Alan Broadbent
Encyclopedia
Alan Broadbent, MNZM
(born 23 April 1947 in Auckland, New Zealand), is a jazz pianist
, arranger and composer best known for his work with artists such as Woody Herman
, Diane Schuur
, Chet Baker
, Irene Kral
, Sheila Jordan
, Charlie Haden
, Warne Marsh
, Bud Shank
, and many others.
Broadbent studied piano and music theory in his own country, but in 1966 went to the US to study at the Berklee College of Music
. In the 1970s he did both classical and jazz work, but from the eighties onwards he accompanied singers on piano. Later he gained note as an arranger of music and won two Grammies for arrangements he did with Natalie Cole
and Shirley Horn
.
Broadbent's first two albums, Song of Home and Further Down the Road, were recorded in New Zealand on the Tartar label (TRL-043 and TRL-052 respectively) in 1985. Broadbent is joined on those recordings by Andy Brown (bass) and Frank Gibson, Jr. (drums). Those early albums show a fascination (which still characterizes Broadbent's work) with reinterpreting a broad range of standards; he covers material as diverse as "What is this Thing Called Love?" (Cole Porter) and "Oleo" (Sonny Rollins). Further Down the Road also shows Broadbent's increasing confidence as a composer (the title tune, "Nictation" and "Don't Ask Why").
Broadbent's first U.S. release, Everything I Love, was recorded in Hollywood in April 1986 and released on the Discovery label (DS-929). In this set, Putter Smith replaces Brown on bass; Frank Gibson, Jr. continues with the trio. Again, Broadbent covers standards ranging from Oscar Hammerstein ("Softly as in a Morning Sunrise") to John Coltrane ("Lazy Bird"), and contributes two original compositions ("Continuity" and "Mendocino Nights").
During the 1990s Broadbent was part of Charlie Haden
's "Quartet West."
New Zealand Order of Merit
The New Zealand Order of Merit is an order established in 1996 "for those persons who in any field of endeavour, have rendered meritorious service to the Crown and nation or who have become distinguished by their eminence, talents, contributions or other merits."The order includes five...
(born 23 April 1947 in Auckland, New Zealand), is a jazz pianist
Jazz piano
Jazz piano is a collective term for the techniques pianists use when playing jazz. The piano has been an integral part of the jazz idiom since its inception, in both solo and ensemble settings. Its role is multifaceted due largely to the instrument's combined melodic and harmonic capabilities...
, arranger and composer best known for his work with artists such as Woody Herman
Woody Herman
Woodrow Charles Herman , known as Woody Herman, was an American jazz clarinetist, alto and soprano saxophonist, singer, and big band leader. Leading various groups called "The Herd," Herman was one of the most popular of the 1930s and '40s bandleaders...
, Diane Schuur
Diane Schuur
Diane Schuur is an American jazz singer and pianist. Nicknamed "Deedles", she has won two Grammy Awards, headlined many of the world's most prestigious music venues, including Carnegie Hall and The White House and has toured the world performing with such greats as Quincy Jones, Stan Getz, B. B...
, Chet Baker
Chet Baker
Chesney Henry "Chet" Baker, Jr. was an American jazz trumpeter, flugelhornist and singer.Though his music earned him a large following , Baker's popularity was due in part to his "matinee idol-beauty" and "well-publicized drug habit."He died in 1988 in Amsterdam, the...
, Irene Kral
Irene Kral
Irene Kral , was a jazz singer who was born in Chicago, Illinois and died due to breast cancer in Encino, California.- Biography :...
, Sheila Jordan
Sheila Jordan
Sheila Jordan is an American jazz singer and songwriter. Jordan has recorded as a session musician with an array of critically acclaimed artists in addition to a notable solo career....
, Charlie Haden
Charlie Haden
Charles Edward Haden is an American jazz musician. He is a double bassist, probably best known for his long association with saxophonist Ornette Coleman...
, Warne Marsh
Warne Marsh
Warne Marion Marsh was an American tenor saxophonist born in Los Angeles.-Biography:Marsh came from an affluent background: his father was the cinematographer Oliver T. Marsh , and his mother Elizabeth was a violinist...
, Bud Shank
Bud Shank
Clifford Everett "Bud" Shank, Jr. was an American alto saxophonist and flautist. He rose to prominence in the early 1950s playing lead alto and flute in Stan Kenton's Innovations in Modern Music Orchestra and throughout the decade worked in various small jazz combos. He spent the 1960s as a first...
, and many others.
Broadbent studied piano and music theory in his own country, but in 1966 went to the US to study at the Berklee College of Music
Berklee College of Music
Berklee College of Music, located in Boston, Massachusetts, is the largest independent college of contemporary music in the world. Known primarily as a school for jazz, rock and popular music, it also offers college-level courses in a wide range of contemporary and historic styles, including hip...
. In the 1970s he did both classical and jazz work, but from the eighties onwards he accompanied singers on piano. Later he gained note as an arranger of music and won two Grammies for arrangements he did with Natalie Cole
Natalie Cole
Natalie Maria Cole , is an American singer, songwriter and performer. The daughter of jazz legend Nat King Cole, Cole rode to musical success in the mid-1970s as an R&B artist with the hits "This Will Be ", "Inseparable" and "Our Love"...
and Shirley Horn
Shirley Horn
Shirley Valerie Horn was an American jazz singer and pianist.-Biography:Encouraged by her grandmother, who was an amateur organist, Horn began piano lessons at the age of four. At twelve, Horn studied piano and composition at Howard University and later majored from there in classical music...
.
Broadbent's first two albums, Song of Home and Further Down the Road, were recorded in New Zealand on the Tartar label (TRL-043 and TRL-052 respectively) in 1985. Broadbent is joined on those recordings by Andy Brown (bass) and Frank Gibson, Jr. (drums). Those early albums show a fascination (which still characterizes Broadbent's work) with reinterpreting a broad range of standards; he covers material as diverse as "What is this Thing Called Love?" (Cole Porter) and "Oleo" (Sonny Rollins). Further Down the Road also shows Broadbent's increasing confidence as a composer (the title tune, "Nictation" and "Don't Ask Why").
Broadbent's first U.S. release, Everything I Love, was recorded in Hollywood in April 1986 and released on the Discovery label (DS-929). In this set, Putter Smith replaces Brown on bass; Frank Gibson, Jr. continues with the trio. Again, Broadbent covers standards ranging from Oscar Hammerstein ("Softly as in a Morning Sunrise") to John Coltrane ("Lazy Bird"), and contributes two original compositions ("Continuity" and "Mendocino Nights").
During the 1990s Broadbent was part of Charlie Haden
Charlie Haden
Charles Edward Haden is an American jazz musician. He is a double bassist, probably best known for his long association with saxophonist Ornette Coleman...
's "Quartet West."
Discography
- 1974 Where Is Love? (Choice)
- 1979 Palette (Granite)
- 1984 Song of Home (Kiwi Pacific)
- 1985 Song of Home(Tartar)
- 1985 Further Down the Road (Tartar)
- 1986 Everything I Love (Discovery)
- 1987 Another Time (Trend)
- 1989 Away from You (Trend)
- 1991 Live at Maybeck Recital Hall (Concord Jazz)
- 1993 Concord Duo Series, Vol. 4 (Concord Jazz)
- 1994 Over the Fence (Ode)
- 1995 Pacific Standard Time (Concord)
- 1996 Personal Standards (Concord Jazz)
- 2000 Continuity (Revelation)
- 2003 Fine and Dandy (Manu)
- 2003 You and the Night and the Music (A440 Music Group)
- 2004 In Blue (North Star UK)
- 2005 'Round Midnight (Artistry Music)
- 2005 With Strings (King Japan)
- 2006 Every Time I Think of You (Artistry Music)
- 2011 Journey Home with the Wellington Jazz Orchestra (Tbone Records)
As sideman
With Charlie HadenCharlie Haden
Charles Edward Haden is an American jazz musician. He is a double bassist, probably best known for his long association with saxophonist Ornette Coleman...
- Quartet WestQuartet WestQuartet West is an album by the American jazz bassist Charlie Haden recorded in 1986 and released on the Verve label.-Reception:The Allmusic review by Stacia Proefrock awarded the album 5 stars stating "While the album may not be stretching many boundaries stylistically, this format does little to...
(Verve, 1986) - In Angel CityIn Angel CityIn Angel City is an album by the American jazz bassist Charlie Haden's Quartet West recorded in 1988 and released on the Verve label.-Reception:...
(Verve, 1988) - The Art of the SongThe Art of the SongThe Art of the Song is an album by American jazz bassist Charlie Haden and Charlie Haden's Quartet West, released in 1999. It reached number ten on the Billboard Top Jazz Albums chart.Quartet West was formed in 1986...
(Verve, 1999)