ALAN BROADBENT - Broadbent Plays Brubeck
Eden River Records ERR-CD-09
Alan Broadbent (piano & conductor); Harvie S (bass); Hans Dekker (drums)
David Juritz (concertmaster, solo violin); London Metropolitan Strings
Arrangements by Alan Broadbent
There is music that stays with you a lifetime, and perhaps unconsciously can become so much part of one's being that can weave a thread that is a constant companion, and or influence, throughout. This certainly appears to have been the case for Alan Broadbent, when as a teenager in Auckland, New Zealand, he discovered Howard Brubeck's transcriptions of his brother Dave's solo album, Brubeck Plays Brubeck. This discovery had a profound effect on the 14 year old Broadbent, as he pored over the scores analysing each and every chord, searching to find how the music works its magic.
The search, dedication and hard work certainly paid off handsomely as Alan's career resume shows from his baptism of fire as the pianist and arranger in Woody Herman's band in 1969, to his work in the studios with Nelson Riddle and Johnny Mandel. He formed highly productive musical relationships with Irene Kral and toured and recorded with Charlie Hayden's Quartet West and latterly has his own trio, which has recorded frequently. In recent years, he formed an extraordinary musical partnership with UK based vocalist and lyricist, Georgia Mancio with who he has written in excess of 30 songs and recorded two outstanding albums.
During what has now become frequent trips to these shores, he recorded the wonderful Developing Story album in which the pianist presents his original composition in three movements, along with two other of his pieces and four standards. Recorded at Abbey Road Studios with the London Metropolitan Orchestra, Developing Story was a major statement from Broadbent and two years later he was back at Abbey Road again.
For this second orchestral recording, this time with the London Metropolitan Strings, the pianist once again revisits those precious books of transcriptions and has arranged the music to recreate the feelings that were stirred in him as a young musician. In doing so he brings new delights to the wonderful pieces that so many are familiar with. 'Strange Meadowlark' has a grandeur about it that is captivating with a lovely solo violin from David Juritz, and is immediately followed by a tender 'In Your Own Sweet Way' with the leader's piano blending sublimely with the strings that lead into a swinging solo. This uplifting and joyous aspect to music making is never far from Alan's thoughts and is evident throughout. 'Bossa Nova USA' incorporates seamlessly the rhythms of a bossa nova with a full and luxurious string arrangement, while 'When I Was Young' utilises the strings in a dreamlike backdrop, which is ideal for Alan's reminiscing at the piano.
Broadbent tackles Brubeck's 'Blue Rondo Á La Turk' with vigour with some impeccable string writing for the strings before launching into his own swinging solo. And if whenever you hear 'The Duke' you immediately think of Miles and Gil, then Broadbent has wisely steered an altogether different course through the composition.
If Broadbent Plays Brubeck is not quite the highly original and personal musical statement that the previous album Developing Story is, it is nonetheless a quite magnificent interpretation of some wonderful tunes that have obviously captured Alan Boradbent's heart and imagination over the course of a lifetime. For this we should thank Dave Brubeck for the compositions, Howard Brubeck for the transcriptions, and Alan for nurturing this project for all these years and finally bringing it to fruition.
Reviewed by Nick Lea
Eden River Records ERR-CD-09
Alan Broadbent (piano & conductor); Harvie S (bass); Hans Dekker (drums)
David Juritz (concertmaster, solo violin); London Metropolitan Strings
Arrangements by Alan Broadbent
There is music that stays with you a lifetime, and perhaps unconsciously can become so much part of one's being that can weave a thread that is a constant companion, and or influence, throughout. This certainly appears to have been the case for Alan Broadbent, when as a teenager in Auckland, New Zealand, he discovered Howard Brubeck's transcriptions of his brother Dave's solo album, Brubeck Plays Brubeck. This discovery had a profound effect on the 14 year old Broadbent, as he pored over the scores analysing each and every chord, searching to find how the music works its magic.
The search, dedication and hard work certainly paid off handsomely as Alan's career resume shows from his baptism of fire as the pianist and arranger in Woody Herman's band in 1969, to his work in the studios with Nelson Riddle and Johnny Mandel. He formed highly productive musical relationships with Irene Kral and toured and recorded with Charlie Hayden's Quartet West and latterly has his own trio, which has recorded frequently. In recent years, he formed an extraordinary musical partnership with UK based vocalist and lyricist, Georgia Mancio with who he has written in excess of 30 songs and recorded two outstanding albums.
During what has now become frequent trips to these shores, he recorded the wonderful Developing Story album in which the pianist presents his original composition in three movements, along with two other of his pieces and four standards. Recorded at Abbey Road Studios with the London Metropolitan Orchestra, Developing Story was a major statement from Broadbent and two years later he was back at Abbey Road again.
For this second orchestral recording, this time with the London Metropolitan Strings, the pianist once again revisits those precious books of transcriptions and has arranged the music to recreate the feelings that were stirred in him as a young musician. In doing so he brings new delights to the wonderful pieces that so many are familiar with. 'Strange Meadowlark' has a grandeur about it that is captivating with a lovely solo violin from David Juritz, and is immediately followed by a tender 'In Your Own Sweet Way' with the leader's piano blending sublimely with the strings that lead into a swinging solo. This uplifting and joyous aspect to music making is never far from Alan's thoughts and is evident throughout. 'Bossa Nova USA' incorporates seamlessly the rhythms of a bossa nova with a full and luxurious string arrangement, while 'When I Was Young' utilises the strings in a dreamlike backdrop, which is ideal for Alan's reminiscing at the piano.
Broadbent tackles Brubeck's 'Blue Rondo Á La Turk' with vigour with some impeccable string writing for the strings before launching into his own swinging solo. And if whenever you hear 'The Duke' you immediately think of Miles and Gil, then Broadbent has wisely steered an altogether different course through the composition.
If Broadbent Plays Brubeck is not quite the highly original and personal musical statement that the previous album Developing Story is, it is nonetheless a quite magnificent interpretation of some wonderful tunes that have obviously captured Alan Boradbent's heart and imagination over the course of a lifetime. For this we should thank Dave Brubeck for the compositions, Howard Brubeck for the transcriptions, and Alan for nurturing this project for all these years and finally bringing it to fruition.
Reviewed by Nick Lea
