Dan Bruce Introduces New Trio Ohm! with Debut Album The Architects

After two acclaimed releases with his adventurous ensemble :beta collective, guitarist and composer Dan Bruce returns with a bold new project: Ohm!, a groove-driven trio making its debut with the album The Architects, arriving October 31, 2025 on Shifting Paradigm Records.

The record is a vibrant journey through funky pockets, jazz/rock fusion, and deep improvisational energy, perfect for fans of Kurt Rosenwinkel, Nir Felder, Wayne Krantz, and Tim Berne.

For Bruce, The Architects is as much a philosophical statement as it is a musical one.

“I’m always trying to deal with my incredible fear of death amidst my joy for life, and the anxiety it causes me to know that the two are inextricably linked,” Bruce shares. “By including disorder and dissonance in my music alongside the joyous moments, I’m working to accept both as an integral part of the experience. That said, the guiding principle for this album was to groove and have fun.”

That duality—joy and dissonance, groove and freedom—runs throughout the album’s nine tracks.

Known for his fiery improvisation and thoughtful compositions, Bruce has carved out a distinctive place in the modern jazz landscape. A former fixture of Chicago’s vibrant scene, he now resides in Cleveland, where he balances performing, teaching, and composing.

With over 50 sideman credits and four leader albums, Bruce has collaborated with some of the leading voices in jazz, including Seamus Blake, Ali Jackson, Sean Jones, Dan Wilson, and Marquis Hill. His work with :beta collective earned acclaim for its exploratory edge, with All About Jazz praising Bruce’s “generous, accessible sound with an exploratory edge.”

Ohm! unites Bruce with two of Northeast Ohio’s most in-demand players:

• Jordan McBride (bass) – known for work with Orrin Evans, Sean Jones, Roger Humphries

• Gabe Jones (drums) – a versatile force with Sean Jones, Howie Smith, and others

The trio’s name reflects both electrical current (Ohm) and the sacred vibration “Om”, symbolizing power, unity, and creation. True to that spirit, Ohm! performances often begin with group chanting to foster community.

“The most important thing art can be doing in these times is community building,” Bruce explains.

The album opens with its expansive title track, featuring saxophonist Jason Kush. Blending intricate passages with free improvisation, the piece meditates on building, rather than tearing down. In a touching moment, Bruce’s children are heard in the background, underscoring his hope that “we are raising architects” of the future.

Other highlights include:

• “Eh?” – a playful nod to Bruce’s Canadian tours, with a recurring A chord inspiring its tongue-in-cheek title.

• “Ice” – inspired by Gerhard Richter’s paintings, with nylon-string guitar textures and vocals by Nadine Douds.

• “Glimpse” – a restless ostinato blossoming into a vision of peace.

• “Major_Chord” – composed by producer Nathan Douds, embodying both joy and instability.

• “Rare Birds” – a groove-heavy closer featuring Reggie Watkins (trombone) and Nathan Douds (keyboards).

Douds also contributes programming to the album’s “Incidental” interludes, adding atmospheric links throughout the set.

With The Architects, Dan Bruce’s Ohm! emerges as a thrilling new force in modern jazz—groove-driven, exploratory, and deeply human in its embrace of joy, dissonance, and connection.