As the son of musician Jack Bruce (Cream), Malcolm has always been immersed in a musical environment. He grew up hearing and experiencing firsthand some of the finest musicians around, whether through his father’s frequent collaborations with musicians such as Tony Williams or John Mclaughlin, or Jack’s own bands with musicians like Simon Phillips and Mick Taylor.
As a teenager he attended the Guildhall School of Music to study composition and has been performing professionally since the age of 16. His musical style is very much his own.
Early in his career, Malcolm performed guitar and piano on Bill Ward’s (Black Sabbath) record ‘Ward 1’, which included piano on a track featuring Ozzy Osbourne. He recorded with Dick Heckstall-Smith, and a Brand X compilation featuring 2 of his own songs performed with Percy Jones, John Goodsall and Pierre Moerlan. In the 90s Malcolm toured and recorded with ‘Lost City’, featuring Rue Phillips and Kofi Baker, which included a double headline US tour with Edan Everly (Don Everly’s son).
Malcolm has recently spent time in Nashville at producer Kevin McKendree’s studio (Delbert McClinton, Brian Setzer, John Oates) and was in the studio as assistant engineer with Little Richard for a tribute to songwriting legend Dottie Rambo. Whilst in Nashville, Malcolm also played bass on fretless guitarist Ned Evett’s record ‘Treehouse’ produced by Adrian Belew. Malcolm also played bass on a song featuring Elton John playing piano and singing a duet with Frankie Miller, which will be released on a special tribute record to Frankie, with Frankie’s longtime guitarist Ray Minhinnett and producer David Mackay.
Malcolm performed shows with his father over the years, in the UK, US and Europe. He appeared on several of Jack’s recordings, including ‘Shadows in the Air’ on tracks with Eric Clapton, and ‘More Jack than God’ featuring Dr. John, culminating in work on Jack’s final album ‘Silver Rails’, recorded at Abbey Road Studios in 2014.
Malcolm has been touring regularly all over the world, playing shows in theatres and clubs across the UK and the US, including venues in London such as The Jazz Cafe, The Troubadour and O2 Shepherds Bush Empire, and in NYC at BB Kings, Iridium and The Cutting Room.
Recent live performance has included touring in the US with Leslie West and Corky Laing (Mountain), a 60 date tour as support for Joe Satriani across Europe, the US and Canada as part of Ned Evett’s Triple Double, and a special Jimi Hendrix Birthday tribute at BB Kings in New York City with Eric Schenkman (Spin Doctors). He played a 10 concert solo UK tour as support for Andy Fraser (Free), and toured Japan and Germany with guitarist Chris Spedding (Motorbikin’).
He acted as musical director alongside lyricist Pete Brown (Cream) for a special tribute to his father, ‘An Evening For Jack’, at O2 Shepherd’s Bush Empire in October 2016, hosted by Bob Harris, with a cast of legendary musicians including Lulu, Eddi Reader, Maggie Reilly, Mick Taylor, Dennis Chambers, Gary Husband, David Sancious, Clem Clempson, Trevor Horn, Paul Young and many others.
He toured Australia and New Zealand in June with his project The Music Of Cream, featuring Kofi Baker and Will Johns, with special guests Glenn Hughes (Deep Purple) and guitarist Robben Ford (Miles Davis, Joni Mitchell).
Work is underway on his first full scale opera, King You’s Folly, a collaboration with alumni from Chelsea College of Art (UAL) to be stage in 2018.
Malcolm has just released an album, Salvation (Pledge Music 2017), recorded in Nashville and London, and will be touring Scotland in October followed by a full UK tour in April 2018.
Website: http://www.malcolmbrucemusic.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MalcolmBruceMusic/