Jack Bruce of Cream Dies-A Look At the Legacy of Jack Bruce

Jack Bruce, Eric Clapton, and Ginger Baker in Cream

Jack Bruce, the Scottish bassist best known for his singing and powerful bass lines in the seminal British super-group Cream, has died.  He was 71 years old and died of  liver disease.

Jack Bruce
Jack Bruce

Considered by many to be perhaps the greatest Rock Bassist, Jack Bruce’s place Rock and Roll history is assured.  Bruce played in many bands, including:

Alex Korner’s Blues Incorporated (1962-1963)-Here he played drummer Ginger Baker, and organist Graham Bond

Graham Bond Quartet (1963-1964)-Jack Bruce, Ginger Baker, and Graham Bond left Blue’s Incorporated and created the Graham Bond Quartet with guitarist John McLaughlin (among others)

Graham Bond Organization (1964-1965)-Jack Bruce, now playing the electric bass, constantly fought with Ginger Baker, leading to Bruce’s decision to leave the band.

Jack Bruce Solo single  “I’m Gettin Tired” (1965)

John Mayall’s Bluesbreakers (1965-1966) Here Jack Bruce teamed with the young guitar god, Eric Clapton.

Manfred Mann (1966)

Eric Clapton and the Powerhouse (1966)-This short-term studio group produced a few songs in 1966.  The band consisted of  Eric Clapton on guitar Paul Jones (of Manfred Mann) on harmonica,  Jack Bruce on bass (at that time Bruce was also from Manfred Mann), Steve Winwood on vocal, (from the Spencer Davis Group,  Pete York on drums, (also from the Spencer Davis Group), and Ben Palmer on piano,  who had previously played with Clapton and Jones as a member of The Roosters. Ginger Baker was originally supposed to play drums, but was unavailable, so Palmer sat in on drums.  Ben Palmer later became the road manager for Cream.

Cream (1966-1968) In forming Cream, Jack Bruce was again re-united with Eric Clapton and Ginger Baker.  This super-group of accomplished and fairly well-know blues-rock musicians dominated the charts in their brief stint together. Major personality differences again drove them apart.

Jack Bruce Solo Career (1969-2014) Jack Bruce released 14 solo studio albums and five live albums.

West, Bruce and Laing (1972-1974)  blues rock power trio super-group formed in 1972 with Leslie West (formerly of Mountain),  Jack Bruce, and Corky Laing (also formerly of Mountain). WBL produced two studio albums and one live album.

B.L.T. (1981) Studio album by Jack Bruce, Robin Trower (formerly of Procol Harum) and Bill Lordan (former drummer of Sly and the Family Stone).

Jack Bruce and Robin Trower (1982-2009) -The power duo released four albums together.

Bruce, Baker, Moore (1993) A short-lived power trio, consisting of bassist Jack Bruce, drummer Ginger Baker and guitarist Gary Moore (Skid Row, Thin Lizzy, Colosseum).

Ringo Starr’s All-Starr Band (1995, 1997-2000)-Jack Bruce joined up with Ringo Starr and his All-Starr Band over the course of several years.  This touring band features an ever-changing rotation of famous musicians.

Cream (2005) The Cream re-united for a series of concerts at London’s Royal Albert Hall.

 

Jack Bruce Legacy is that he is best remembered as a disciple of the joining of jazz (his original genre), blues, and rock. He helped pioneer the concept of the “Power Trio” of bass, guitar, and drums, as exemplified in Cream and many of  his later collaborations with other musicians.