Bruns’ Story

A rock drummer by birth, Jason Lee Bruns is a versatile musician whose work spans classical, jazz, and folkloric drumming traditions. He holds a Bachelor’s degree in Classical Percussion (Miami University), a Master’s in Jazz Studies (University of Southern California), and a Master’s Certificate in Music Production (Berklee College of Music). With a deep affinity for West African, Caribbean, and South American styles. So far Bruns has studied folkloric percussion firsthand across 12 regions worldwide.

As a producer and bandleader, Bruns has independently released twelve albums, two of which reached Top-10 charts and aired on over 300 radio stations nationwide, including L.A.’s KKJZ 88.1FM. His performance credits include work with Beck, Louis Price (The Temptations), Liane Carroll (2x BBC Jazz Award Recipient), Richard Elfman (co-founder of Oingo Boingo), and drumming in a Game of Thrones commercial.

Bruns founded and leads Bruns & Baché, a 10-piece retro-soul collective based in Los Angeles. The group has performed multiple times at “Jazz at LACMA” (2019, 2022, 2024), headlined top venues such as Catalina Jazz Club and Vibrato, and completed two tours of Japan (2017, 2019).

In addition to his work as a performer and producer, Bruns is an accomplished educator. He established the World Music and Recording Arts programs at Campbell Hall in 2005, where he continues to lead two 18-piece steel bands, two world drumming ensembles, and three levels of Recording Arts & Production courses. He is also an AVID Certified Pro Tools instructor and teaches private lessons in drumming, production and music theory.

Beyond stage, studio and classroom, Bruns is a contributing author to Percussive Notes (academic journal of the Percussive Arts Society) and a Voting Member of the Recording Academy (Grammy Awards).

Affiliations

Credentials

• Masters of Music (jazz studies) – University of Southern California
• Masters Certificate (music production) – Berklee
• Bachelors of Music (percussion) – Miami University
• Certified Instructor (ProTools) – AVID [info here]

Quotes

“…His [Bruns‘] looseness and musicality are impressive and it is evident that he has a deep understanding of many musical styles.”  ~Terri Lyne Carrington, Jazz Drummer

“…a rhythmic colorist who works beyond his drum set …His polyrhythmic inventions come from a head-full of sounds. His capacity to be creative is truly impressive and Mr. Bruns is melodic to boot…”   ~JAZZ DA GAMA, Raul da Gama

“…He [Bruns] aims to guide and influence the group with no mercy shown.  Follow me, he’s expressing, keep up or die!”  ~ L.A. Jazz Scene

“…Bruns gives it punch, makes it inviting and easy to embrace.” ~O’s Place Jazz Magazine by D. Oscar Groomes

“Bruns‘ brush work is excellent”  ~ Geannine Reid, All About Jazz

“Bruns’ drumming and tight arrangements provide the perfect setting for Baché’s vocals”   ~ Bebop Spoken Here

“…Bruns is a highly adept drummer and percussionist who can easily sound like two or three players at once. Ultra-precise and amazingly peripatetic…”    ~ FAME Review, M.S. Tucker

“I knew Bruns as a drummer/percussionist with an irresistible groove…” ~ Don Heckman, International Review of Music

“…[Bruns] is a world traveler who has sought after authentic musical experiences straight from the source, Cuba’s forbidden heartland, Brazil’s slum- and crime-ravaged favelas, Trinidad and Tobago’s humble but rich culture.”    ~ Examiner.com Q & A 

“ Bruns is a very well trained and versatile musician who brings commitment and a contagious enthusiasm to everything he is involved in.”  ~Alan Estes, Studio Percussionist

“…an impressive performer and composer in his own right…Jason Lee Bruns is the real deal!”  ~ George S. Clinton, Film Composer

“Bruns and Baché, like stellar predecessors Louie Bellson and Mel Torme, are skilled musicians/arrangers.” ~ Don Heckman, International Review of Music

“A hard swinging drummer, Bruns has been leading his crew from one success to another for the last several years of setting the night on fire in California.”   ~ Midwest Records

“With an affinity for Latin/Afro-Caribbean sounds leading the way, whether rocking or jazzing or mixing up both, Bruns delivers a party groove that is so on the natch that he makes covers his own with an undetectable ease …”   ~ Midwest Records

“…Bruns is not only a talented drummer, but also a skilled composer and arranger..” ~Audiophile Review Magazine

“…Bruns, a Drummer’s Drummer who gets to call his own shots and comes up with tempos, sounds and arrangements that appeal to him…” ~Music Man, Robert Nicosia

“…Bruns’ accompaniment skills are top notch and his brush work is stellar.   ~ Micha Bellini, The Jazz World