Bobby Broom: Stand

Glenn Astarita

Senior Contributor since 1997

Longtime contributor to AAJ and Downbeat, Jazz Review, EjazzNews, Radio DirectX.

Recent articles (1,629 total)

Published: November 1, 2001

The talented and well traveled New York City-reared, and “Berklee School of Music” graduate, Bobby Broom offers a stylish program consisting of those oft-heard pop hits of the 60’s and 70’s on Stand. With this newly released guitar trio outing, the artist’s dark toned hollow-bodied electric guitar sound, and agile lines cast an intriguing aura atop these familiar pop tunes of recent yore. Ultimately, Broom garners fine support from bassist, Dennis Carroll, and drummer, Dana Hall as he executes decisively personal and undeniably witty spins on “The Animals”’ classic, “House of the Rising Sun.” and “The Box Tops”’, “The Letter.” Meanwhile, they transform “Frankie Valli & the Four Seasons,”’ “Can’t Take My Eyes Off Of You,” into an up-tempo bop/swing vamp. Hence, history dictates that jazz and pop often clash, yet not here.

Broom gushes melodically tinged 16th notes during “The Turtles”’ “Happy Together,” whereas the band renders a mid-tempo relaxed swing groove during the “Mamas & Papas,” “Monday, Monday.” In fact, this recording might convert some of those who may not ordinarily identify with the jazz vernacular, thanks to the band’s cool, hip, and downright shrewdly engineered inventions. Amazingly, the musicians rework a bunch of relatively simplistic top 10 hits into a series of gleaming, jazz-based gems. Vigorously recommended.

Premonition Records

Bobby Broom

Track Listing: 1. Stand 2. House Of The Rising Sun 3. Come Back As A Flower 4. I Can See Clearly Now 5. Can

Personnel: Bobby Broom: guitar

Record Label: Premonition Records
Style: Straight-ahead/Mainstream