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Bobby Broom: Keyed Up

By Jack Bowers
November 3, 2022
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On his latest album, Keyed Up, the well-traveled and well-respected guitarist

Bobby Broom

guitar
b.1961

" data-original-title="" title="">Bobby Broom pays tribute to pianists "who have been an important part of [his] musical life." As he writes, ..."many great pianists who didn't need to include my six-string version of what they could already do harmonically and melodically saw fit to include me. Perhaps, among other things, this is my way of saying 'thank you' to them."

Another way to thank them may have been to include their names as composers somewhere on the album. Instead, one has to read an accompanying press release to learn that the honorees include

Bud Powell

piano
1924 - 1966

" data-original-title="" title="">Bud Powell,

McCoy Tyner

piano
1938 - 2020

" data-original-title="" title="">McCoy Tyner,

James Williams

piano
1951 - 2004

" data-original-title="" title="">James Williams,

Mulgrew Miller

piano
1955 - 2013

" data-original-title="" title="">Mulgrew Miller,

Erroll Garner

piano
1921 - 1977

" data-original-title="" title="">Erroll Garner,

Chick Corea

piano
1941 - 2021

" data-original-title="" title="">Chick Corea,

Horace Silver

piano
1928 - 2014

" data-original-title="" title="">Horace Silver and

Herbie Hancock

piano
b.1940

" data-original-title="" title="">Herbie Hancock who collectively wrote nine of the album's ten numbers (including two takes of Tyner's "Blues on the Corner"). In spite of that, their names are nowhere to be found on the album's jacket or playlist, nor in Broom's adulatory liner notes.

The session's other tune, "Scoochie," was written by trumpeter

Booker Ervin

saxophone, tenor
1930 - 1970

" data-original-title="" title="">Booker Ervin for pianist

Horace Parlan

piano
1931 - 2017

" data-original-title="" title="">Horace Parlan's 1961 Blue Note album, On the Spur of the Moment. So, pianists were in some way involved in the genesis of every number. Yet another pianist, Justin Dillard, is a member of Broom's efficient quartet, and he doubles from time to time on the Hammond SKX organ. Bassist

Dennis Carroll

bass

" data-original-title="" title="">Dennis Carroll and drummer

Kobie Watkins

drums
b.1975

" data-original-title="" title="">Kobie Watkins help keep the rhythm in sync.

Broom opens with a bouncy reading of Powell's "Hallucinations" (renamed "Budo" once

Miles Davis

trumpet
1926 - 1991

" data-original-title="" title="">Miles Davis endorsed it), moving next to Miller's meditative "Second Thoughts" and Corea's melodious "Humpty Dumpty." Williams' easygoing "Soulful Bill" and Silver's quirky "Quicksilver" (played a tad slower than most other versions) precede the venerable "Misty," which Broom was reluctant to include until Carroll reminded him, "It's by Erroll Garner!." Hancock's "Driftin,'" a medium-tempo charmer which belies its name, leads to the first reading of "Blues on the Corner," Ervin's amiable "Scoochie" and "Blues on the Corner," Take 2, which closes the studio recording.

Broom's guitar is bright and nimble, and his teammates carry out their assignments handily and without error. In sum, an above- average but rather less than special album whose astute choice of material (and composers) serves to enhance its charm.

Learn more about our star rating system

Personnel

Bobby Broom

guitar

Dennis Carroll

bass

Kobie Watkins

drums

Justin Dillard

piano

Album information

Title: Keyed Up | Year Released: 2022 | Record Label: Steele Records

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