ALAN BROADBENT (1947-2008)

Piano, composer, arranger

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Born in Auckland, New Zealand, composer, arranger and jazz pianist Alan Broadbent began performing professionally at the age of 15, following classical studies. In 1966 he received a scholarship to attend Boston's Berklee College of Music, where he studied composition and arranging. During his tenure at Berklee, Broadbent performed regularly in Boston while traveling on weekends to New York where he studied improvisation with Lennie Tristano.

Completing studies at Berklee in 1969, Broadbent began a three-year tour as arranger and pianist for bandleader Woody Herman, earning Downbeat Magazine's "Best Arranger" Award in 1972 and two Grammy Award nominations for "Children of Lima" (1975) and "Aja" (1978).

Settling in Los Angeles, Broadbent worked with such notable musicians as Nelson Riddle (his pianist for 10 yrs.), David Rose, Johnny Mandel and Henry Mancini. In addition to his own recording projects, Broadbent has arranged and conducted Mel Torme's "Tribute to Bing Crosby"( a Grammy nomination for best arrangement accompanying a vocal "Without a Word of Warning"1995), Scott Hamilton's "With Strings", Marian McPartland's "Silent Pool" and Natalie Cole's "Take A Look", "Holly and Ivy" and "Stardust".

In 1997 he won a Grammy for his arrangement of "When I Fall In Love" for Natalie Cole. In 2000 he earned his second Grammy Award for best arrangement accompanying a vocal for "Lonely Town", which he wrote for Charlie Haden's Quartet West featuring Shirley Horn and strings. Whether working as a composer, arranger, conductor or pianist, he is widely respected and admired.

For more go to his biographyhttp://www.allaboutjazz.com/

See you tomorrow to discover another "Born in April" jazz artist!