Bio.
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Since moving to New York City in 2018, Bruce Acosta has enriched the city's jazz scene with his natural sense of swing, deep repertoire and fresh compositions. He completed his undergraduate studies in 2022 through the prestigious Columbia-Juilliard Program, receiving his Bachelor of Arts cum laude in English, and graduated from The Juilliard School with a Master of Music degree in Jazz Studies in 2024, learning from guitarists Paul Bollenback, Ed Cherry, James Chirillo and Doug Wamble as well as GRAMMY award-winning arranger Don Sickler. Acosta’s versatility as a leader and sideman have led to performances at noteworthy venues including Bemelmans Bar, Blue Note, the Kupferberg Center, Lincoln Center (Alice Tully Hall, Dizzy's Club, Rose Theater), the Museum of Modern Art, the National Jazz Museum in Harlem, ShapeShifter Lab and YouTube Music alongside artists including Stella Cole, Tony DeSare, Stefano Doglioni, Bryan Eng, Ekep Nkwelle, Elijah Shiffer and Matthew Whitaker.
As an artist, Acosta draws inspiration from jazz guitarists including Kenny Burrell, George Benson, Charlie Christian and Grant Green as well as the music of Charlie Parker. He is also an avid performer of the Great American Songbook, regularly interpreting the works of the composers and lyricists of twentieth-century American popular music. A keen educator, Acosta works with students of all levels to create an individualized, song-focused approach to learning music fundamentals. Most recently, he was a Teaching Assistant at the 2024 Lincoln Center Summer Jazz Academy. In 2021, Acosta taught lessons and ensembles at The Calhoun School’s Summer Jazz Workshop. Currently, he offers guitar lessons through Metropolitan Concert Artists and West Amadeus Music Studio. |
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Listen.
"The Marvelous" (Bruce Acosta), recorded at The Juilliard School February 2024.
"Bean And The Boys" (Coleman Hawkins), recorded at The Juilliard School March 2024.
"After The Rain" (John Coltrane), live at Cafe Ornithology January 2025.