The Age of Rock 1930-1980 from Blues to Punk (In-Person)

This program will be in-person at the Noah Webster Library. 

Professor of Music, composer and bassist Brian Q. Torff will survey the growth and evolution of Rock music from its early blues origins in the Mississippi Delta to the brash sounds of Punk in the 1970’s. The artistic contributions of Muddy Waters, Chuck Berry, Little Richard, Elvis Presley, The Beatles, Bob Dylan, Soul and Motown will be analyzed for social and musical impact.

Brian Q. Torff is a renowned bassist, composer, author and educator.  Currently he is Professor of Music and Music Program Director at Fairfield University. He is a featured bass soloist performing in jazz festivals throughout the United States. In 1992 he served as co-chairperson of the Music Advisory Board for the National Endowment for the Arts.  In 2008 Mr. Torff was honored as Artist of the Year by the Fairfield Arts Council.

Brian Torff’s professional career began in 1974 when bassist Milt Hinton offered him the opportunity to tour with Cleo Laine.  During the late 70’s, Brian recorded and performed with pianists Mary Lou Williams and Marian McPartland, and toured with the gypsy jazz violin virtuoso Stephane Grappelli. He played in pianist Erroll Garner’s last group and worked in the big bands of Oliver Nelson and the Thad Jones-Mel Lewis Orchestra.

In 1979 Brian Torff joined pianist George Shearing. In the course of their three- and- a- half year collaboration, they toured extensively and were featured on The Tonight Show, Merv Griffin, and hosted their own PBS special from the Café Carlyle in New York City. They received worldwide acclaim and performed for President and Mrs. Ronald Reagan. Their third album won a Grammy for vocalist Mel Tormé. In 2017, his horn band, New Duke, performed on a nationally televised CBS Christmas special.

In early 2008 Brian lived in Paris where he wrote his book, In Love with Voices: A Jazz Memoir.  Torff’s new album, Run With Scissors, was released in the fall of 2021 on all streaming platforms. In 2023, Brian Torff’s new book, Seize the Beat: the Evolution of American Music was published by McFarlandBooks.com.