While growing up, my only real musical training was on the clarinet, but as an adult I decided I wanted to learn to play the piano — it did not go well. I kept hammering at it and was finally able to get to the point where I could play some simple melodies, but I could never get past the requirement that my eyes (and brain) were expected to continuously follow and interpret two separate sets of musical notes - one for each hand - at the same time. And if that wasn't hard enough, my feet also had to do their thing down on the pedals. Sheesh.
Given that experience, it's not surprising I have a lot of admiration for skilled
pianists, and one of the best is the subject of this review, Alan Broadbent, who has just released a new album titled Every Time I Think Of You. Originally out of New Zealand, the grammy-nominated Broadbent has been around the US music scene for over thirty years, and his background includes stints as a writer, performer, and arranger with musicians as varied as Woody Herman, Nelson Riddle, Henry Mancini and Natalie Cole. (And he lists among his influences her father, Nat.)
As a sideman, a soloist, or with his own group, he's appeared on a number of albums through the years, and his newest one is an equal mix of standards and original works. There is quite a bit of diversity among these songs, and the album has been described as being "steeped in emotion and romanticism," but it's simpler to just say it sounds very, very good. He's joined by the other members of his trio, bassist Brian Bromberg and drummer Kendall Kay, and has added the Tokoyo Strings to give a lush, full sound to the music, especially the title tune.
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Article comments
1 - godoggo
I'd also mention Charlie Haden's Quartet West as a pretty significant gig.