Full Circle (Artistry Music)
Brian Bromberg
Released March 25, 2016
DownBeat Five-Star Review
YouTube:
https://music.youtube.com/watch?v=_7f4JO7I2oc&list=OLAK5uy_lRWtMaYFZC2l_p9aT1S7gFFp5ZTA35UbE
Spotify:
About:
World-renowned acoustic and electric bassist Brian Bromberg’s first album since 2012, which he understandably describes as “the most important record of my career”, as it marks his triumphant return from a career-threatening back injury.
Like all of his work, ‘Full Circle’ features a stellar cast that includes trumpeter Arturo Sandoval; saxophonists Bob Sheppard, Kirk Whalum and Doug Webb; pianists Randy Waldman, Mitch Forman and Otmaro Ruíz; and percussionist Alex Acuña. The project also finds “the man that refuses to sit still” mixing styles from New Orleans funk and a legit jazz cover of Michael Jackson’s “Don’t Stop ‘Til You Get Enough” to Cubop – with a sizzling, relentless swing throughout. Bromberg indeed completes a full circle here, as he started his musical career on the drums and now returns to sit behind the kit. ‘Full Circle’ is pretty much a straight-ahead jazz date unlike anything of Brian’s career and yes, he does play a bunch of bass too. There is no guitar on this recording. All guitar-sounding tracks are played on a piccolo bass. Brian’s piccolo bass on this recording is an arched top hollow body bass guitar that is tuned to the register of a guitar, one full octave and a fourth above standard bass tuning.
Track Listing:
1. Jazz Me Blues (Tom Delaney) 2:24
2. Full Circle (Brian Bromberg) 8:49
3. Sneaky Pete (Brian Bromberg) 7:04
4. Saturday Night in the Village (Brian Bromberg) 5:28
5. Boomerang (Brian Bromberg) 9:56
6. Havana Nights (aka Havana Nagila) (Brian Bromberg) 8:36
7. Bernie’s Bop (Brian Bromberg) 8:12
8. Don’t Stop ‘Til You Get Enough (Michael Jackson) 5:59
9. Naw’lins! (Brian Bromberg) 8:24
10. Susumu’s Blues (Brian Bromberg) 5:51
11. Washington and Lee Swing (Traditional) 2:18
Personnel:
Brian Bromberg: acoustic bass, drums, nylon piccolo bass, electric piccolo bass
Howard Bromberg: drums (1, 11)
Alex Acuña: congas, percussion (3, 6, 8)
Charles Bisharat: violin (9)
Mitch Forman: accordion (9), Hammond B3 (3, 9), piano (2, 3)
Craig Fundyga: vibraphone (6, 10)
Nick Lane: trombone (3, 6, 8, 9)
Otmaro Ruíz: piano (6)
Arturo Sandoval: trumpet (6)
Jimmy Saunders: trumpet (1, 11)
Bob Sheppard: tenor saxophone (2)
Lee Thornburg: trumpet (3, 6, 8, 9)
Randy Waldman: piano (1, 4, 5, 7-9, 11)
Phil Washburn: trombone (1, 11)
Doug Webb: alto, tenor, soprano saxophones (3, 5-9)
Kirk Whalum; tenor saxophone (9)
Recorded at Be Squared Studios, Los Angeles, CA
Produced by Brian Bromberg
Engineers: Dustin Higgins , Tom McCauley , Brian Bromberg
Mixer: Tom McCauley
Photography: Raj Naik
Review:
Bassist Brian Bromberg’s first instrument was the drums. This album showcases a return to the traps, but—via overdubbing—doesn’t neglect his bass. And while the material may be close to something of a personal statement, he’s joined by some of the most gifted and hardcharging jazz players in Los Angeles for a galvanizing display of ensemble playing. The disc is replete with marvels of technical and musical engineering. Bromberg dubs his bass onto a 78-r.p.m. record of “Jazz Me Blues” and “Washington And Lee Swing” that his late father had recorded in Tucson, elevating the sides while staying in musical character. And on “Sneaky Pete,” what sounds like Wes Montgomery’s guitar is actually Bromberg’s piccolo bass—a neat trick. His original tunes are all attractive and swinging, so it’s no surprise that saxophonists Doug Webb and Bob Sheppard are brilliantly engaged throughout. Likewise, Arturo Sandoval’s sterling trumpet and Alex Acuña’s percussion make “Havana Nights” move along at a nice clip, while pianist Randy Waldman demonstrates a genre-encompassing style.
Bromberg’s triumph here is not that he makes a prodigious statement by himself, but that he excels among such righteous company.
Kirk Silsbee (Downbeat)
