A member of the community of musicians that are part of a great tradition of jazz that continues to live and operate in Chicago, was the tragically unheralded guitarist named Roland Faulkner. I first met Roland in much the same surreptitious manner. It was the latter part of the 1980s and I was on an […]
It’s no secret that Tennessee is home to a lot of great music. Music fans around the world know about the blues on Beale Street in Memphis and the rich history of country music in the Music City, but jazz in Knoxville? People in the broader world may know that we are home to the […]
Renowned jazz guitarist Bobby Broom has been appointed assistant professor of music in the Northern Illinois University School of Music. He will teach jazz guitar and improvisation in the school’s Jazz Studies Program. Born on New York City’s Upper West Side, Broom took up guitar at the age of 12 and just five years later […]
I’ve had the good pleasure of catching Chicago-based jazz guitarist Bobby Broom live a number times, including no less than three shows in one year when he opened for Steely Dan. I’ve always been amazed by Broom’s tone, economy and arranging prowess. On his current release Soul Fingers, all of these elements are evident – and much […]
***JUNE 2019*** > Bobby Broom Organi-Sation featuring w/ Ben Paterson, Hammond organ and Kobie Watkins, drums @ Jazz Showcase – Chicago, IL – June 6, 7, 8, 9 – Mark your calendars Chicago! The Bobby Broom Organi-Sation will be recording these performances for an upcoming live release. June 6th, 2019 – 8PM + 10PM – [BUY […]
Modernity and Trends in Jazz Music This subject arises from time to time and often enough (in my many years as a jazz educator) for me to stop for a moment to reflect and share my thoughts about it. I was so glad to read the following post from my friend and colleague, alto saxophone […]
Downbeat Magazine – February 2019 Edition – Soul Fingers Review
As far as I knew, I’d never made it onto the DownBeat Readers Poll list for guitar players, … …until a few days ago, as I was scouring the internet for an instructional article of mine that they published in 2008, when an interesting link appeared. Curiously, I clicked it and was shocked to see […]
Last year, I wrote a Take Five piece dedicated to Thelonious Monk Tribute Albums That Aren’t Terrible. Add Bobby Broom’s latest record, Plays For Monk, to that list. Raised in New York, Broom eventually settled in Chicago, where he’s now seen as a local luminary. Being Sonny Rollins’ guitarist will get you there, as will playing every Wednesday (when […]
I was going through some old desktop files and found this interview from 2006 or ’07. At that time, the magazine it was for was called, JazzImprov. The interview is of the tl:dr (too long, didn’t read) variety, but contains so many nuggets that I’ve decided to post it here so that those of you […]
