Alan Broadbent

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."

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 Haden

• Quartet West (Verve, 1986)
• In Angel City (Verve, 1988)
• Haunted Heart (Verve, 1991)
• Always Say Goodbye (Verve, 1993)
• Now Is the Hour (Verve, 1995)
• The Art of the Song (Verve, 1999)
• American Dreams (Verve, 2002) (conductor/arranger)

External links

• New England Jazz History Database - Audio Interviews
• Official website