Since 1985, acclaimed bassist and producer Brian Bromberg has been confounding the music industry with an ever-increasing catalogue of straight ahead and contemporary jazz offerings that are often driven by specific sounds and themes. His latest project, ‘The Magic Of Moonlight’, is his 27th in all and with the help of an A-List of contemporary jazz talent he delivers eleven all original high end tracks that are right up there with the best that the genre has offered all year.
‘The Magic Of Moonlight’ is quickly up and running with the brass enriched high-octane title cut that includes a notable contribution from sax-man Everette Harp.
Harp is also around for the sophisticated mid tempo ‘Last Day Of Summer’ while when Bromberg eases down the tempo for the gently meandering ‘The Third Child’, Harp’s contribution is just as good.
Later, when sax duties pass to Gary Meek his interplay with Bromberg on the hugely descriptive ‘Just Another Beautiful Day’ is a joy to behold. It has already become an instant Smooth Jazz Therapy favorite and talking of favorites ‘Nico’s Groove’ is right up there with the best that ‘The Magic Of Moonlight’ has to offer. The tune was written for smooth jazz guitarist Nick Colionne, who passed away on New Year’s Day, 2022 at the age of just 55. Colionne had worked with Bromberg on numerous occasions and Brian has always been generous in his support of his friend and colleague.
‘The Orient Express’ benefits from the input of violinist Charlie Bisharat and sitar player Grant Geissman and although the funky ‘So, You Think You’re All That?’ owes much to the muted trumpet of Lin Rountree it is the uplifting (and seven plus minutes long) ‘In The Hands Of God’ that turns out to be a fitting way to close out the collection.
Yet in this amalgam of standouts the two tracks co-written with his nephew Zach Bromberg (who also handles keyboard programming) really are worthy of note. First off ‘A New Dawn’ is beauty personified while just as magical is ‘Bedtime Story’. As if designed to send a tingle down the listener’s spine this one is nothing short of awesome. ‘The Pink Moment’ is another turned down tour de force but in the final analysis ‘The Magic Of Moonlight’ (which Bromberg wrote in only two weeks) is a brilliant showcase for this magnificent exponent of contemporary jazz that is at times melodic and at others downright funky.
Smooth Jazz Therapy is indebted to regular reader David Valle of Dallas TX for introducing us to this outstanding piece of music.