Alan Broadbent


Alan Leonard Broadbent is a New Zealand jazz pianist, arranger, and composer known for his work with artists such as Sue Raney, Charlie Haden, Woody Herman, Chet Baker, Irene Kral, Sheila Jordan, Natalie Cole, Warne Marsh, Bud Shank, and many others.

Early life

Born in Auckland in 1947, Broadbent studied piano and music theory in his own country, but in 1966 went to the United States to study at the Berklee College of Music.

Later life and career

During the 1990s, Broadbent recorded on Natalie Cole's album Unforgettable... with Love, then became her pianist and conductor for the tour. His arrangement for her video "When I Fall in Love" won the Grammy Award for Best Orchestral Arrangement Accompanying a Vocal. During the 1980s and 1990s, he recorded with Charlie Haden's Quartet West. Around this time he won a Grammy Award for his arrangement of Leonard Bernstein's "Lonely Town" that was recorded by Shirley Horn. He wrote arrangements for Glenn Frey's album After Hours and for Paul McCartney's album Kisses on the Bottom. He has worked as conductor for Diana Krall.
In the 2008 Queen's Birthday Honours, Broadbent was appointed a Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit, for services to jazz.
In the November 2013 issue of Down Beat magazine, his solo piano album Heart to Heart received a five-star rating.

Discography

As leader/co-leader

As sideman or arranger

With Natalie Cole
  • Unforgettable... with Love
  • Take a Look
  • Holly and Ivy
  • Stardust
  • Ask a Woman Who Knows
  • Still Unforgettable
With Michael Feinstein
  • Isn't It Romantic
  • The M.G.M. Album
  • Such Sweet Sorrow
With Charlie Haden
  • Quartet West
  • In Angel City
  • Haunted Heart
  • Always Say Goodbye
  • Now Is the Hour
  • The Art of the Song
  • The Private Collection
  • American Dreams
  • Sophisticated Ladies
With Scott Hamilton
  • Scott Hamilton with Strings
  • Christmas Love Song
  • Late Night Christmas Eve
With Woody Herman
  • Hits of Woody Herman
  • Brand New
  • Woody
  • Giant Steps
  • Thundering Herd
  • Children of Lima
  • Herd at Montreux
  • Woody and Friends at the Monterey Jazz Festival
With Diana Krall
With Irene Kral
  • Where Is Love?
  • Kral Space
  • Gentle Rain
With Shelly Manne
  • Double Jazz Quartet at Carmelo's
  • Double Jazz Quartet at Carmelo's Vol. 2
With Jane Monheit
With Lee Ritenour
  • Stolen Moments
  • Wes Bound
With Bud Shank
  • Crystal Comments
  • Serious Swingers
With others