Bobby Broom: Pitt Jazz Seminar 2026

The 56th annual Pitt Jazz Seminar at the University of Pittsburgh celebrates the jazz organ. BOBBY BROOM Abbreviated Biography Born in Harlem and raised on the Upper West Side of NYC, Bobby Broom took up guitar at 12 and four years later, in 1977, made his first appearance with Sonny Rollins and Donald Byrd at Carnegie Hall. He went on to tour and record with Rollins in 1981 – 1986 and again, recently, from 2005 – 2010. By 1981, Broom had recorded his debut as a leader, Clean Sweep (GRP Records). He relocated to Chicago later in the decade, working with Kenny Burrell, Stanley Turrentine, Charles Earland, Miles Davis, Kenny Garrett and Dr. John, among others. Throughout his career, Broom has also been active as a jazz educator. He holds a Master of Music degree in Jazz Pedagogy from Northwestern University. Currently teaching at North Park University, Broom is a former jazz faculty member of the American Conservatory of Music and DePaul, Roosevelt and Hartford Universities. He conducts clinics, master classes and lectures nationwide and abroad and is also an instructor with the Thelonious Monk Institute, Ravinia Festival Organization and Music Institute of Chicago. As jazz artist and guitarist, Bobby has spent the new millennium refocusing on his own music, especially with his Bobby Broom Trio and the Deep Blue Organ Trio. Heralded as “one of the most musical guitarists of our times,” he appears worldwide and has recorded most recently for the Origin label (his Plays for Monk was released in spring 2009, The Way I Play in April 2008, Song and Dance in 2006 and Deep Blue’s Wonderfu1! in 2011 and Folk Music in 2007). His upcoming trio release, Upper West Side Story, is scheduled for release in May 2012. Bobby Broom Extended Biography Most musicians would be happy to experience one artistic breakthrough. Thirty years into his distinguished, wide-ranging career in jazz, guitarist Bobby Broom seems to have an endless supply of them. His