David Bromberg
Event on 2013-05-03 19:30:00
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Friday, May 3 | 7:30 p.m.
Tickets: .50–.50
David Bromberg
“The reason man created stringed instruments. David touched them with a lover’s fingers and they moaned that true love right back at him. Wood and wire and flesh spoke.”—Jerry Jeff Walker on David Bromberg
David Bromberg is a master’s master, a string wizard whose virtuosity led him to be a first-call, “hired gun” guitarist for recording sessions, ultimately playing on hundreds of records by artists including Bob Dylan (New Morning, Self Portrait, Dylan), Link Wray, the Eagles, Ringo Starr, Willie Nelson, and Carly Simon.
He’s played with everyone and he’s toured everywhere. He can lead a raucous big band or hold an audience silent with a solo acoustic blues. Influenced by Pete Seeger and the Weavers and, through them, Reverend Gary Davis, he discovered Big Bill Broonzy, Muddy Waters and the Chicago blues. At the same time, he was listening to Lester Flatt and Earl Scruggs, Bill Monroe, and Doc Watson. Over time, Bromberg’s range of material, based in the folk and blues idioms, grew to encompass all of these influences: bluegrass, ragtime, country, and ethnic music.
After years of recording and touring, Bromberg and his wife, Nancy, decided to leave performing and moved to Wilmington, Delaware, where they became part of the city’s artist-in-residence program and where he could establish David Bromberg Fine Violins, a retail store and repair shop for high-quality instruments. Frequent participation in the city’s weekly jam sessions helped rekindle Bromberg’s desire to make music again, as did the encouragement of fellow musicians Chris Hillman (the Byrds, Desert Rose Band, Flying Burrito Brothers) and bluegrass wizard Herb Pedersen. So, in 2007, he returned to recording and touring.
His newest album, released in July 2011, features Bromberg collaborating with and being produced by friends such as John Hiatt, Levon Helm, Los Lobos, Tim O’Brien, Vince Gill, Widespread Panic, Dr. John, Keb’ Mo’, and Linda Ronstadt. The San Francisco Examiner described the album as “a delightful romp through familiar terrain for David, terrain that he navigates with the expertise and energy of a Formula 500 driver.”
“Great session players easily cross genres, and guitarist Bromberg is one of the great ones.”— Bill Beutler, Boston Globe
“His impassioned playing and surly vocals summon the spirits of Howlin’ Wolf and Muddy Waters.”—Lee Zimmerman, M: Music & Musicians
“The ever-humble Bromberg continues to astound us with his mastery.”—Jim Hynes, Elmore Magazine
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at Musical Instrument Museum – MIM Music Theater
4725 East Mayo Boulevard
Phoenix, United States