Brian Bromberg’s Unapologetically Funky Big Bombastic Band With Special Guest Michael Paulo

Date and Time

Thursday, Jan 23, 2025 7:30pm - 10pm

Location

Details

Brian was born in Tucson Arizona. He grew up in a family of musicians and artists. His father and brother played the drums. With all that music around the house, and drums all over the place, it was natural for Brian to start playing the drums as well. At two and a half years old, he was beating up the furniture and banging on anything that didn’t move. After some years of playing and practicing, Brian began his professional career as a drummer at the age of thirteen. In elementary and Jr.High School, Brian also played the cello. That was one instrument that Brian did not feel very comfortable playing. One day in orchestra class at jr. high, the orchestra director came over to Brian and said, hey Brian, you see that big bass over there in the corner? You know that nobody is playing it. Don’t you want to play that big cool bass over there? You see, the orchestra director had a plan. He thought that having one bad bass player was better than not having one at all. That was his way of getting Brian to stop trying to cut his cello in half!

That day was a blessing in disguise. Brian didn’t realize that he had the gift for melody as well as rhythm. With his drumming background, and all this new melody available to him from the bass, Brian knew that this was going to be his path.

From ages fourteen to eighteen, Brian locked himself up in a room and practiced day and night. Testing out of high school early and devoting all his time to music, for the next few years Brian played every type of gig imaginable. Quite often he would play five to seven nights a week with several different bands.

Brian’s first big break came in 1979 when Marc Johnson, the wonderful bassist with the great jazz pianist Bill Evans, heard Brian play. Several months later while on tour, Marc ran into legendary jazz saxophonist Stan Getz. Stan was looking for a new bass player and asked Marc if he knew any new young players. Marc told Stan about Brian and he then auditioned for Stan and joined the Stan Getz quintet in December of 1979. At only 19, he spent nearly a year touring the world with Stan and his band.

Since then, as a session bassist Brian has performed on many major Hollywood movie soundtracks and television shows, and has toured, performed and or recorded with some of the greatest artists of our time including: Andrea Bocell,i Andy Williams, Anita O’ Day, Arturo Sandoval, Carmen McCrea, Donny Osmond, Dudley Moore, Eddie Harris, Elvis Costello, Freddie Hubbard, George Benson, George Duke, Gerry Mulligan, Kenny G, Kenny Rankin, Lee Ritenour, Les McCann, Lionel Hampton, Lou Rawls, Roy Hargrove,Sarah Vaughn, Shirley Horn, Sonny Stitt, Stan Getz, Stanley Turrentine, Steven Bishop, Steven Tyler( (Aerosmith), and Sting

Brian’s solo career began with the release of his first album, “A New Day” in 1986. Since that first album Brian has released over 20 solo projects globally and got his first Grammy Nomination in 2007 for his chart-topping CD “Downright Upright.”

As a solo artist and independent record producer, Brian has produced more than 13 top-10 hits, many top-5 hits, and three #1 hit songs, as well as selling over a quarter million albums as a jazz bassist!

Brian certainly has evolved into a very respected voice in the music industry. From smashing through the barriers of how the bass is SUPPOSED to be played, cutting edge bass design, to being recognized as a world-class producer, songwriter, and session musician. He keeps pushing the envelope to become the best that he can be and to keep pushing the boundaries on the acoustic and electric bass.

MICHAEL PAULO

One of the most versatile and cosmopolitan saxophonists in pop, soul and contemporary jazz for nearly 35 years, Michael Paulo has added his distinct saxpertise to a virtual who’s who of artists, including Al Jarreau (Paulo’s longest-term touring association), James Ingram, No. 1 Smooth Jazz Trumpeter and guitarist Rick Braun and Peter White, Oleta Adams, Kenny Loggins, Patti Austin, Jeffrey Osborne, Jeff Lorber, David Benoit, Carl Anderson, Bobby Caldwell, Johnny Mathis and more. Another Milestone in Michael’s Career is his recent appearance on a previously unreleased Miles Davis record that was recorded in 1986 The unheard tracks were recorded prior to his release TUTU. The record was released Sept 6th 2020 and reached the number 1 status on the Billboard Jazz charts in its first week.

Paulo grew up in a musical family (his father a pianist, his mother a singer, his siblings all playing instruments) and though he came upon the sax relatively late at age 15, he quickly became first horn player in his high school band and was playing professional gigs around the islands within a few years. Rather than accept a scholarship to North Texas State, he chose a more adventurous road by joining Hawaiian pop/rock band Kalapana, which had some success on the mainland but was most popular in Japan. After playing regularly and recording on all four of Kalapana’s albums from 1975 through 1979, Paulo recorded a solo album for Japanese release on Trio records. In addition to exposing him to the Japanese jazz audience, Tats in the Rainbow gave him the opportunity to work with legendary pianist Herbie Hancock.

Paulo moved to Los Angeles in 1981 and quickly established himself by playing with percussionist Ray Armondo and a local R&B outfit featuring members of Rufus. Two years later, he caught his big break when Al Jarreau hired him for his touring band. The young saxman became an integral part of the Jarreau experience while touring the world for the next decade. Paulo also gained international recognition as a result of his work on Jarreau’s famed “Live in London” release.

In 1988 paulo recorded his first Major solo release One Passion on MCA records

which was critically accliamed as one of the most influential recordings in contemporary Jazz. He has since released nine solo projects with the latest entitled “Songs” a compilation of his compositions over the years and featuring two new tracks.

Michael Paulo’s reputation as the no. 1 Asian American Jazz artist continues with each new year. He has also toured extensively in the Far East performing for the Sultan of Brunei and the Royal Family of Thailand. Michael is also popular in Japan where he has performed with numerous well-known Japanese artists over the years such as: Namie Amuro, Eikichi Yazawa, Anrie, Mari Ijima, Globe, Atsushi from Exile and more! A dynamic live performer Michael has constantly left his audiences wanting more. His emotive playing and endearing style has never failed to capture the hearts of his fans all over the world..Michael Paulo is has continued to build his status as one of the most dynamic saxophonist in the world..

Michael spent eight years as an artist in residence at one of the largest Music Festivals in the world The Java Jazz Festival. Michael also produced two festivals, the Temecula Wine and Music Festival and Pacific Rim Jazz Festival in Hawaii. His company Apaulo Productions www.apauloproductions.com is also involved in producing numerous Jazz concerts and events in California and Hawaii. Michael has just released a new single “Hang Time” which was the #1 most added at radio. He’s back in the mix as an artist. Stay tuned for more recordings this year. As he says, “Music is always going to evolve, and it’s up to the artist to respond gracefully to the changes. We don’t know what the music will sound like years from now, but no matter what, it will be based on what the people in the audience feel.”