The Jazz Project by Jean-Keith Fagon

The Jazz Project

by: Jean-Keith Fagon

Choices •••

Brian Bromberg,

Brian Bromberg’s Choices album, originally released last year, was revisited by the master bass player and producer, with half of the record remixed and remastered. One track was removed and replaced with the radio hit, “Relentless,” a duet with sax star Richard Elliot that previously was only released on the Oasis Smooth Jazz Awards compilation CD. Featuring Mr. Bromberg’s nifty fret work on the piccolo bass, which sounds like a guitar, the title track of Choices is one of the hottest songs on the album.

Smooth jazz is often criticized as being light-weight, but not Bromberg’s efforts in the genre. His hooks are memorable and infectious yet the writing is sophisticated and substantive, and the productions are intricately textured. On Choices, which includes guest turns by Jeff Lorber, Brian Culbertson, David Benoit and Eric Marienthal, soulful R&B, funk, jazz, pop, and African rhythmscapes serve as the backdrop for Mr. Bromberg’s melodies. No guitars were used on the album, although you’ll swear otherwise.

In the midst of a prolific creative period, Bromberg, a partner in the new Artistry Music record label that now releases his music, has a full-slate of current projects that enable him to draw upon his vast experience. In addition to Choices, he’s releasing and reissuing four albums this year. Metal is a new rock fusion collection that was released in late February. Last month, It’s About Time, a traditional jazz record originally released in 1991, was reissued after being remixed and remastered. This summer, Mr. Bromberg’s 1993 self-titled contemporary jazz album, featuring Lorber, Lee Ritenour, Kirk Whalum and Toots Thielemans, will be reissued. Scheduled for release early next year, Mr. Bromberg has begun recording Wood II, the sequel to 2002’s critically acclaimed traditional jazz CD, Wood.

This summer, Mr. Bromberg is touring worldwide with contemporary jazz greats Ritenour, Patrice Rushen, Ernie Watts, and Alex Acuna. Recently he earned his first gold record for production work he did on Chris Botti’s When I Fall In Love album; this year he’s writing and producing songs for a number of other artists. Collaborating with Dean Guitars, he designed an innovative line of basses, B2, which will be in stores this summer. n

All CDs reviewed in this article are heard through B&W Nautilus Series speakers and ASW 4000 subwoofer, AudioControl C-1 Special Edition equalizer/analyzer and Rotel Preamp, amplifier and CD player.


The Jazz Project	Print This Page
by: Jean-Keith Fagon
Choices ••• Brian Bromberg, Brian Bromberg’s Choices album, originally released last year, was revisited by the master bass player and producer, with half of the record remixed and remastered. One track was removed and replaced with the radio hit, “Relentless,” a duet with sax star Richard Elliot that previously was only released on the Oasis Smooth Jazz Awards compilation CD. Featuring Mr. Bromberg’s nifty fret work on the piccolo bass, which sounds like a guitar, the title track of Choices is one of the hottest songs on the album. Smooth jazz is often criticized as being light-weight, but not Bromberg’s efforts in the genre. His hooks are memorable and infectious yet the writing is sophisticated and substantive, and the productions are intricately textured. On Choices, which includes guest turns by Jeff Lorber, Brian Culbertson, David Benoit and Eric Marienthal, soulful R&B, funk, jazz, pop, and African rhythmscapes serve as the backdrop for Mr. Bromberg’s melodies. No guitars were used on the album, although you’ll swear otherwise. In the midst of a prolific creative period, Bromberg, a partner in the new Artistry Music record label that now releases his music, has a full-slate of current projects that enable him to draw upon his vast experience. In addition to Choices, he’s releasing and reissuing four albums this year. Metal is a new rock fusion collection that was released in late February. Last month, It’s About Time, a traditional jazz record originally released in 1991, was reissued after being remixed and remastered. This summer, Mr. Bromberg’s 1993 self-titled contemporary jazz album, featuring Lorber, Lee Ritenour, Kirk Whalum and Toots Thielemans, will be reissued. Scheduled for release early next year, Mr. Bromberg has begun recording Wood II, the sequel to 2002’s critically acclaimed traditional jazz CD, Wood. This summer, Mr. Bromberg is touring worldwide with contemporary jazz greats Ritenour, Patrice Rushen, Ernie Watts, and Alex Acuna. Recently he earned his first gold record for production work he did on Chris Botti’s When I Fall In Love album; this year he’s writing and producing songs for a number of other artists. Collaborating with Dean Guitars, he designed an innovative line of basses, B2, which will be in stores this summer. n All CDs reviewed in this article are heard through B&W Nautilus Series speakers and ASW 4000 subwoofer, AudioControl C-1 Special Edition equalizer/analyzer and Rotel Preamp, amplifier and CD player.