For the past weekend, pianist Alan Broadbent has taken up a residency at The Moss Theatre, leading a trio to support vocalist Tierney Sutton on Friday, sticking with the standard trio format on Saturday, and for a Sunday matinee, leading a “Threesome” with guitarist Larry Koonse and bassist Harvie S. The 90 minute Sunday concert was a fitting Father’s Day present, as Broadbent stated, “Music is able to transcend generations and unite us.”
And which Broadbent did, using material from multiple generations and styles during the set. Opening up with the bebop standard “Au Privave” the trio mixed three part unison lines with pairs of duets between all three artists, ricocheting off each other like a pinball machine in search of an extra game. Joking that the joy of jazz is “never playing a song the same way once,” Broadbent opened up “What Is This Thing Called Love” with a gentle rhapsodic solo which eventually extrapolated into rich harmonic directions as Koonse pulled apart the melody like Salt Water Taffy before bass and piano closed out the piece in misty abstraction. Similarly, “Invitation” was a mix of sophisticated swing and dark hues that veered around foreboding corners.
A contemplative and elegant “Body and Soul” was highlighted by Koonses quietude of an aria, while the lovely lilt of “Ceora” had Broadbent adding chiming percussion to the gracious sway of Harvie S and Larry Koonse’s sensous samba.
Broadbent even modernized pieces from past centuries, taking Chopin’s “Prelude Opus 28 #8” and joking that he “took out the hard bits” while still retaining the classy elegiac atmosphere that turned into a mournful noir mood that would have fit in well to a movie with Edmund O’Brien. Broadbent’s subtle swing was at its most ebullient with a Lisztian intro to the romantic “Hello My Lovely” as Koonse coaxed the melody along with relaxed strums.
Ending the show with a peppy “I Love You” in honor of all the fathers present, particularly Larry Koonse’s famed guitarist of a dad, Broadbent encored with a solo composed by the father of all jazz fans, Duke Ellington, with a take of “Reflections” that literally reflected all that is impressive about Broadbent’s pianistic style, taste and career.
As one who came with his daughter for a Father’s Day “date,” the evening was a true gift to the ears and heart.
Upcoming shows sponsored by the Jazz Bakery include Gilbert Castellanos 06/21, Kenny Garrett 06/22, Steve Cotter Trio 06/23, David Murray 06/28, Eric Alexander 06/29 and Dwight Trible 06/30