Career
He is currently a music program director at Fairfield University in Connecticut. The Fairfield Arts Council named Torff its 2008 Artist of the Year. Teacher Torff is a professor of music and the director of the music program at Fairfield University in Fairfield, Connecticut.
He makes frequent appearances at the Regina A. Quick Center for the Arts leading the Fairfield University Jazz Ensemble along with guest jazz artists including Randy Brecker, Bob Mintzer, Bernard Purdie, Milt Hinton, Dave Samuels and Paul Wertico.
Composer & author Torff has composed works for records with George Shearing and Larry Coryell, and his own recordings "Life in East Bumblepuck," "Hitchhiker of Karoo," "Manhattan Hoe-Down," and "Workin" On a Bassline." He has composed scores that have been performed by the Boston Pops, Los Angeles Philharmonic, and the Pittsburgh Symphony, and has appeared as conductor, composer, and clinician for numerous high school and college jazz festivals. Brian Torff is the author of the book In Love With Voices: A Jazz Memoir, which chronicles Torff’s early musical roots and portraits of musicians he has worked with, including Frank Sinatra, Mel Tormé, Erroll Garner, Benny Goodman, Mary Lou Williams, Marian McPartland, Stephane Grappelli, and George Shearing.
He currently leads the rock band, Phantom Pluckers.