Conversation with Bobby Bradford

[Adam]

For those of you in Southern California, tomorrow April 27 in Pasadena:

SPEAKING OF: BOBBY BRADFORD

Date & Time: Saturday, April 27, 2013, 2:00 p.m.

Location: Allendale Branch Library

Address: 1130 S. Marengo Ave., Pasadena, CA 91106

Information: (626) 744-7260 or visit pasadenapubliclibrary.net

“Those of us who have been blessed to know Bobby Bradford for a number of years can attest to a probing, powerful intellect that assimilates the history of jazz in a highly unique manner, drawing conclusions that are as innovative and provocative as one of his solos. His understanding of the history, coupled with his embracing of jazz’s mandate for innovation, reveals itself in his teaching, playing and composing. I have profoundly admired his brilliant mind, up-tempo wit and his usual location of being two or three steps ahead of everyone else.” – James Newton

In celebration of Jazz Appreciation Month, the Allendale Branch Library’s popular “Speaking Of” series features a discussion with one of our area’s great musical treasures: legendary jazz trumpeter, cornetist, bandleader, composer, and educator Bobby Bradford. An Altadena resident since the 1970s, Bradford grew up in the heart of the Mississippi Delta in the 1930s, settling in Los Angeles in 1964 after finishing college studies in Texas. Assimilating the musical language of such jazz greats as Louis Armstrong, Fats Navarro, and Charlie Parker, Bradford emerged as one of the most important jazz trumpeters in the 1960s and ‘70s, articulating a modern post-bebop, avant-garde sound while performing with Ornette Coleman, Eric Dolphy, and John Carter, and, in recent years, heading his own ensemble known as The Mo’tet. For over thirty years, Bradford taught jazz history and improvisation at Pasadena City College, and since 1974 he has been a lecturer and adjunct professor of music at Pomona College in Claremont. Both at PCC and Pomona College, he has inspired and mentored a generation of outstanding jazz musicians, including David Murray, James Newton, and Mark Dresser. Bradford, whose daughter Carmen is an accomplished jazz singer, received the Festival of New Trumpet Music’s Award of Recognition in 2009.

“Speaking Of: Bobby Bradford” will feature a discussion with Bradford about his extraordinary career as a musician and educator, including audience Q&A. The program will also feature an excerpt from Peter Bull’s 1980 documentary, The New Music: Bobby Bradford and John Carter. Light refreshments will be served.

For further information on this free program, contact the Allendale Branch Library at (626) 744-7260 or visit pasadenapubliclibrary.net.

More:

Friends:

Please find attached details for a very special "Speaking Of" program at the Allendale Branch Library in Pasadena. "Speaking Of: Bobby Bradford," a discussion with the legendary jazz trumpeter, cornetist, bandleader, composer, and educator, will be presented on Saturday, April 27, at 2:00 p.m. Bradford has been an Altadena resident since the 1970s, and has taught jazz history and improvisation for over thirty years at Pasadena City College and Pomona College.

We are also attaching, for media use, three photos of Bobby Bradford. The first two, by Michael Hoefner, date from 2008. The third is an archival photo of Bradford from 1976, taken by Mark Weber, which shows him in performance at The Little Big Horn, a jazz workshop space that Bradford ran from 1976-1978 in Pasadena. The venue was at 34 N. Mentor Avenue, very close to The Ice House comedy club. It was open to the public for Wednesday evening and Sunday afternoon performances and showcased many established and up-and-coming jazz musicians.

For further information on "Speaking Of: Bobby Bradford," including links to other materials on his distinguished career as a musician and educator, visit the Allendale Branch Library Facebook page at:

http://www.facebook.com/allendalebranch?fref=ts

Sincerely,
Terry Cannon
Staff Assistant III
Coordinator, "Speaking Of" series
Allendale Branch
Pasadena Public Library

e-mail: tcannon@cityofpasadena.net

Terry has been posting other good stuff on that Facebook page. I need to figure out how to get the pictures to you.

Here's the photo by Mark Weber referred to above.

[John Litweiler]

An incidence of good things happening to very good guys.

[Chuck Nessa]

Great. I only hope for good health for a couple of decades.

[king ubu]

Fondly remember seeing Bradford in concert -- with the wild bunch that is Frode Gjerstad's "Circulasione Totale" gang no less. He remained seated, quiet, amongst the youngers standing in a semi circle spread across the stage ... whenever he played though, his tone was ringing clear, projecting, and cutting through whatever was going on around him. Wonderful!

[John Litweiler]

Great. I only hope for good health for a couple of decades.

I hope so too.

After a beautiful, lyrical concert of Bradford and Fred Anderson I expressed hope that he and Fred would issue an album together. Bradford: A record company'd have to pay us a small fortune.

Me: Good, because the Chicago record companies' fortunes are extremely small.