lori Mechem moved to Nashville in 1988 where he records, performs, and teaches. Roger attended Indiana University, studying under David Baker in Jazz Studies, and graduated from Indiana State with a Bachelor of Music Education degree. Besides performing and recording with Lori, Roger is a longtime member of the Beegie Adair Trio, and is also on the faculty at Vanderbilt’s Blair School of Music. Roger and Lori founded and direct the Nashville Jazz Workshop, where Roger teaches improvisation, theory, and ensembles.
Larry Aberman is a drummer whose career has taken him from the stage of Avery Fisher Hall as a percussion soloist with the NY Philharmonic to the studios of Memphis to record the Grammy winning CD “Family Style” with Stevie Ray and Jimmie Vaughan. As an eleven-year-old student of Armand Santarelli in Philadelphia, PA, Larry decided immediately a career in music was what he aspired to. Upon moving to New York City at 15 he enrolled in The High School of Music and Art and began a life long study with jazz and percussion educator Justin DiCioccio. It was off to The Eastman School of Music for college where he studied percussion with John Beck. At Eastman, Larry recorded the Grammy Nominated CD “Carnival” with Wynton Marsalis and the Eastman Wind Ensemble. In addition to his orchestral studies, Larry was the drummer in the Eastman Jazz Ensemble, with whom he won best jazz soloist awards from Downbeat Magazine. When he got back to NY he was prepared for “whatever.” Be it performing with the Mark Morris Dance Company, recording CD’s with David Mann and Jeff Beal, playing Broadway shows or touring with rock artists Pierce Turner and Grayson Hugh, Larry got to work.
Next up were associations with producers Nile Rodgers, Bernard Edwards and Russ Titelman which led to album work with The Vaughan Brothers, Ric Ocasek, David Lee Roth, Lionel Richie, Adam Ant, Grayson Hugh as well as performances with Nile, Howard Hewitt, Miki Howard, Dianne Reeves, Nick Lowe and John Hiatt. In LA Larry enjoyed the weather as well as his diverse career. In addition to composing and recording music for jingles, movie soundtracks and television, he recorded with Ben Harper, Daniel Lanios, Aaron Neville, Paul Williams, Wil Jennings, Joe Sample, Wild Orchid, Jennifer Paige, Danielle Brisebois, New Radicals, John Taylor (Duran Duran), Micheal Sembello, Kelly Willis and Bob Clearmountain. Some recent live performances include Hiram Bullock, Ivan Neville, Simon Lebon and John Taylor of Duran Duran and in the studios with Marcus Miller, Dean Parks, Lenny Castro and others.

This show is 21 and over only. All sales are final and we unfortunately cannot offer any refunds. Additional tickets may be available at the door on the day of the show even if it is sold out online.

Please try to arrive 15 minutes prior to the show start time. If you do not arrive within 45 minutes after the show start time on your ticket your seat may be resold to other patrons at the door. If you arrive after 45 minutes from the start time of the show and your ticket has been resold, although we cannot guarantee it, we will try our best to make space for you to attend the show.

Event Venue & Nearby Stays

Rudy's Jazz Room, 809 Gleaves Street, Nashville, United States