Name: Bruce Halper Sings The Great American Songbook
Start: 2025-12-05T18:30:00-07:00
End: 2025-12-05T22:00:00-07:00
Location: The Century Room

Bruce Halper Sings The Great American Songbook

($20-$30 Tickets + DICE fees | 6:30pm & 8:30pm Shows) Bruce Amory Halper is a singer, songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist whose work is shaped by his New York City roots, his international travels, and his lifelong passion for The Great American Songbook. Come hear Bruce swing through classics from Tony Bennett, Ella Fitzgerald, Billy Holiday, Frank Sinatra, Nat King Cole, Barbara Streisand and more.
Bruce Halper (vocals) Angelo Versace (piano) Thøger Tentens Lund (bass) Arthur Vint (drums) + Special Guests!
He began his musical journey at the age of eleven, studying piano, drums, and voice, and performing at New York’s Hoffmann School. By sixteen, he was drumming and singing professionally in Tucson, Arizona—already recording jingles and performing live. In his twenties, he became a sought-after sideman, playing and recording with artists who had audiences around the globe.
Halper’s career highlights include playing with Rainer Ptacek and his band Das Combo, and a two-decade run with the "quintessential desert rock band" the Sidewinders (later renamed the Sandrubies). With the Sidewinders, he recorded two albums for RCA and another for Polygram, earning critical acclaim and reaching No. 5 on Billboard’s college radio charts.
Following European tours in 1999 and 2000 with the Sidewinders and legendary bassist Mike Davis (MC5), Halper began collaborating with the duo Colwell—a musical partnership that continues to this day.
In 2001, Halper launched his solo career as a vocalist and bandleader, performing classic jazz and popular songs with some of the finest musicians in the jazz community. His repertoire draws from the rich legacy of 20th-century American music.
Over the years, Halper has been recognized not only for his musicianship, but also for his charisma and artistic range. He has been described as a "bon vivant" by The Arizona Daily Star and "a renaissance man" by Tucson Weekly.
Bruce is currently collaborating with bassist and musical director Thøger Tetens Lund and a talented circle of jazz artists and vocalists. He plans to record a new album featuring a blend of jazz and pop material, and tour alongside some of his longtime musical partners. Whether on stage or in the studio, Halper continues to share his love of timeless music, bringing soul and style to every performance.
"When Halper sings about life and love, you know he's lived it. He's speaking directly to your heart and soul." (Naim Amor)