Bruce David Gertz is an American jazz bassist and educator born on December 15, 1952, in Providence, Rhode Island. He initially learned guitar before switching to bass guitar and double-bass as a teenager. After studying at New England College and the Berklee College of Music from 1972 to 1976, Gertz held a professorship at Berklee beginning in 1976. His career involved performing with groups such as the Overtones and ConBrio, alongside tours with Billy Eckstine, Maynard Ferguson, and Dave Brubeck. Gertz collaborated with diverse musicians including Gil Evans, Joe Lovano, and Mike Stern. His recording career included the albums Blueprint (1991), Third Eye, and Discovery Zone. Between 1987 and 1992, he received four Boston Music Awards as an outstanding bassist. In 1992, his composition “Blueprint” earned third prize at the Billboard Song Contest.
