Robert Edward "Bob" Brookmeyer (December 19, 1929 – December 15, 2011) was an American

jazz Jazz is a music genre that originated in the African-American communities of New Orleans, Louisiana in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, with its roots in blues and ragtime. Since the 1920s Jazz Age, it has been recognized as a m ...

valve A valve is a device or natural object that regulates, directs or controls the flow of a fluid (gases, liquids, fluidized solids, or slurries) by opening, closing, or partially obstructing various passageways. Valves are technically fitting ...

trombonist,

pianist A pianist ( , ) is an individual musician who plays the piano. Since most forms of Western music can make use of the piano, pianists have a wide repertoire and a wide variety of styles to choose from, among them traditional classical music, ja ...

, arranger, and composer. Born in

Kansas City, Missouri Kansas City (abbreviated KC or KCMO) is the largest city in Missouri by population and area. As of the 2020 United States census, 2020 census, the city had a population of 508,090 in 2020, making it the List of United States cities by populat ...

, Brookmeyer first gained widespread public attention as a member of

Gerry Mulligan Gerald Joseph Mulligan (April 6, 1927 – January 20, 1996), also known as Jeru, was an American jazz saxophonist, clarinetist, composer and arranger. Though primarily known as one of the leading jazz baritone saxophonists—playing the instrum ...

's quartet from 1954 to 1957. He later worked with Jimmy Giuffre, before rejoining Mulligan's Concert Jazz Band. He garnered 8

Grammy Award The Grammy Awards (stylized as GRAMMY), or simply known as the Grammys, are awards presented by the Recording Academy of the United States to recognize "outstanding" achievements in the music industry. They are regarded by many as the most pr ...

nominations during his lifetime.

Biography

Brookmeyer was born on December 19, 1929 Kansas City, Missouri. He was the only child of Elmer Edward Brookmeyer and Mayme Seifert. Brookmeyer began playing professionally in his teens. He attended the Kansas City Conservatory of Music, but did not graduate. He played piano in big bands led by Tex Beneke and Ray McKinley, but concentrated on valve trombone from when he moved to the Claude Thornhill orchestra in the early 1950s. He was part of small groups led by

Stan Getz Stanley Getz (February 2, 1927 – June 6, 1991) was an American jazz saxophonist. Playing primarily the tenor saxophone, Getz was known as "The Sound" because of his warm, lyrical tone, with his prime influence being the wispy, mellow timbre ...

, Jimmy Giuffre, and

in the 1950s. During the 1950s and 1960s, Brookmeyer played in New York clubs, on television (including being part of the house band for '' The Merv Griffin Show''), and on studio recordings, as well as arranging for

Ray Charles Ray Charles Robinson Sr. (September 23, 1930 – June 10, 2004) was an American singer, songwriter, and pianist. He is regarded as one of the most iconic and influential singers in history, and was often referred to by contemporaries as "The Ge ...

and others. In the early 1960s, Brookmeyer joined

flugelhorn The flugelhorn (), also spelled fluegelhorn, flugel horn, or flügelhorn, is a brass instrument that resembles the trumpet and cornet but has a wider, more conical bore. Like trumpets and cornets, most flugelhorns are pitched in B, though som ...

player

Clark Terry Clark Virgil Terry Jr. (December 14, 1920 – February 21, 2015) was an American swing and bebop trumpeter, a pioneer of the flugelhorn in jazz, and a composer and educator. He played with Charlie Barnet (1947), Count Basie (1948–51), Duk ...

in a band that achieved some success. In February 1965, Brookmeyer and Terry appeared together on

BBC2 BBC Two is a British free-to-air public broadcast television network owned and operated by the BBC. It covers a wide range of subject matter, with a remit "to broadcast programmes of depth and substance" in contrast to the more mainstream a ...

's Jazz 625. Brookmeyer moved to Los Angeles in 1968 and became a full-time studio musician. He spent 10 years on the West Coast and developed a serious alcohol problem. After he overcame this, he returned to New York. Brookmeyer became the musical director of the

Thad Jones/Mel Lewis Orchestra The Thad Jones/Mel Lewis Jazz Orchestra was a jazz big band formed by trumpeter Thad Jones and drummer Mel Lewis in New York in 1965.Lisik/Allen. 50 Years at the Village Vanguard:Thad Jone, Mel Lewis and the Village Vanguard Orchestra. Sky Deck ...

in 1979, although he had not composed any music for a decade. Brookmeyer wrote for and performed with jazz groups in Europe from the early 1980s. He founded and ran a music school in the

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, and taught at the New England Conservatory of Music in Boston, Massachusetts, and other institutions. In June 2005, Brookmeyer joined ArtistShare and announced a project to fund an upcoming third album featuring his New Art Orchestra. The resulting

Grammy The Grammy Awards (stylized as GRAMMY), or simply known as the Grammys, are awards presented by the Recording Academy of the United States to recognize "outstanding" achievements in the music industry. They are regarded by many as the most pres ...

-nominated CD, titled ''Spirit Music'', was released in 2006. Brookmeyer was named a

National Endowment for the Arts The National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) is an independent agency of the United States federal government that offers support and funding for projects exhibiting artistic excellence. It was created in 1965 as an independent agency of the federal ...

Jazz Master in the same year. His eighth

nomination was for an arrangement from the

Vanguard Jazz Orchestra The vanguard (also called the advance guard) is the leading part of an advancing military formation. It has a number of functions, including seeking out the enemy and securing ground in advance of the main force. History The vanguard derives fr ...

's album, ''Forever Lasting'', shortly before his death. That same album was also nominated in the 57th Annual Grammy Awards for the category of Best Large Jazz Ensemble Album; the CD was entirely made up of Brookmeyer's compositions. Brookmeyer died of congestive heart failure on December 15, 2011, in New London, New Hampshire.

Compositional style

One notable element of Brookmeyer's compositional style is his use of

contemporary classical New Classical architecture, New Classicism or the New Classical movement is a contemporary movement in architecture that continues the practice of Classical architecture. It is sometimes considered the modern continuation of Neoclassical archite ...

writing techniques in his works for big bands and jazz ensembles. In the early 1980's Brookmeyer was mentored by composer Earle Brown, with whom he explored 20th century classical music in depth. Brookmeyer's works since have been influenced by such composers as Witold Lutosławski (whose cello concerto Brookmeyer used often in teaching students about simple motifs),

Igor Stravinsky Igor Fyodorovich Stravinsky (6 April 1971) was a Russian composer, pianist and conductor, later of French (from 1934) and American (from 1945) citizenship. He is widely considered one of the most important and influential 20th-century clas ...

Claude Debussy (Achille) Claude Debussy (; 22 August 1862 – 25 March 1918) was a French composer. He is sometimes seen as the first Impressionism in music, Impressionist composer, although he vigorously rejected the term. He was among the most infl ...

György Ligeti György Sándor Ligeti (; ; 28 May 1923 – 12 June 2006) was a Hungarian-Austrian composer of contemporary classical music. He has been described as "one of the most important avant-garde composers in the latter half of the twentieth century ...

, and

Béla Bartók Béla Viktor János Bartók (; ; 25 March 1881 – 26 September 1945) was a Hungarian composer, pianist, and ethnomusicologist. He is considered one of the most important composers of the 20th century; he and Franz Liszt are regarded as Hu ...

. Some examples of 20th-century classical compositional techniques used in Brookmeyer's jazz pieces are: * "ABC Blues", where an

atonal Atonality in its broadest sense is music that lacks a tonal center, or key. ''Atonality'', in this sense, usually describes compositions written from about the early 20th-century to the present day, where a hierarchy of harmonies focusing on a s ...

tone row In music, a tone row or note row (german: Reihe or '), also series or set, is a non-repetitive ordering of a set of pitch-classes, typically of the twelve notes in musical set theory of the chromatic scale, though both larger and smaller sets ...

is used to generate melodies and harmonies. * "The Big Time", where polytonality is used to develop melodies used earlier on in the composition. * Bob Brookmeyer uses chromatic harmony and tone clusters throughout such works as "Seesaw", "Silver Lining", and "Hello and Goodbye".

Honors and awards

Grammy Awards (nominations)

, - , style="text-align:center;", , style="text-align:center;", ''Blues Suite, composed by Brookmeyer , style="text-align:center;", Best Arrangement , , - , style="text-align:center;", , style="text-align:center;", ''The Power Of Positive Swinging'', composed by Brookmeyer , style="text-align:center;", Best Instrumental Jazz Performance , , - , style="text-align:center;", , style="text-align:center;", ''ABC Blues'', composed by Brookmeyer , style="text-align:center;", Best Original Jazz Composition , , - , style="text-align:center;", , style="text-align:center;", '' Skylark'', arranged by Brookmeyer , style="text-align:center;", Best Instrumental Arrangement , , - , style="text-align:center;", , style="text-align:center;", ''Impulsive!'' (Album) , style="text-align:center;",

Best Large Jazz Ensemble Album The Grammy Award for Best Large Jazz Ensemble Album has been presented since 1961. From 1962 to 1971 and 1979 to 1991 the award title specified instrumental performances. Years reflect the year in which the Grammy Awards were presented, for works ...

, , - , style="text-align:center;", , style="text-align:center;", ''Get Well Soon'' (Album) , style="text-align:center;", Large Jazz Ensemble Album , , - , style="text-align:center;", , style="text-align:center;", ''Spirit Music'' (Album) , style="text-align:center;", Large Jazz Ensemble Album , , - , style="text-align:center;", , style="text-align:center;", '' St. Louis Blues'', arranged by Brookmeyer , style="text-align:center;", Best Instrumental Arrangement , , - , style="text-align:center;", , style="text-align:center;", ''Nasty Dance'', arranged by Brookmeyer , style="text-align:center;", Best Instrumental Arrangement , , -

Discography

As leader/co-leader

* '' Bob Brookmeyer Quartet'' (Pacific Jazz, 1954) * '' Bob Brookmeyer Plays Bob Brookmeyer and Some Others'' (Clef, 1955) * ''Happy Minors'' (

Bethlehem Bethlehem (; ar, بيت لحم ; he, בֵּית לֶחֶם '' '') is a city in the central West Bank, Palestine, about south of Jerusalem. Its population is approximately 25,000,Amara, 1999p. 18.Brynen, 2000p. 202. and it is the capital ...

, 1955) with

Red Mitchell Keith Moore "Red" Mitchell (September 20, 1927 – November 8, 1992) was an American jazz double-bassist, composer, lyricist, and poet. Biography Mitchell was born in New York City. His younger brother, Whitey Mitchell, also became a jazz b ...

Zoot Sims John Haley "Zoot" Sims (October 29, 1925 – March 23, 1985) was an American jazz saxophonist, playing mainly tenor but also alto (and, later, soprano) saxophone. He first gained attention in the "Four Brothers" sax section of Woody Herman's big ...

* '' The Dual Role of Bob Brookmeyer'' (Prestige, 1956) – recorded in 1954-55 * ''

Tonite's Music Today ''Tonite's Music Today'' is an album by saxophonist Zoot Sims and trombonist Bob Brookmeyer recorded in 1956 for the Storyville label.Zoot Sims John Haley "Zoot" Sims (October 29, 1925 – March 23, 1985) was an American jazz saxophonist, playing mainly tenor but also alto (and, later, soprano) saxophone. He first gained attention in the "Four Brothers" sax section of Woody Herman's big ...

( Storyville, 1956) * ''

Whooeeee ''Whooeeee'' (also released as ''Today's Jazz'' and ''Morning Fun'') is an album by the Zoot Sims-Bob Brookmeyer Quintet recorded in 1956 for the Storyville label.

'' with

(Storyville, 1956) * ''Bob Brookmeyer Quintet'' (Vogue, 1956) * ''Urso and Brookmeyer'' with

Phil Urso Phil Urso (2 October 1925, Jersey City, New Jersey — 7 April 2008, Denver, Colorado) was an American jazz tenor saxophonist and composer known for his association with trumpeter Chet Baker. Urso learned clarinet as a child and switched to t ...

(

Savoy Savoy (; frp, Savouè ; french: Savoie ) is a cultural-historical region in the Western Alps. Situated on the cultural boundary between Occitania and Piedmont, the area extends from Lake Geneva in the north to the Dauphiné in the south. Sa ...

, 1956) * '' Brookmeyer'' (Vik, 1957) – recorded in 1956 * ''

Traditionalism Revisited ''Traditionalism Revisited'' is an album by jazz trombonist and pianist Bob Brookmeyer featuring popular music of the 1920s and 1930s recorded in 1957 for the World Pacific label. Reception The Allmusic review by Scott Yanow stated "While these ...

'' (World Pacific, 1957) * '' The Street Swingers'' (World Pacific, 1958) * '' Jazz Concerto Grosso'' with

(ABC–Paramount, 1958) – play Phil Sunkel, recorded in 1957. * ''They Met at the Continental Divide'' with Trombones Inc. (Warner Bros., 1959) * '' Kansas City Revisited'' (United Artists, 1959) * '' The Ivory Hunters'' with

Bill Evans William John Evans (August 16, 1929 – September 15, 1980) was an American jazz pianist and composer who worked primarily as the leader of his trio. His use of impressionist harmony, interpretation of traditional jazz repertoire, block ch ...

(United Artists, 1959) * ''

Jazz Is a Kick ''Jazz Is a Kick'' is an album by jazz trombonist and arranger Bob Brookmeyer recorded in 1960 for the Mercury label.Edwards, D., Callahan, M., Watts, Watts, R & Eyries, PMercury Album Discography, Part 8: MG-20600/SR-60600 to MG-20799/SR-60799 M ...

'' (Mercury, 1960) * '' Portrait of the Artist'' (Atlantic, 1960) – recorded in 1959 * '' The Blues Hot and Cold'' (His Master's Voice, 1960) * '' Gloomy Sunday and Other Bright Moments'' (Verve, 1961) * '' 7 x Wilder'' (Verve, 1961) * '' Trombone Jazz Samba'' (Verve, 1962) * '' Bob Brookmeyer and Friends'' (Columbia, 1965) – recorded in 1964 * ''The Bob Brookmeyer Small Band'' (Gryphon, 1978) * '' Back Again'' (Sonet, 1979) * ''Through a Looking Glass'' (Finesse, 1981) * ''Oslo'' (Concord Jazz, 1987) * ''Morning Fun'' with

(Black Lion, 1989) * ''Electricity'' (ACT, 1994) - recorded in 1991 * ''As It Happened Vol. 1'' with Roger Kellaway (Jazz Heritage, 1994) * ''Paris Suite'' (Challenge, 1995) * ''Out of This World'' with Metropole Orchestra (Koch Jazz, 1998) * ''Old Friends'' (Storyville, 1998) - recorded in 1994 * '' New Works Celebration'' (Challenge, 1999) - recorded in 1997 * ''Together'' with Mads Vinding (Challenge, 1999) * ''Holiday'' (Challenge, 2001) – plays piano * ''Madly Loving You'' with the Ed Partyka Jazz Orchestra (Challenge, 2001) * ''Stay Out of the Sun'' (Challenge, 2003) - recorded in 2000 * ''Get Well Soon'' with New Art Orchestra (Challenge, 2003) - recorded in 2002 * ''

Island An island (or isle) is an isolated piece of habitat that is surrounded by a dramatically different habitat, such as water. Very small islands such as emergent land features on atolls can be called islets, skerries, cays or keys. An isla ...

'' with Kenny Wheeler (Artists House, 2003) - recorded in 2002 * ''Spirit Music'' with New Art Orchestra (ArtistShare, 2006)

As sideman

With Manny Albam * ''The Jazz Workshop'' (RCA Victor, 1956) * ''Play Music from the Broadway Musical West Side Story'' (Coral, 1957) * ''Manny Albam and the Jazz Greats of Our Time'' (Coral, 1957) * ''Sophisticated Lady'' (Coral, 1958) * ''The Blues Is Everybody's Business'' (Coral, 1958) * ''Steve's Songs'' (Dot, 1958) * ''Jazz Horizons: Jazz New York'' (Dot, 1959) * ''

Brass on Fire ''Brass on Fire'' is an album by American jazz arranger and conductor Manny Albam featuring performances recorded in 1966 and originally issued on the Solid State label as their first proper release.Payne, D.Sonny Lester discographyaccessed April ...

'' (Solid State, 1966) With

Chet Baker Chesney Henry "Chet" Baker Jr. (December 23, 1929 – May 13, 1988) was an American jazz trumpeter and vocalist. He is known for major innovations in cool jazz that led him to be nicknamed the "Prince of Cool". Baker earned much attention and ...

* ''Chet Baker Sextet'' (Pacific Jazz, 1954) * '' The Trumpet Artistry of Chet Baker'' (Pacific Jazz, 1955) – compilation With

Al Cohn Al Cohn (November 24, 1925 – February 15, 1988) was an American jazz saxophonist, arranger and composer. He came to prominence in the band of clarinetist Woody Herman and was known for his longtime musical partnership with fellow saxophonist ...

* ''

The Al Cohn Quintet Featuring Bobby Brookmeyer ''The Al Cohn Quintet Featuring Bobby Brookmeyer'' is an album by saxophonist, composer and arranger Al Cohn's Quintet with trombonist Bob Brookmeyer recorded in late 1956 for the Coral label.Edwards, D., Eyries, P., Watts, R, Neely, T. & Callaha ...

'' (Coral, 1957) – recorded in 1956 * '' Son of Drum Suite'' (RCA Victor, 1961) With

* '' Interpretations by the Stan Getz Quintet'' (Norgran, 1954) – recorded in 1953 * '' Stan Getz at The Shrine'' (Norgran, 1955) * '' Stan Getz and the Cool Sounds'' (Verve, 1957) * '' Recorded Fall 1961'' (Verve, 1961) * ''

Jazz Samba ''Jazz Samba'' is a bossa nova album by Stan Getz and Charlie Byrd released by Verve Records in 1962. ''Jazz Samba'' signaled the beginning of the bossa nova craze in America. Stan Getz was the featured soloist and the tracks were arranged by Char ...

'' (Verve, 1962) * '' Big Band Bossa Nova'' (Verve, 1962) With Jimmy Giuffre * '' Trav'lin' Light'' (Atlantic, 1958) * '' The Four Brothers Sound'' (Atlantic, 1959) * ''

Western Suite ''Western Suite'' is an album by American jazz composer and arranger Jimmy Giuffre which was released on the Atlantic label in 1960.Woody Herman Woodrow Charles Herman (May 16, 1913 – October 29, 1987) was an American jazz clarinetist, saxophonist, singer, and big band leader. Leading groups called "The Herd", Herman came to prominence in the late 1930s and was active until his dea ...

* ''The Herd Rides Again'' (Everest, 1958) * ''The Fourth Herd'' (Jazz Legacy, 1960) * ''Woody Herman & the Fourth Herd'' (Windmill, 1972) With

* '' Paris Concert'' (Pacific Jazz, 1955) – recorded in 1954 * '' California Concerts'' (Pacific Jazz, 1955) – recorded in 1954 * '' Presenting the Gerry Mulligan Sextet'' (EmArcy, 1955) * '' Recorded in Boston at Storyville'' (Pacific Jazz, 1957) – recorded in 1956 * '' The Teddy Wilson Trio & Gerry Mulligan Quartet with Bob Brookmeyer at Newport'' (Verve, 1957) * '' The Concert Jazz Band'' (Verve, 1960) * '' Gerry Mulligan and the Concert Jazz Band at the Village Vanguard'' (Verve, 1961) – recorded in 1960 * '' Gerry Mulligan Presents a Concert in Jazz'' (Verve, 1961) * '' Gerry Mulligan and the Concert Jazz Band on Tour'' (Verve, 1962) – recorded in 1960 * '' The Gerry Mulligan Quartet'' (Verve, 1962) * '' Spring Is Sprung'' (Philips, 1963) – recorded in 1962 * '' Night Lights'' (Philips, 1963) – recorded in 1962 * '' Butterfly with Hiccups'' (Limelight, 1964) – recorded in 1963-64 With George Russell * '' New York N.Y.'' (Decca, 1959) * '' Jazz in the Space Age'' (Decca, 1960) With Don Sebesky * ''Three Works for Jazz Soloists & Symphony Orchestra'' (Gryphon, 1979) * ''I Remember Bill'' (RCA Victor, 1998) * ''Joyful Noise'' (RCA Victor, 1999) With

Bud Shank Clifford Everett "Bud" Shank Jr. (May 27, 1926 – April 2, 2009) was an American alto saxophonist and flautist. He rose to prominence in the early 1950s playing lead alto and flute in Stan Kenton's Innovations in Modern Music Orchestra and thro ...

* ''Bud Shank and Bob Brookmeyer'' (Pacific Jazz, 1954) * ''The Saxophone Artistry of Bud Shank'' (Pacific Jazz, 1956) With

* ''

Tonite's Music Today ''Tonite's Music Today'' is an album by saxophonist Zoot Sims and trombonist Bob Brookmeyer recorded in 1956 for the Storyville label.The Modern Art of Jazz'' (Dawn, 1956) * '' Bob Brookmeyer Octet Stretching Out'' (United Artists, 1959) * ''Choice'' (Pacific Jazz, 1961) * ''Suitably Zoot'' (Pumpkin, 1979) With

* ''

The Power of Positive Swinging ''The Power of Positive Swinging'' is an album released by American jazz trumpeter Clark Terry and trombonist Bob Brookmeyer featuring tracks recorded in 1965 and originally released on the Mainstream label.Lord, T.Clark Terry discography accessed ...

'' (Mainstream, 1965) * ''

Tonight Tonight may refer to: Television * ''Tonight'' (1957 TV programme), a 1957–1965 British current events television programme hosted by Cliff Michelmore that was broadcast on BBC * ''Tonight'' (1975 TV programme), a 1975–1979 British current ...

'' (Mainstream, 1965) * '' Gingerbread Men'' (Mainstream, 1966) * ''Previously Unreleased Recordings'' (Verve, 1973) * ''Gingerbread Gal'' (Mainstream, 1974) * ''What'd He Say'' (Mainstream, 1974) With others *

Cannonball Adderley Julian Edwin "Cannonball" Adderley (September 15, 1928August 8, 1975) was an American jazz alto saxophonist of the hard bop era of the 1950s and 1960s. Adderley is perhaps best remembered for the 1966 soul jazz single " Mercy, Mercy, Mercy", w ...

, ''

African Waltz ''African Waltz'' is an album by jazz saxophonist Cannonball Adderley, released on the Riverside label and performed by Adderley with an orchestra conducted by Ernie Wilkins.

'' (Riverside 1961) * Steve Allen, ''...And All That Jazz'' (Dot, 1959) * Steve Allen, ''Soulful Brass #2'' (Flying Dutchman, 1969) * Benny Aronov, ''Shadow Box'' (Choice, 1979) *

Ruby Braff Reuben "Ruby" Braff (March 16, 1927 – February 9, 2003) was an American jazz trumpeter and cornetist. Jack Teagarden was once asked about him on the Garry Moore television show and described Ruby as "the Ivy League Louis Armstrong". Braff ...

, ''Blowing Around the World'' (United Artists, 1959) *

Canadian Brass The Canadian Brass is a Canadian brass quintet formed in 1970 in Toronto, Ontario, by Charles Daellenbach ( tuba) and Gene Watts ( trombone), with horn player Graeme Page and trumpeters Stuart Laughton and Bill Phillips completing the quinte ...

, ''Swingtime!'' (RCA Victor, 1995) *

Bobby Bryant Bobby Bryant (born January 24, 1944) is a former cornerback for the Minnesota Vikings. Early life At Willingham High School, he was a star in football along with basketball, track and field, and baseball. Bryant was recruited to play for the ...

, ''The Jazz Excursion into Hair'' (Pacific Jazz, 1969) *

Monty Budwig Monte Rex Budwig (December 26, 1929 – March 9, 1992) was a West Coast jazz double bassist, professionally known as Monty Budwig. Early life Monte Rex Budwig was born in Pender, Nebraska, on December 26, 1929.His full birthname was Monte Rex B ...

, ''Dig'' (Concord Jazz, 1979) *

Ralph Burns Ralph Joseph P. Burns (June 29, 1922 – November 21, 2001) was an American jazz pianist, composer, and arranger. Early life Burns was born in Newton, Massachusetts, United States, where he began playing the piano as a child. In 1938, he atten ...

, ''Where There's Burns There's Fire'' (Warwick, 1961) *

Kenny Burrell Kenneth Earl Burrell (born July 31, 1931) is an American jazz guitarist known for his work on numerous top jazz labels: Prestige, Blue Note, Verve, CTI, Muse, and Concord. His collaborations with Jimmy Smith were notable, and produced the 1965 ...

, ''Both Feet On the Ground'' (Fantasy, 1973) *

Gary Burton Gary Burton (born January 23, 1943) is an American jazz vibraphonist, composer, and educator. Burton developed a pianistic style of four-mallet technique as an alternative to the prevailing two-mallet technique. This approach caused him to be h ...

, ''

The Groovy Sound of Music ''The Groovy Sound of Music'' is an album by vibraphonist Gary Burton recorded in 1964 and released on the RCA label which features jazz interpretations of tunes from the Broadway musical ''The Sound of Music'' written by Richard Rodgers and Oscar ...

'' (RCA Victor, 1965) *

, '' The Genius of Ray Charles'' (Atlantic, 1959) * Teddy Charles, ''Teddy Charles Featuring Bobby Brookmeyer'' (Prestige, 1954) * Teddy Charles, ''Salute to Hamp Flyin' Home'' (Bethlehem, 1959) * Tony Coe, ''Captain Coe's Famous Racearound'' (Storyville, 1996) * Al Jazzbo Collins, ''Presents Swinging at the Opera'' (Everest, 1960) *

John Dankworth Sir John Phillip William Dankworth, CBE (20 September 1927 – 6 February 2010), also known as Johnny Dankworth, was an English jazz composer, saxophonist, clarinettist and writer of film scores. With his wife, jazz singer Dame Cleo Laine, he ...

, ''The Zodiac Variations'' (Fontana, 1965) * Eliane Elias, Bob Brookmeyer, ''Play the Music of Eliane Elias Impulsive!'' (Stunt, 1997) *

, ''Waltz for Debby'' (Not Now Music, 2012) * Gil Evans, ''Into the Hot'' (Impulse! 1962) * Harold Farberman, Gunther Schuller, ''Dedicated to Dolphy'' (Cambridge, 1966) * Dave Frishberg, ''You're A Lucky Guy'' (Concord Jazz, 1978) *

Curtis Fuller Curtis DuBois Fuller (December 15, 1932May 8, 2021) was an American jazz trombonist. He was a member of Art Blakey's Jazz Messengers and contributed to many classic jazz recordings. Early life Fuller was born in Detroit on December 15, 19 ...

, '' Cabin in the Sky'' (ABC Impulse!, 1970) *

Terry Gibbs Terry Gibbs (born Julius Gubenko; October 13, 1924) is an American jazz vibraphonist and band leader. He has performed or recorded with Tommy Dorsey, Chubby Jackson,Theroux, Gary"Gibbs, Terry".''Grove Music Online''. Oxford University Press. R ...

, ''Swingin' with Terry Gibbs and His Orchestra'' (EmArcy, 1956) *

Astrud Gilberto Astrud Gilberto (; born Astrud Evangelina Weinert, March 29, 1940) is a Brazilian samba and bossa nova singer. She gained international attention in the 1960s following her recording of the song " The Girl from Ipanema". Biography Astrud Gilber ...

, ''The Shadow of Your Smile'' (Verve, 1965) * Buddy Greco, ''I Like It Swinging'' (Columbia, 1961) * Bobby Hackett, ''

Creole Cookin' ''Creole Cookin, is an album by cornetist Bobby Hackett which was released on the Verve label in 1967.Jim Hall, ''Live at Town Hall Vol. One'' (Musicmasters, 1991) * Jim Hall, ''Live at the North Sea Jazz Festival'' (Challenge, 1999) * Judy Holliday, ''Holliday with Mulligan'' (DRG, 1980) *

Nancy Harrow Nancy Harrow (born October 3, 1930, New York City) is an American jazz singer and songwriter. Career Harrow studied classical piano beginning at age seven, then decided to pursue careers in dancing and singing. She released an album for Candi ...

, ''You're Nearer'' (Tono 1986) * Nancy Harrow, ''Street of Dreams'' (Poljazz, 1989) * Chubby Jackson, ''Chubby Takes Over'' (Empire, 2005) *

Thad Jones Thaddeus Joseph Jones (March 28, 1923 – August 20, 1986) was an American jazz trumpeter, composer, and bandleader who has been called "one of the all-time greatest jazz trumpet soloists". Biography Thad Jones was born in Pontiac, Michigan, U ...

& Mel Lewis, ''Presenting Thad Jones Mel Lewis & the Jazz Orchestra'' (Solid State, 1966) * Thad Jones & Mel Lewis, ''Live at the Village Vanguard'' (Solid State, 1967) *

Teddi King Teddi King (September 18, 1929 – November 18, 1977) was an American jazz and pop vocalist. Born Theodora King in Boston, Massachusetts, United States, she won a singing competition hosted by Dinah Shore at Boston's Tributary Theatre, later beg ...

, ''Now in Vogue'' (Vogue, 1955) * Michel Legrand, ''Plays Richard Rodgers'' (Philips, 1963) * Mel Lewis, ''Make Me Smile & Other New Works by Bob Brookmeyer'' (Finesse, 1982) *

Harry Lookofsky Harry Lookofsky (1 October 1913 – 8 June 1998) was an American jazz violinist. He was also the father of keyboardist-songwriter Michael Brown, who most notably was a founding member of The Left Banke and Stories. History Harry Lookofsky w ...

, ''Stringsville'' (Atlantic, 1959) * Charlie Mariano, ''A Jazz Portrait of Charlie Mariano'' (Regina, 1963) * Gary McFarland, '' The Jazz Version of "How to Succeed in Business without Really Trying"'' (Verve, 1962) * Gary McFarland, '' Tijuana Jazz'' (Impulse! 1966) *

, ''Happy Minors'' (Bethlehem, 1955) *

Thelonious Monk Thelonious Sphere Monk (, October 10, 1917 – February 17, 1982) was an American jazz pianist and composer. He had a unique improvisational style and made numerous contributions to the standard jazz repertoire, including " 'Round Midnight", ...

, ''Monk's Blues'' (Columbia, 1992) *

Brew Moore Milton Aubrey "Brew" Moore (March 26, 1924 – August 19, 1973), was an American jazz tenor saxophonist. Early life He was born in Indianola, Mississippi, United States. Moore's formal musical training began at twelve, first on trombone, then ...

, ''Brothers and Other Mothers Vol. 2'' (Savoy, 1979) * Red Norvo, ''Red's Rose Room Red's Blue Room'' (RCA Camden 1976) * Anita O'Day, ''

All the Sad Young Men ''All the Sad Young Men'' is the third collection of short stories written by F. Scott Fitzgerald, published by Scribners in February 1926. Composition Fitzgerald wrote the stories at a time of disillusionment. He was in financial difficulty ...

'' (Verve, 1962) * Babatunde Olatunji, ''High Life!'' (Columbia, 1963) * Freda Payne, ''After the Lights Go Down Low and Much More!!!'' (Impulse! 1963) * Oscar Pettiford, '' Another One'' (Bethlehem, 1955) *

Michel Petrucciani Michel Petrucciani (; ; 28 December 1962 – 6 January 1999) was a French jazz pianist. From birth he had osteogenesis imperfecta, a genetic disease that causes brittle bones and, in his case, short stature. He became one of the most accomplish ...

, ''Both Worlds'' (Dreyfus, 1997) * Bill Potts, ''The Jazz Soul of Porgy & Bess'' (United Artists, 1959) * Jimmy Raney, ''Jimmy Raney Featuring Bob Brookmeyer'' (ABC-Paramount, 1956) * Jimmy Raney, ''Jimmy Raney in Three Attitudes'' (ABC-Paramount, 1957) * Tito Rodriguez, ''Live at Birdland'' (Bomba, 1963) *

Pee Wee Russell Charles Ellsworth "Pee Wee" Russell (March 27, 1906 – February 15, 1969), was an American jazz musician. Early in his career he played clarinet and saxophones, but he eventually focused solely on clarinet. With a highly individualistic and sp ...

& Coleman Hawkins, '' Jazz Reunion'' (Candid, 1961) *

Lalo Schifrin Boris Claudio "Lalo" Schifrin (born June 21, 1932) is an Argentine-American pianist, composer, arranger and conductor. He is best known for his large body of film and TV scores since the 1950s, incorporating jazz and Latin American musical eleme ...

, ''Samba Para Dos'' (Verve, 1963) * Helen Schneider, ''Right As the Rain'' (Tomato, 1995) * Tom Scott, ''Tom Scott in L.A.'' (Flying Dutchman, 1975) * Carol Sloane, ''Out of the Blue'' (Columbia, 1962) * Henri Texier, ''Respect'' (Label Bleu, 1997) * Bob Thiele, ''Head Start'' (Flying Dutchman, 1969) * Toots Thielemans, ''Yesterday & Today'' *

Jeremy Udden Jeremy Udden (born April 29, 1978) is an American musician, composer, and educator. Proficient in both the Alto and Soprano Saxophone, Udden also composes songs for his groups, ''Plainville'' and ''Torchsongs Trio''. His most notable albums from th ...

, ''Torchsongs'' (Fresh Sound, 2006) *

, ''The Philosophy of Urso'' (Savoy, 1985) * Helen Ward, Peanuts Hucko, ''With a Little Bit of Swing'' (RCA Victor, 1958) * George Williams, ''Put On Your Dancing Shoes'' (United Artists, 1960) * Joe Williams, ''Presenting Joe Williams and Thad Jones Mel Lewis, the Jazz Orchestra'' (Solid State, 1966) * Paul Williams, ''Just an Old Fashioned Love Song'' (A&M, 1971)

References

External links

Bob Brookmeyer's websiteRecord Company
(Challenge Records International) * *
Interview with Bob Brookmeyer
(New York Times Obituary)
Bob Brookmeyer Interview
NAMM Oral History Library (1997) {{DEFAULTSORT:Brookmeyer, Bob 1929 births 2011 deaths American jazz bandleaders American jazz composers American male jazz composers American jazz pianists American male pianists American jazz trombonists Male trombonists American music arrangers Cool jazz pianists Cool jazz trombonists Mainstream jazz pianists Mainstream jazz trombonists New England Conservatory faculty Musicians from Kansas City, Missouri Post-bop pianists Post-bop trombonists West Coast jazz pianists West Coast jazz trombonists Jazz arrangers ACT Music artists 20th-century trombonists 20th-century American pianists 20th-century American composers DR Big Band members Jazz musicians from Missouri 20th-century American male musicians Impulse! Records artists Verve Records artists Challenge Records (1994) artists 20th-century jazz composers ArtistShare artists

Biography

Compositional style

Honors and awards

Grammy Awards (nominations)

Discography

As leader/co-leader

As sideman

See also

References

External links