Bobby Broom - Clean Sweep
Album Review: Bobby Broom | Clean Sweep
By Terrill J. Hanna - Publisher/TheUrbanMusicScene.com
For some of you in need to update &/or fortify your hold in having strong, relentless, classic jazz funk in your collections, I hope this review may serve some purpose. I hope after you take a swig of the review & video posted below, much appreciation may be granted in looking for the album "Clean Sweep" from guitarist Robert 'Bobby' Broom. Album dating back to 1981 on Arista/GRP Records.
You see, Funk trumpeter Tom Browne grabbed a hold of Bobby's shirt & had him play on the 'Love's Approach' album. Another one of those soul-funk jazz records that should be chillin' steady somewhere in your closet or garage. But when Bobby went out to the park for his debut on GRP, Dave Grusin & Larry Rosen had other ideas in mind.
Bobby was only 20 years old when he took the guitar & got on stage to rip & put a voice behind the electric strings. A graduate of New York City High School of Music & Art, his hard edge be-bop persona combining soulfully with his knack to vibe effortlessly to contemporary/modern jazz instrumentals made him the cream of the crop. A likely measure of excellence that would make any college music professor blush within moments notice. After listening to "Clean Sweep", I could've sworn that player behind the guitar had to be either George Benson, Wes Montgomery, Earl Klugh or even Jonathon Butler. Or a revived line of Grant Green's earlier material, The original soul-funk guitar supreme. I said, 'Nah...That kid had some help back there'. 'Somebody is riggin' the production'.
No. Uh..Uh.
Track Listing:
~ Clean Sweep
~ No Bad Vibes
~ Remember When
~ She's My Reason
~ Saturday Night
~ Niqui
~ Share My Love
~ Con Alma
Track "Clean Sweep" came into the scene blazin the streets! Straight in your face, 'let's get down' & 'get it on' style & approach. Very laid back & funky, but settled enough to showcase his ability to step into a melody & groove it. And when the solo came, the rest was history. Leave that stylus alone. Let the record play itself out & be ready to switch sides...
The opening lead vocals to "No Bad Vibes" sounds like a classic hip hop track from the Nate Dogg collection. In essence, it was Bobby droppin' the vocal appeal & for a minute there, Bobby & Nate almost sounded alike. Another funky gem awaiting your presence. Carry on to "Remember When" & the flavor picks right back up. But the head nod came in full effect when "Saturday Night" dropped an 'ah..so ready' background party affair up on you. The hand claps that transcended the beats would later give credential to another master of the funk, Marcus Miller. Marcus penned the songwriting & arrangement of an otherwise, slap-bass groove production that was so appealing, it should've been added to a mix tape set back in the early 80's.
The records does have its moments to chill, meaning the adventurous upbeat fusion jams that got us up out of the seat in the 1st place, made us go back & sit right back down - held in check by slower compositions like "Niqui", "She's My Reason" & "Con Alma". No Problem.
Overall, It was great looking back into this debut from Mr. Broom, who now is still putting out some great straight ahead material on Origin Records. An album of fine material that can easily be played back upon request. A great memory served well!
Now you may go back to your regularly scheduled programming.
Terrill J. Hanna
The Urban Music Scene
Posted by Administration at 1/31/2009 11:00 AM 
Categories: Urban Jazz, Jazz, Videos
Tags: Guitar Music Videos 80s Music
Categories: Urban Jazz, Jazz, Videos
Tags: Guitar Music Videos 80s Music
Bobby Broom's "Clean Sweep" rates in my all time top 10 favorites lp's. I spoke with Bobby last year and mentioned that this lp should be reissued on cd. Every selection is pure dynamite!!!
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Yeah, the Arista/GRP catalogue includes more excellent projects by Angela Bofill, Bernard "Nard" Wright, Dave Grusin,
Dave Valentin, Don Blackman, Homi & Jarvis, Jay Hoggard, Roland Vazquez & Urban Ensemble, Scott Jarrett, Tom Browne.
Bobby's Clean Sweep-album is out now as a 2-on-1-cd, together with his 1984-album after that, "Livin' For The Beat".
Released in the UK by Expansion Records.
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