Bobby Broom has had a great 2014! It started with his third straight DownBeat Critics Poll nod as one of the world's top Jazz guitarists. In July his organ trio, The Bobby Broom Organi-Sation, was tapped by Steely Dan's Walter Becker and Donald Fagen to open for their 52 dates on their Jamalot Ever After North America tour, which included a stop here in Indy. He was invited to play the closing day of the Chicago Jazz Festival with his regular group, The Bobby Broom Trio. Their latest album, "My Shining Hour" released in August, debuted at #41, sold out every last physical CD in 9 days, and then soared to #3 on the JazzWeek charts for the last two weeks, with 6 of its 8 weeks on the chart in the Top 10....
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Bobby Broom has had a great 2014! It started with his third straight DownBeat Critics Poll nod as one of the world's top Jazz guitarists. In July his organ trio, The Bobby Broom Organi-Sation, was tapped by Steely Dan's Walter Becker and Donald Fagen to open for their 52 dates on their Jamalot Ever After North America tour, which included a stop here in Indy. He was invited to play the closing day of the Chicago Jazz Festival with his regular group, The Bobby Broom Trio. Their latest album, "My Shining Hour" released in August, debuted at #41, sold out every last physical CD in 9 days, and then soared to #3 on the JazzWeek charts for the last two weeks, with 6 of its 8 weeks on the chart in the Top 10.
The songs on the album are all very fresh takes on classics whose names may be shopworn, like “Sweet Georgia Brown,” but, in the thoughtful and thought-provoking hands of a guitarist of the caliber of Bobby Broom, they develop a new look in a brighter light.
“I love the new tri-coat shine!” Broom said. “My sincere thanks to Jazz radio in the US and Canada.”
Broom began developing his jazz chops quickly, and by age 16, he’d found a professional gig backing pianist Al Haig. That same year, Broom auditioned for Sonny Rollins and the sax legend invited him to go on tour. Broom declined, his parents thinking it would be better for him to finish high school before launching himself headlong into a jazz career. Rollins didn’t forget the young guitarist — he called Broom a year later, inviting him to play a one-night-only concert at Carnegie Hall!
Broom pursued his musical education at Berklee, but returned to New York after a year, attending Long Island University by day and sitting in with Art Blakey’s Jazz Messengers at night. Broom left the Messengers to work with trumpeter Tom Browne, who’s brand of jazz leaned more toward funk and fusion. This association led to his being signed to GRP records and his first album as a leader, Clean Sweep.
In 1982, Rollins called on Broom again, this time asking him to join his band. Broom toured and recorded two albums with Rollins over the next four years. He also finished a music performance degree at Columbia College.
Following the gig with Rollins, Broom relocated to Chicago where he formed the Jazz Guitar Band with fellow guitarists Kenny Burrell and Rodney Jones. Throughout the late ’80s and early ’90s, Broom recorded with such artists as David Murray, Eric Alexander, and Charles Earland. He also pursued graduate studies in jazz pedagogy from Northwestern University.
In 1994, Broom joined up with Dr. John, a gig that lasted five and a half years. At the same time, Broom began releasing records as a leader with 1995’s No Hype Blues. He’s since released five more albums as a leader including the critically acclaimed "Broom Plays for Monk" and his album of original music "Upper West Side Story" in 2012 that hit #1 on the JazzWeek charts! He appeared on three albums with another group, the Deep Blue Organ Trio, which also toured with Steely Dan in past years.
Broom’s latest release with his trio is "My Shining Hour". In addition to performing around the country with his trio, Broom is active as a jazz educator and currently on faculty at DePaul University.
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