By Jonathan Widran Innovative jazz musicians and arrangers have enjoyed a long, fruitful history of…
By Jonathan Widran Sofia Goodman finds a depth of expression in her musical explorations of…
By Jonathan Widran Michael Leonhart expresses grief and catharsis through a pair of new suites…
Richie Goods and Chien Chien Lu strike sparks with their music and their message. The…
In 2021, as she celebrated 35 years as a recording artist, vocalist, pianist and songwriter…
With a bluesy new album under his belt, Grant Geissman talks vintage guitars and comic…
From Jaco to the Yellowjackets and beyond, Jimmy Haslip keeps reaching for creative freedom. The…
Lizz Wright’s first-ever live album launches the jazz and gospel vocalist’s indie label, Blues &…
Recommitting himself to his instrument, Or Bareket crafts an artful, personal album steeped in family…
Despite earning a Grammy nomination for their work on Angelique Kidjo’s 2021 album Mother Nature…
Jessy J returns to the funky blues, jazz and R&B grooves of her youth. Growing…
Makaya McCraven’s renown as a sound visionary and innovative “beat scientist” would seem to be…
Azar Lawrence doesn’t recall specifically when and where this incident occurred, but the memory’s stuck…
Even back when he was a Billboard charting artist, Ray Obiedo’s music was too eclectic…
Though Jonathan Butler’s all-star 60th Birthday celebration was decidedly landlocked at Herb Alpert’s swanky Vibrato…
Matthew Whitaker’s inspiring personal story makes it hard for anyone to be fully objective about…
Starting with two sold-out performances with the National Symphony Orchestra at the Kennedy Center in…
A legendary quote from Audrey Hepburn adorns the home page of Bill Kwan’s dermatology practice…
During the past few years, veteran trumpeter, bandleader and educator John Daversa has drawn on…
As we look for silver linings in the maddening year that was 2020, it’s heartening…
Photo courtesy Raj Naik[/caption]
JAZZIZ: I looked at your discography and realize that A Little Driving Music marks 35 years since you released your debut album A New Day. As a bassist and artist, what do you think your greatest accomplishment is?
Brian Bromberg: That’s a challenging question, like which toe do you like best. One thing about being a musician who can document his life and art via recording is that I can clearly see where I started and how I’ve grown and evolved. What I’m most proud of is that growth. When I compare A New Day to the quality and power of the production and arrangements, cleanliness and intent of the music on A Little Driving Music, it’s truly night and day.
To what do you attribute your longevity as both a sideman and recording artist?
The key is a commitment to my musicianship, expertise, honing my skills and craft as a bassist and learning not just what to do, but what not to do. One of the lessons I impart when I teach is that the space in between the notes is as important as the space of the notes. As a sideman, it’s important to have a correct understanding what the artist and producer wants. In that role and as an artist myself, it’s all about putting the music first, getting out of your head and understanding the big picture. That comes from years of experience.
You recently re-mastered and re-released your Jimi Hendrix tribute. What was it missing the first go-round and what’s better about the new version?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AFhrovluzZ0
The original version came out really well, but the quality of the recording equipment in Pro Tools, home recording, mixing and mastering, has improved so much that I knew I could make it sound better sonically. The new release features the same performances, but the sound is much improved. There’s more air now, more separation, width and much more bottom, clarity and less distortion. Everything is warmer, fatter and more powerful. That goes for Vinnie Colaiuta’s drums and tom-toms too! It’s a hardcore hybrid hard rock-funk fusion, approached through the ears of a jazz musician. Like playing pissed off bebop with a smile.
Now to the new album. What’s the story behind the title A Little Driving Music? Is there an overall concept?
I mean this in a positive way, it’s a very commercial accessible record, and one of the only ones I’ve ever made where every song is strong and memorable and invites you to sing along. For me, this is saying a lot because I have a tendency to go crazy soloing on the bass at the expense of the song itself. It’s all original music, and I wrote and arranged everything, starting with “Quarantine,” the first tune I wrote during the shutdown. I feel like it’s feel good, happy music that just showed up, and during this darker time, it’s one of those albums that would make anyone in Southern California want to hit the road and listen to while enjoying the sunshine. That’s even more literal on the cover of “Walking on Sunshine” with Dave Koz. I dedicate two songs to Bado, an incredible cat that my fiancé and I rescued, with the help of Elan Trotman, from Barbados when we went down for a festival. He was with us at home for a year till he passed. Every song has a unique personality and identity. It feels like a group of short stories that are all designed to put you in a good mood.
How does this album reflect who you are as a person and artist right now?
Brian Bromberg: This is a timepiece record that comes from my soul and the universe, a very positive light that emerged from quarantine, and the music felt like it wrote itself. It’s an important part of my journey, a transitional collection that got me through this difficult period. I don’t consider myself a smooth jazz artist, but this one’s got a nice balance of intense music that will appeal to the “musos” and great hooks and melodic and grooving sensibilities that everyone else will appreciate.