Versatile might be the first word that comes to mind when describing bassist Brian Bromberg. That applies to both his arsenal of basses and the ways in which he deploys them: Easy listening, bebop, fusion, smooth jazz, pop, Latin, classical – he’s done it all. He’s as likely to pull out his piccolo bass (okay, one of them, acoustic or electric) to stand in for guitar and create stunning lead lines channeling Jimi Hendrix or Antonio Carlos Jobim as he is to hold down the bottom end for Michael Bublé or Richard Smith’s LA Chillharmonic.
Bromberg started as a drummer, like his father and brother, before becoming in his words the world’s worst cellist. His school orchestra director suggested he switch to bass. Since then, Brian Bromberg has become one of the most respected studio players, and is also renowned for his producing/engineering skills. He’s likewise led numerous efforts, including a fusion feast (2005’s Metal), a tribute to bass godhead Jaco Pastorius (2002’s Jaco features a cover shot emulating Pastorius), and various other smooth, acoustic and traditional recordings.
Which is to say that a conversation with Bromberg is likely to veer all over the musical map. And it did, as he discussed his love for virtually all the music he heard growing up in a musical household, from jazz masters to the Beatles, Jefferson Airplane and Joni Mitchell. “It’s impossible to pick three [albums that shaped my career], especially for someone like me. I like all kinds of stuff,” he said in the beginning of the interview. True to form, Brian Bromberg discussed multiple albums, though only actually chose two.
MILES DAVIS – ‘FOUR’ AND MORE (1966): From Avery Fisher Hall in 1964. The rhythm section is just burning. [Drummer] Tony [Williams] is the most amazing thing on it. The ride cymbal pattern is mind-blowing. I just love that. [Davis’ previous album] My Funny Valentine [was the first of two consecutive] live records [from the same show]. It was just a great era. I was young. In high school, one of my favorite records was a Sarah Vaughan album. John Gianelli was playing really beautiful lines.
CHICK COREA AND RETURN TO FOREVER – LIGHT AS A FEATHER (1973): With Stanley Clarke, Joe Farrell – I was a teen for all this stuff. They all shaped my love for jazz and music. Stravinsky, Tower of Power, Mahler, there are so many different things. My dad shared some of the same technique as Buddy Rich. To this day, nobody kicks a band like Buddy did.
WHAT I’M LISTENING TO NOW: Bob Gross. I’m one of the weird ones. I did three albums during the lockdown [the holiday project Celebrate Me Home and the recent A Little Driving Music will be followed by Bromberg Plays Hendrix, all of which he recorded, remixing and remastering from his secluded home studio on 20 acres in Ventura County]. I’m so busy in it, when I’m done … I get back to the real world. I just produced an album for Florida pianist Bob Gross. It’s a nice record. We’ll finish the mix and master it. It’s electric and acoustic.
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