Search - Bobby Broom :: Song and Dance

THE WONDERFUL GUITAR WIZARDRY OF BOBBY BROOM & HIS TRIO

RBSProds | Deep in the heart of Texas | 04/01/2007

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Five BLAZING Stars!! Master guitarist Bobby Broom has cranked up a winner of a guitar trio recording. With longtime Broom associates bassist Dennis Carroll and his supple stylings and Kobie Watkins' muscular, inventive drumming, this is a tight musical trio that knows where it's going and there is lots of musical ESP between the players. There are some marvelous moments awaiting the listener on this CD. With song choices like the Beatles "Can't Buy Me Love", the Roberta Flack & Donny Hathaway anthem "Where Is The Love?", the Carpenters & Luther Vandross-associated "Superstar", the Jim Webb-written and Glen Campbell-vocalized "Wichita Lineman", and Charlie Chaplin's "Smile", some might be expecting 'smooth jazz' versions of these songs. Surprise, it's hard-core jazz all the way! Bobby is smoking these themes from 'jump street', doing deep explorations loaded with fiery runs and lush, dense chords, his guitar totally and beautifully supported with just the drums and bass. Plus he adds in three of his own very nice compositions for good measure as springboards for some great improvisations.



The Pieces De Resistance, the best of the best, begin with the "Little Rascals Theme (Good Old Days)", an odd choice by Bobby that may be influenced somewhat by his being a longtime associate of Sonny Rollins, who is noted for these types of choices and the challenges they present. Bobby lays into the song, stretching and compressing the theme, and turns it into a pure jazz experience, wonderfully deconstructing the music and it's rhythmic underpinning. He creates a new hip vision of the song that we have heard so often. And then he dishes up a surprising coda. A GREAT performance with wonderful support from Carroll and Watkins. "Where Is The Love?" is taken at a slower bluesy pace than the original version, but it becomes a fiery ballad with some great, memorable guitar runs. The Beatles' "Can't Buy Me Love" becomes absolutely hip with a dash of funk and great solos from each member and one really nice section with just Bobby and the drums. "Wichita Lineman" gets a latin treatment that totally works, making me wonder why no one ever thought of this approach before. Great performance! "Superstar" gets a beautiful treatment, full of dense chords and mellow runs. "You And The Night And The Music" is flat out marvelous, finishing with a flourish. If you love great jazz, and the guitar in particular, this is a great listening experience and solidifies Mr Broom's place in the front rank of jazz guitarists. And it gets better with each listen. Highly Recommended. Five BLAZING Stars!!"