Bob Brookmeyer: Biography

Bob Brookmeyer
Born:
Dec 19, 1929 in Kansas City, MO

Genres:
Classical Music, Jazz Music, Big Band Jazz Music, Bop Jazz Music, Fusion Jazz Music, Cool Jazz Music

Decades Active:
1950's|1960's|1970's|1980's|1990's|2000's


Artistic Quality
High
Cultural Impact
High
Popularity
High



Bob Brookmeyer has long been the top valve trombonist in jazz and a very advanced arranger whose writing is influenced by modern classical music. He started out as a pianist in dance bands but was on valve trombone with Stan Getz (1953). He gained fame as a member of the Gerry Mulligan quartet (19541957), was part of the unusual Jimmy Giuffre Three of 19571958 (which consisted of Giuffre's reeds, Brookmeyer's valve trombone, and Jim Hall's guitar), and then rejoined Mulligan as arranger and occasional player with his Concert Jazz Band. Brookmeyer, who was a strong enough pianist to hold his own on a twopiano date with Bill Evans, occasionally switched to piano with Mulligan. He coled a parttime quintet with Clark Terry (19611966), was an original member of the Thad Jones/Mel Lewis orchestra (19651967), and became a busy studio musician. Brookmeyer was fairly inactive during much of the 1970s, but made a comeback in the late '70s with some very advanced arrangements for the Mel Lewis band (of which he became musical director for a time). Brookmeyer moved to Europe, where he continually writes and occasionally records on his distinctive valve trombone, issuing Old Friends in 1998. New Works Celebration appeared a year later, and in 2000 Brookmeyer issued Together.

- Scott Yanow, All Music Guide

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