Pianist Alan Broadbent was born in Auckland, New Zealand, and
in
1966, at the age of 19, received a Downbeat Magazine scholarship to
attend Berklee College of Music in Boston.
In 1969 he was asked to join Woody Herman’s band as his pianist and
arranger for 3 years.
In 1972 he settled in Los Angeles, beginning a musical relationship
with the legendary singer Irene Kral (no relation to Diana Krall). Soon
he was also invited into the studio scene as a pianist for Nelson
Riddle, David Rose, and Johnny Mandel.
In the early 90s he was asked to be a part of Natalie Cole’s famous
“Unforgettable” cd, and toured as her pianist and conductor. His
orchestral arrangement for her video, “When I Fall In Love”, won him
his first Grammy Award.
Shortly after, he became a member of Charlie Haden’s Quartet West,
touring the festivals of Europe, UK and the USA. While with this group
he won his second Grammy, an orchestral accompaniment written for
Shirley Horn of Leonard Bernstein’s “Lonely Town”.
As a soloist and with his jazz trio, Broadbent has been nominated for
Grammys twice for best instrumental performance. In 2007 he was awarded
the New Zealand Order of Merit.
Broadbent is Diana Krall’s conductor for her occasional orchestra
concerts, and her “Live in Paris” DVD. Recently he was the
arranger on Glenn Frey’s cd with strings, “After Hours”, and wrote six
string arrangements for Paul McCartney’s “Kisses On The Bottom” with
the London Symphony.
He has just returned from solo piano concerts in the UK, Poland, and
France.
His latest recording, "New York Notes", features Harvie S and Billy
Mintz.
Bassist Harvie S is a veteran of the jazz and Latin
music
scenes. Known
for his long standing duo project with jazz vocal legend Sheila
Jordan, he has recorded and toured with the cream of the crop:
Kenny Baron, Dexter Gordon, Stan Getz, Chet Baker, John Scofield, Steve
Kuhn, James
Weidman, Pat Martino, Mike Stern, and Paul Motian.
He appeared previously at Chez Hanny with "Plucky Strum", and the Roni
Ben-Hur/Harvie S Trio.