Home » Jazz Articles » Album Review » Cole Broderick: In a Dream

Cole Broderick: In a Dream

By Jim Santella
March 26, 2006
View read count

Solo piano works well when it's creative. Since this album comes from the mind of a veteran pianist, we get a warm performance that settles down comfortably with ballad thoughts and reflective moments.

While developing his own voice, Cole Broderick felt the influence of Oscar Peterson and Andre Previn. He likes to incorporate jazz and classical music into his performances. The Upstate New York-based pianist leads a fine quartet that has garnered attention with his previous recordings. In a Dream is Broderick's first solo recording.

On his up-tempo numbers, the pianist's two-handed action reflects a shuffling rhythmic cadence. The comfortable action, timeless in its appearance, resolves quickly. Broderick's linear message travels from point A to point B at a leisurely pace, however, and takes no creative detours. The pianist's slower, dreamy numbers rise and fall gently with eddies of harmony. Passion and understanding fall readily into line as he massages each ballad with care.

Say What! interjects a little funk, while "Mai Lei strolls like a timeless spiritual. "Francis Fudge whips up a batch of the blues, while "Jenny drifts gaily over fields of clover and alfalfa. Broderick's songs offer variety and a pleasant outlook. His dreams come packaged with built-in passion and understanding. In a Dream is a reflective album that comes from the heart.

Track Listing

If It Ain

Personnel

Cole Broderick

Cole Broderick: piano.

Album information

Title: In a Dream | Year Released: 2006 | Record Label: Self Produced

PREVIOUS / NEXT

Statements
< Previous

Not Afraid Of Color
Next >

Support All About Jazz

All About Jazz has been a pillar of jazz since 1995, championing it as an art form and, more importantly, supporting the musicians who make it. Our enduring commitment has made "AAJ" one of the most culturally important websites of its kind, read by hundreds of thousands of fans, musicians and industry figures every month.

Go Ad Free!

To maintain our platform while developing new means to foster jazz discovery and connectivity, we need your help. You can become a sustaining member for as little as $20 and in return, we'll immediately hide those pesky ads plus provide access to future articles for a full year. This winning combination vastly improves your AAJ experience and allow us to vigorously build on the pioneering work we first started in 1995. So enjoy an ad-free AAJ experience and help us remain a positive beacon for jazz by making a donation today.