Alan Broadbent w. Harvie S

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 the great 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, at which time he toured as her pianist and, a little while later, as her conductor. At this time he wrote an orchestral arrangement for her second video with her dad, "When I Fall In Love", which won him his first Grammy for "best orchestral arrangement accompanying a vocal". <br>Shortly after, he became a member of Charlie Haden's Quartet West, touring the festivals of Europe, UK and the USA. It was while with this group that 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 the company of such artists as Herbie Hancock, Sonny Rollins and Keith Jarrett. In 2007 he was awarded the New Zealand Order of Merit, an honor he holds in high regard. <br /><br />Harvie S is an award-winning bassist, educator, composer, arranger, and producer whose artistry has continually expanded the expressive possibilities of the bass. Throughout his remarkable career, he has challenged both himself and his peers, pushing the boundaries of contemporary jazz while maintaining a deeply personal musical voice. <br>His latest release, Bright Dawn (Origin Records), has received international acclaim and rave reviews, further solidifying his reputation as one of today's most creative and lyrical bassists. <br>His acclaimed duo recording with guitarist Sheryl Bailey, Departure (Whaling City Sound), was selected as DownBeat's Editorial Pick in August 2017 and received outstanding reviews for its intimate and adventurous interplay. His recording New York Notes, featuring the Alan Broadbent Trio (HighNote/Savant), remained on the JazzWeek national radio charts for 19 weeks. <br>A legendary figure in jazz, Harvie S has performed and recorded with many of the music's greatest artists, including Stan Getz, Chet Baker, Dexter Gordon, Tony Bennett, Ray Barretto, Michael Brecker, Jean-Pierre Rampal, Paquito D'Rivera, Gil Evans, Art Farmer, Mark Turner, Jim Hall, Stefon Harris, Billy Hart, Lee Konitz, Yusef Lateef, Dave Liebman, Joe Lovano, Pat Metheny, Paul Motian, Chico O'Farrill, Danilo Pérez, Maria Schneider, Zoot Sims, Toots Thielemans, Ray Vega, James Williams, Phil Woods, Louie Bellson, and countless others. <br>His extensive discography includes 20 albums as a leader, 15 as a co-leader, and more than 400 recordings as a sideman, collaborating with artists such as James Brown, Chick Corea, Kenny Barron, Tom Harrell, Sheila Jordan, Steve Kuhn, Pat Martino, Alan Broadbent, Wycliffe Gordon, David Matthews, Virginia Mayhew, James Weidman, Eddie Henderson, James Moody, Anat Cohen, Jack Wilkins, Mike Stern, John Scofield, Billy Taylor, and Grover Washington Jr., among many others. <br>His celebrated duo recording with the legendary Sheila Jordan, Yesterdays (HighNote Records), was named one of JazzTimes' 100 Best Recordings of 2012. A previously unreleased live performance by the Sheila Jordan–Harvie S Duo, recorded in Québec in 1983, is scheduled for release in November. <br>n 2013, Witchcraft, featuring jazz master Kenny Barron, reached No. 1 on the JazzWeek national radio charts. The recording followed their acclaimed 2009 duo album Now Was the Time, also released on HighNote/Savant. <br>Harvie S was selected as a United States Jazz Ambassador, touring throughout Europe and Southeast Asia. He has appeared on NPR's All Things Considered and Fresh Air, and his career is documented in Leonard Feather's Encyclopedia of Jazz, The New Grove Dictionary of Jazz, and the AllMusic Guide. He also composed the musical themes for the documentaries The Trumpet Kings, The Piano Legends, and John Coltrane. <br>His work has been featured in numerous international publications, including The New York Times, USA Today, DownBeat, JazzTimes, All About Jazz, Jazziz, The Japan Times, The Los Angeles Times, The New York Post, Daily News, Cadence, Jazz Improv, Coda (Canada), Swing Journal (Japan), Jazz Life (Japan), Jazz Forum (Poland), Jazz Hot (France), Jazz Podium (Germany), Jazz-it (Italy), and Hot House. <br>Harvie S has appeared at many of the world's premier jazz venues and festivals, including the Blue Note, Iridium, the Kennedy Center, the Montreal Jazz Festival, Monterey Jazz Festival, Detroit Jazz Festival, Berlin Jazz Festival, Molde Jazz Festival, Moscow Jazz Festival, JVC Jazz Festival, and countless concert halls and festivals throughout North America, Europe, Asia, and beyond. <br>Recognized worldwide for his lyrical sound, masterful technique, and fearless musical imagination, Harvie S continues to inspire audiences, fellow musicians, and students through his performances, recordings, compositions, and educational work. <br><br>some quotes of Bright Dawn <br><br>Harvie S—Bright Dawn (Origin). Bassist Harvie S sent along what has to be one of his finest album to date, and that’s saying something given his prolific recording schedule. The quartet features Harvie S (b), Peter Bernstein (g), Miki Hayama (p,Fender Rhodes) and Matt Wilson (d). Recorded in 2024, the album is in the pocket. Eight of the 10 tracks are Harvie originals, and all swing and sting. Harvie sounds fantastic, Peter’s guitar is happening, Miki’s piano is strong and beautiful, and Matt’s drums keep it all together. <br>Marc Meyers Jazz Wax March 28, 2026 <br>Bright Dawn is the latest winner in an incredibly deep discography—one including more than 20 previous leader dates, roughly the same amount as a co-leader, and hundreds of credits as a sideman—and it’s a clear evidentiary statement acknowledging a musical force of nature and constant: Harvie S is the radiant sun, steadily lighting the way at each new day. <br>Dan Bilawsky <br><br>"An imaginative, harmonic and rich effort, Harvie and company make every tune worth repeated listens." <br>Take effect <br>Few bassists in contemporary jazz combine diplomatic stature, compositional ambition and melodic authority as convincingly as <br>Harvie S....From its opening moments, the record establishes a language that is both contemporary and grounded in tradition. The melodic lines are expansive but never indulgent; rhythmic structures shift subtly, sometimes stretching across bar lines, sometimes tightening into sharply defined pulses. What distinguishes the writing is not complexity for its own sake,"but architectural control. Themes unfold patiently, then fracture into improvisational dialogue before reassembling with quiet inevitability. <br>The solo bass passages throughout the album are among its most arresting moments. In these spaces, Harvie S demonstrates a rare ability to balance technical command with narrative clarity. <br>....This is not merely a display of mastery. It is a reminder that jazz, at its most vital, is both story and structure ,emotion shaped by design. And here, Harvie S shapes both with unflinching precision and quiet authority. <br><br>MUSIC REVIEW BY THIERRY DE CLEMENSAT, PARIS-MOVE 5 Stars <br>"Bright Dawn" is an album that convinces through its naturalness and solidity - a work that surprises without striving for innovation at all costs, instead reaffirming, with intelligence and taste, the enduring vitality of contemporary jazz. <br><br>With "Bright Dawn", he confidently reasserts his identity as a bandleader, composer and outstanding instrumentalist. The album is marked by a notable variety of musical settings, all held together by a clear and coherent vision that never feels unfocused. From the very first bars, Harvie S's technical command is evident - he moves effortlessly between fast pizzicato passages and arco playing, while remaining an impeccable accompanist throughout. <br><br>MUSIC REVIEW BY FRANCESCO SPEZIA, UK JAZZ Bassist extraordinaire Harvie S does some delightful interplay with his adroit team Peter Bernstein/g, Miki Hayama/p and Matt Wilson/dr on this collection of mostly originals........A luminous bright dawn. <br>MUSIC REVIEW BY GEORGE W HARRIS, JAZZ WEEKLY <br><br>He is also one of the most respected and sought after bass voices in the jazz music arena......... <br>Every arrangement and every song included in this project is beautifully played and spotlights Harvie S as a masterful bassist and engaging composer. It brought joy to my listening room. <br>MUSIC REVIEW BY DEE DEE MCNEIL, MAKING A SCENE <br><br>His new album, Bright Dawn, has Harvie leading a quartet, including guitarist Peter Bernstein, pianist Miki Hayama and drummer Matt Wilson. You hear a reflection of Harvie's time in Cuba, a reimagination of a Bob Dorough classic, a Chick Corea nugget, alongside some originals, guaranteed to delight. <br>WBGO <br>I have long admired bassist Harvie S......A long time professor of jazz bass and ensembles at the Manhattan School of Music he has a big phat sound that makes you feel as if you have arrived home..... <br>Chick Corea’s ‘Humpty Dumpty’ is interpreted on Bright Dawn. Harvie S’s version is both exuberant and vital.....it will put a smile on your face and make you understand the bass role in a group setting <br>Marlbank