Tip the Artist

Artist Bio

Very few players have perfected finger picking blues guitar quite like Jim Bruce. His timing and approach are 'just right'. He was voted N°2 Internet Guitar Instructor at Truefire.com 2013.

Born in UK, Jim has moved around the world, living and playing in France, America, Denmark and Germany before finally settling back in France where he performs in the bars and cafes, and on the city streets in the traditional style of the traveling blues man.

He is also one of the few expert guitar players who is additionally a gifted teacher - hundreds of acoustic guitar pickers have 'found' the blues thanks to Jim and he is particularly interested in passing on the authentic sounds of the blues.

His range of finger picking styles is huge and spans the ragtime sounds of Blind Blake and Reverend Gary Davis, as well as the darker sounds of the Delta blues and Broonzy Style Chicago swing. While happy to cover the classic of the better known blues men, he also writes his own material which is uncannily like the real deal blues of old. So-called 'minor' blues men such as Floyd Council, Pink Anderson and Scrapper Blackwell are particular favorites.

The sheer amount of material at Jim's disposal makes for an interesting ride whenever he performs, swinging from Broonzy to Lightnin' Hopkins, from Floyd Council to Robert Johnson, from Blind Willie McTell to Reverend Gary Davis.

A final word from Jim:

"It doesn't matter how well we might play, very few people match up to the blues legends. However, we can blend those techniques into our own style and tip our hats to the greats, such as Blake, Blind Boy Fuller, Mance Liscomb, Lightnin' Hopkins, Floyd Council, Reverend Gary Davis, Scrapper Blackwell and others."

****************** Albums **********************

Wake Up Walk Out (with ken Mayall - Nominated for Best Blues harmonica Award in UK 2000)

Metro (Jim's own compositions)

Blues au Capitole (street blues music)

Wilson Blues (ragtime and swing guitar)

Some Like It Hot (the ragtime blues guitar of Blind Blake and Blind Boy Fuller - with daddystovepipe)