Celebrated as one of Chicago’s most innovative and original thinkers, David Bloom endeavors to bring out these qualities in his students. An accomplished guitarist and flutist performing in Chicago for many years, he opened The Bloom School of Jazz in 1975. His Bloom’s Laws and Ten Commandments of Jazz Soloing stimulate creativity in people across all disciplines.
Bloom’s jazz-as-language approach incorporates linguistics, philosophy, aesthetics and music. By listening to jazz masters, Bloom has taken their musical values and developed exercises that demand those sensibilities. Through the years, thousands of students have discovered that their abilities far exceeded their original expectations. His innovative methods break through musical and psychological barriers. Jazz, classical, rock, blues, flamenco, country and pop musicians have come to the Bloom School to expand their musical vocabulary and to enhance their own particular genre. Classes such as The Perfect Set, where students complete an entire album/set of material, as well as Guitar-obics and Black-Out, keep students engaged and growing.
The author of eight music method books, from Rhythms Around the Body to Ear Training-Sight Singing, he is also working on Jazz = Art = Life, a book introducing an interwoven way of seeing, hearing and being in the world. Bloom, with albums Duende and Until We Meet Again, as well as numerous essays and columns, judges his validity by his ability to successfully impact others. He also lectures at schools and businesses, showing how improvisation principles can increase successful communication. He remains fascinated by how people act, think and what motivates them.
Bloom is constantly seeking new ways to use his imagination, working on documentaries such as What Is Soul (whatissoul.com) and producing the Cool Heat Concert (https://www.youtube.com/
The author of eight music method books, from Rhythms Around the Body to Ear Training-Sight Singing, he is also working on Jazz = Art = Life, a book introducing an interwoven way of seeing, hearing and being in the world. Bloom, with albums Duende and Until We Meet Again, as well as numerous essays and columns, judges his validity by his ability to successfully impact others. He also lectures at schools and businesses, showing how improvisation principles can increase successful communication. He remains fascinated by how people act, think and what motivates them.
Some of Bloom’s most notable students are: Zach Brock (winner of DownBeat Magazine New Talent Award), Rob Mazurek, Chad Taylor, Regina Brown, Steve Rodby (13- time Grammy Winner, bass player with Pat Metheni), Cliff Colnot (Conductor at DePaul University), Larry Gray, Ryan Cohan, Mark Yonally (Chicago Tap Theatre), Tom Burrell (CEO, Burrell Advertising), Blanche Manning (retired Federal Judge) and many more.