Bobby Broom
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| Bobby Broom | |
|---|---|
| Birth name | Robert Broom, Jr. |
| Born | January 18, 1961 |
| Origin |  New York, New York, USA |
| Genre(s) | Hard bop Post-bop Progressive jazz Soul-jazz Jazz-funk |
| Occupation(s) | Musician |
| Instrument(s) | Guitar |
| Label(s) | Delmark Records Arista Records Criss Cross Jazz Fantasy Records Origin Records Doxy Records |
| Associated acts | Deep Blue Organ Trio Sonny Rollins Dr. John Charles Earland Kenny Burrell Kenny Garrett |
Bobby Broom (born January 18, 1961), birthname Robert Broom, Jr., is an American jazz guitarist, composer and educator born and raised in New York City. Broom performs and records with jazz saxophone legend Sonny Rollins as well as his Bobby Broom Trio and the Deep Blue Organ Trio. While versed in the bebop idiom, Broom like many current jazz artists, draws from a variety of American music forms such as funk, soul, R&B and the blues to create his style.
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[edit] Early years
Broom began studying the guitar at age 12, taking lessons in the American Folk Music style. A year later, he began studies with jazz guitarist Jimmy Carter in Harlem, where he took weekly lessons for the next two years. His interest in jazz began in earnest at age 15 and as a result he began his research, study and practice of the jazz art.
Broom attended the High School of Music and Art (now known as Laguardia High School of Performing Arts), where he played in the jazz ensemble and received an award for Outstanding Jazz Improvisation during his senior year.
Broom began his career while still in high school, performing at New York clubs with Charlie Parker pianists, Al Haig and Walter Bishop Junior. In 1977 he played at Carnegie Hall in a concert with Sonny Rollins and special guest Donald Byrd.
He went to the Berklee School of Music from 1978–79, then returned to New York in order to pursue his career while attending Long Island University. At this time he began working in New York as guitarist for Art Blakey and The Jazz Messengers, Dave Grusin, Hugh Masakela and Tom Browne, eventually landing his own recording contract with GRP Records.
[edit] Career
Bobby Broom is becoming increasingly noted for his personal approach to the jazz legacy that influenced him, which includes the groundwork laid by his childhood jazz-guitar heroes, Wes Montgomery, early George Benson and Pat Martino and others such as Kenny Burrell and Grant Green. Broom's career has included work with Max Roach, Stanley Turrentine, Kenny Garrett, Miles Davis, Dr. Lonnie Smith, Charles Earland, Dr. John, Kenny Burrell, Eric Alexander and Ramsey Lewis, among others.
In the mid 1980s Broom relocated to Chicago where he went on to tour and record with many of the aforementioned musicians. In Chicago, he also formed the Bobby Broom Trio in 1990 and the Deep Blue Organ Trio in 1999.
Among Bobby Broom's recordings as a leader is his trio's 2001 release, Stand!, a recording of unlikely interpretations of 60s and 70s pop and soul classics which received praise for staying true to the creative demands of authentic modern jazz. Jambands online magazine writes: "Stand!"'s theme works well for Broom — it adds accessibility to the set without getting in the way of documenting a skilled trio in its natural element. Further examples of Broom's foray into the developing American Song Book can be found on his other recent recordings as well as on recordings by The Deep Blue Organ Trio (see discography).
As an educator, Broom began his work in 1982 for Jackie McLean, Director of African American Music at Studies for the Hartt School of Music at the University of Hartford. Over the years Broom has also been a lecturer/instructor at The American Conservatory of Music (1986–1990), Chicago Musical College — Roosevelt University (1990–1994) and The Thelonious Monk Institute of Jazz (1987). He currently teaches at DePaul University and for the Ravinia Festival Organization — Music In The Schools/Jazz Mentor Community Outreach Program.
Broom is once again recording and touring regularly with Sonny Rollins (since 2005) and has recently finished his newest set of recordings. Released on March 20, 2007, Broom's sixth lead album, Song and Dance, explores many different eras of music through the mellow sounds of the jazz guitar. The trio of Broom, bassist Dennis Carroll, and drummer Kobie Watkins seamlessly blend familiar classic rock and r&b pieces such as "Can't Buy Me Love" and "Where Is The Love?" with eight other pieces including three originals. Broom explains on his website[1]:
Each generation claims its own standards, and these are some of mine. It’s no longer the Tin Pan Alley era. We’ve moved on and there’s more music we can add to the mix of timeless classics from my musical past as a way of adding a personal touch to my jazz experience—and my listeners’
[edit] Discography
- The Way I Play, 2008 Origin Records
- Folk Music, 2007 Origin Records (with the Deep Blue Organ Trio)
- Song and Dance, 2007 Origin Records
- Sonny Please, 2006 Doxy Records (with Sonny Rollins)
- Goin' To Town — Live at the Green Mill, 2006 Delmark Records CD and DVD (with the Deep Blue Organ trio)
- Deep Blue Bruise, 2004 Delmark Records (with the Deep Blue Organ trio)
- Stand, 2001 Premonition Records
- Modern Man, 2001 Delmark Records
- Duke Elegant, 2000 Blue Note Records (with Dr. John)
- Waiting and Waiting, 1997 Criss Cross Jazz
- No Hype Blues, 1995 Criss Cross Jazz
- Eric Alexander in Europe, 1995 Criss Cross Jazz
- The Tip, 1994 DIW (with David Murray)
- Jug-a-Lug, 1994 DIW (with David Murray)
- Cubism, 1992 Fresh Sound Records (with Ronnie Cuber)
- Third Degree Burn, 1989 Milestone Records (with Charles Earland)
- Front Burner, 1988 Milestone Records (with Charles Earland)
- Pieces of Blue and The Blues, 1987 Blue Note Records (Kenny Burrell & The Jazz Guitar Band)
- Generation, 1986 Blue Note Records (Kenny Burrell & The Jazz Guitar Band, w/ Rodney Jones)
- Livin' For The Beat, 1984 Arista Records
- Reel Life, 1983 Fantasy Records (with Sonny Rollins)
- Home Again, 1982 Elektra Records (with Stanley Turrentine)
- No Problem, 1981 Fantasy Records (with Sonny Rollins)
- Clean Sweep, 1981 GRP/Arista Records (debut recording as leader)
- Pied Piper, 1981 GRP/Arista Records (with Dave Valentine)
- Love Approach, 1981 GRP/Arista Records (with Tom Browne)
- Orange Express, 1981 Sony Japan (with Sadao Watanabe)
- Dave Grusin and the GRP All Stars Live in Japan, 1980 GRP/Arista Records
[edit] Sources
- Nate Chinen. "Down From the Mountain to Warm Up and Shine", Rev. of New York Times, 2006-08-29.
- "Tenor saxophone jazz legend Sonny Rollins brings improvisational magic to Walt Disney concert", Los Angeles Philharmonic Press Release, 2005-03-16. Retrieved on 2006-10-13.
- "Guitarist Bobby Broom Plays on Sonny Rollins' new CD, "Sonny, Please"", Google Video, 2006-05-26. Retrieved on 2006-10-14.
- Ed. Hazell. "Bobby Broom Trio — Stand!", Rev. of Boston Phoenix — Off the Record, 2002-01-10.
- Pat Buzby. "Stand! Bobby Broom", Rev. of Jambands.com The Online Magazine, 2001-11-21.
- Kevin McKeough. "Bobby Broom a distinctive, musical, modern guitarist", Chicago Tribune, 2004-01-02.
- Andy Ellis (January 2005). "The Deep Blue Organ Trio - "Deep Blue Bruise"". Rev. of Guitar Player Magazine — Rants and Raves.
