Jazz guitar hero Bobby Broom continues to march forward while also looking back. His ten-song collaboration with the famed Chicago Jazz Orchestra, led by Artistic Director Jeff Lindberg, allows this renowned jazz orchestra to spread its wings while celebrating the great Wes Montgomery. Broom is a perfect choice as a guitar collaborator. Well known for his tone, taste, and economy, Broom soars on “West Coast Blues,” a Wes Montgomery composition arranged by Tom Garling, who brilliantly combines the orchestra’s sagger with Broom’s hefty leads. Garland also handles the arrangements for “Fried Pies,” another one of my favorites from the album. The Bernstein and Sondheim classic, “Somewhere,” is well-known and often covered. Yet, in this setting, the song, arranged by Alex Brown, is vividly new and striking. Pianist Dan Trudell weaves a delicate tapestry with the string section. At the same time, Broom’s hollow-body guitar handles the central theme with all the nuance and precision required from this classic composition. The Charlie Harrison arranged version of “Baubles, Bangles and Beads” is almost as equally powerful. The jaunty rhythm provided by Broom’s longtime drummer Kobie Watkins and bassist Dennis Carroll, seemly meshes with the powerful brass accomplyment. Broom uses the powerful accompaniment to ingrate a very satisfying solo before the equally effective tenor solo provides a change of mood. 

The album closer, “Boss City,” transcribed by Jeff Lindberg and arranged by Oliver Nelson, is a Wes Montgomery original that emphasizes the variety of arrangements and moods. The percussion, horns, and rhythm section add an unmistakable strut. The trumpet solo swings for the fences and inspires Broom to add additional gas to the fire.

‘More Amor A Tribute To Wes Montogomery’ was recorded at Philharmonic Studios in Vernon Hills, Illinois in 2023. Judging from these ten tracks, it must have been a magical session as each songs has a distinctive personally and each arranger appears unconstrained by what came before. Bobby Broom provers yet again why he’s one of the living legends of jazz guitar. 

‘More Amor – A Tribute to Wes Montgomery’ is out now on Chicago Jazz Orchestra Records.