Todd Clouser - Performer, Educator, Composer, Writer
Todd Clouser, a graduate of the prestigious Berklee College of Music, is an accomplished guitarist, composer, producer, and writer with credits on over a dozen national releases through Liquid8 Records and a series of albums as a bandleader, highlighted by the organic sounding compositions of "Baja", and 2008's unclassifiably modern groove album "Beatnik Highway". Clouser's production and playing span a number of genres, most recently settling in the modern jazz idiom after years of fronting his rock act, "4 Letter Man". With a reputation for energetic and engaging performances, Todd's interest in a synthesis of styles and dedication to craft consistently draws committed crowds healthy in number.
2009 passed as Clouser's brightest year yet, completing an international tour with legendary trumpeter, arranger, and Grammy nominee Steven Bernstein, the two joining as bandleaders backed by members of Guadalajara's Troker and performing to crowds of a thousand plus. Todd's headlining appearances at Minneapolis' Dakota Jazz Club were another highlight, Todd leading his quartet, The Band of No Country, to a full house at the legendary venue. The year also saw performances with modern blues legend Keb Mo, members of the Billy Joel Band, jazz trumpeter Ingrid Jensen, guitarist Jack Sonni of Dire Straits, and a number of other fine and celebrated musicians when not out on his own projects. Things came to a close in 2009 at Todd's adopted hometown of San Jose del Cabo's city Plaza for the finest and grandest Arts Day Out yet, Todd's non-profit program to celebrate and inspire the youth of Los Cabos, attended by over a dozen organizations, galleries, and interactive art exhibitors, all provided free to the public.
2010 promises a new record featuring Steven Bernstein and a number of the Minneapolis scene's finest players and a number of unique projects, a tour through Meico with jazz rock outfit "A Love Electric" featuring drummer Hernan Hecht, an album of Clouser penned songs sung by Latin American Idol finalist Samantha Rae, and more aggressive forays into the commitment of a do it yourself artist.
Todd has studied with Marc Ribot, David Fiuczynski, Medeski Martin and Wood, David Tronzo, Peter Sprague, Berklee profesors Jim Kelly and Mike Ihde, and a number of other jazz and beyond internationally recognized artists.
Clouser currently resides most often in Los Cabos, Mexico where he performs regularly at a number of the area's most celebrated venues and teaches privately and with a number of local schools and charitable organizations. Todd continues to work with local non-profits in the Los Cabos area, dedicating performances and clinics, and is the founder of Arts Day Out, days to celebrate and inspire the youth of Los Cabos through the arts, absent of money or fundraising. Clouser's writing can be seen in a variety of publications, including Destino Magazine, and regular columns in the Baja's English language newspaper, Baja Pulse.
You can find Todd performing regularly and teaching in Los Cabos and increasingly on the Mexican mainland, with a US run of shows coming a couple times a year.