“We are here on this planet to experience life—the good and the bad—and all of it is part of growth,” reflects Grammy-nominated bassist extraordinaire Brian Bromberg. “Sometimes the biggest lessons in life are the ones that come through pain, reflection, and having to rebuild yourself. This music is about that.” It is this genuine sincerity, compassion, and zeal for life that has allowed Bromberg to collaborate with everyone from Herbie Hancock, Dizzy Gillespie and Andrea Bocelli to Sarah Vaughan, Lalo Schifrin, and Kenny Barron, among many other luminaries. Bromberg, has appeared on over 150 recordings, is now releasing his 30th album as a leader, Awakening on October 9, 2026. Shanachie Entertainment Vice President of Jazz A&R Danny Weiss states, “Brian Bromberg has a rare gift.  His virtuosity allows him to perform jazz at the highest level while maintaining a rare ability to connect with and communicate to a broad audience. It brings to mind some giants of the past like Stan Getz (with whom Brian played), Wes Montgomery and Oscar Peterson.  For a lifetime jazz lover like me, it’s a real treat to be working with Brian Bromberg.” 

Awakening is Bromberg’s most intimate and revealing project yet. “This collection of music really is about my awakening from a terribly painful period in my life,” states the bassist. “I have new energy now. New goals. New confidence. A new sense of ownership over myself and my life.” The 13 original tracks on Awakening ignite a sense of joy and renewal that will inspire you to dance, dream and contemplate life’s unpredictable journey.  Bromberg has assembled an all-star lineup including saxophonists Dave Koz and labelmates Euge Groove, Everette Harp, Marion Meadows and Michael Paulo. The album also features guitarist and Shanachie artist Paul Brown, (who co-produced the album with Bromberg), and pianist David Benoit (who has also recorded for Shanachie).   “I’ve always tried to surround myself with the best of the best,” confides Bromberg. It’s incredibly inspiring to me. Every one of them has such a strong and recognizable voice on their instrument, and they bring that unique voice to my music. It was truly a rewarding experience for me.”

In the same way that diamonds and crystals made of pure carbon deep inside the Earth have to endure pressure and heat in order to emerge remarkably strong and brilliantly shining, we too as humans undergo a process of trials and tribulations that allow us to evolve into more resilient and radiant individuals. Awakening would not be what it is without Brian Bromberg’s willingness to allow the music to come from a place deep within.  Over a period of four days in December 2023, Bromberg experienced a succession of events that changed his life. First, his relationship with his then-fiancée ended and he moved out of their house in Ojai, California, having to leave behind his beloved animals, recording studio, and the life he knew.

“One of the most painful parts was being separated from my animals—my dogs, cats, and horses who were my family—and losing that daily connection with them was devastating,” shares Bromberg. He credits a dear friend for offering him a safe place to stay on his ranch, more than 100 miles away. In the middle of this transition, he was facing cataract surgery. “My entire personal life was suddenly being turned upside down and I was dealing with eye surgery and driving back and forth 150 miles each way to Santa Barbara for the procedure and follow-up,” he explains.  Then, one early morning, Bromberg was taking a prescribed optic antibiotic drop that was administered following surgery and had a horrible accident. “I was putting in my eye drops in a dimly lit unfamiliar environment, and I lost my balance and fell onto the concrete floor, breaking my back and slicing open the fingers on my right hand,” recalls the bassist. “It was truly a life-changing period. I was suddenly alone, missing my former life, and in terrible pain for many months and unable to do much of anything.” 

Somehow, through all that emotional and physical turmoil, Brian Bromberg wrote the music featured on Awakening. He says, “I still ask myself: Where did these melodies come from? How did so many joyous melodies come out of so much pain?” Bromberg describes this challenging time as a personal evolution, “There truly has been an awakening. This music saved me. I feel like the music came to me, that it was given to me and entrusted to me to honor it. It’s difficult to explain, it’s pretty powerful, to be totally honest with you.”

Brian Bromberg demonstrates the versatility and beauty of his instrument on Awakening as he showcases its warmth and depth, switching back and forth between a Kiesel B2 5-string bass, a Kiesel B2 4-string tenor bass, and a hollow-body piccolo bass. It is a joy to hear the bass out front with varying strings and tunings as a lead instrument. “I love using basses in all these different ways because it constantly challenges me to be the best most musical and lyrical player, I can be,” shares the consummate musician. “Some of my basses can sound like guitars because I tune them into the register of a guitar. On Awakening, every guitar-sounding melody and solo you hear is me playing piccolo bass. I tune those basses an octave and a fourth above regular bass tuning.”

Brian Bromberg obliterates the age-old argument that a hard line needs to be drawn between the worlds of straight head and Contemporary Jazz. Even Miles, Duke and Pops agreed that essentially there are only two types of music – good and bad. For Bromberg being a musical chameleon has been both a blessing and a curse. If you look at my 40-year recording career holy crap! I’ve been all over the map with my recordings. I’ve been blessed with the curse of diversity and, and it has been very real challenge throughout my career. However, the blessing is that it’s insanely rewarding to be able to explore all those different styles and directions while maintaining integrity in the musicality,” explains the bassist. “It’s been several years since I’ve released a Contemporary/Smooth Jazz album.  Awakening is probably the most format-friendly, needle-dropping album I have ever made, while still maintaining the musical and artistic integrity that is so important to me,” admits the bassist who clearly can play it all. “To be honest, I’ve never recorded an album like Awakening before,” explains Bromberg. “I call these songs ‘melodies of life,’ reflects the bassist. “Somehow everything I was going through during that period found its way into the music. I want people to feel who I am and what I was going through when this music was written and recorded. The melodies are powerful, singable, and memorable, and that means the world to me because this album really is a window into my inner being, my heart, and my soul.” 

Awakening opens with the captivating, snappy, and cool “Forever Friends.” Penned in collaboration with Jeff Smith—who plays keys, rhythm guitar, and did the stellar horn arrangement—the track features Bromberg wielding his arsenal of basses to provide a fat groove that transports us on his euphoric journey. Alongside Buddy Jordan who plays keys and rhythm guitar, Bromberg composed “California Summer” which also features the warm sax of label-mate Euge Groove and the rhythmic flair of guitarist Shane Theriot and the formidable percussionist Lenny Castro. Together they paint a portrait of endless jubilant summer days. Bromberg and Jordan also penned the bouncy, free-spirited and groove-heavy, “The Dancer.”  The album’s winning first single, “Apparently Not!” hits hard and sets the record straight with its gritty funk edge and stop-time blues lines. This pulsating thriller that is sure to bring you to your feet as Bromberg has some fun raising the temperature with tenorman Everette Harp. “My good friend, the great saxophonist Everette, was also on my first #1 track decades ago, so having him on this one is pretty cool,” says Bromberg.  “He played his butt off, but he always does! The title itself is kind of a sarcastic inside joke. A few years ago, I recorded a song called ‘Is That the Best You Can Do?’ ‘Apparently Not!’ is my response to that song and title.”

The spellbinding, wistful and introspective ballad “The Dance We Never Had,” featuring Dave Koz, is a soul-stirring and tender ballad that leaves you hanging onto every note. Bromberg’s Midas touch draws you near while Koz mirrors the emotion as the duo play off of one another’s tension and release. “The song and title are about the sadness of what would have been my first wedding dance that never happened. Oh well, life happens,” reflects the bassist. “I’m thrilled my good friend Dave plays on this song; he is fantastic!” Bromberg’s lead on the buttery soul melody of‘Cherry Blossom’ is hard to resist with its rock-steady groove. The tune was co-written with Randy Weber who plays keys on the track.  The album’s title track Awakening is a festive romp with a joyful African flair that provides the perfect canvas for Bromberg to deftly play three different basses with unbounded joy. 

“Ojai” is the only song with a guitar solo that features Paul Brown, who plays a duet with Bromberg who is featured on piccolo bass. “Paul and I have become very close friends, and our friendship makes the music we create together even more special. When you look at this track record, you don’t get more than 80 #1 radio hits as a producer and two Grammy’s by an accident!” declares Bromberg. “Working with Paul was really a trip and I cannot leave out the great wine and home-cooked meals from his wife Jacqui! She welcomed me into their family and made sure I ate during this very strange and difficult period in my life. That meant more to me than I can say.” The sensuous “Candlelight” follows with BPM band member, saxophonist Michael Paulo who helps to usher in this memorable Quiet Storm anthem.  

Bromberg penned the beautiful “Ojai” conjuring images of the flaming golden sun descending over the Topatopa mountains as they transform into kaleidoscopic shades of pink, lavender, purple and orange. Saxophonist Marion Meadows joins Bromberg for the exotic and intoxicating “Salutations” while Pianist Dave Benoit unites with Bromberg for the gorgeous and emotional “What Could Have Been.” Bromberg and Benoit create a high point on the album as they do some soul-searching and transport us on their soul-drenched journey pondering what could have been.  “There is a lot of joy and fun in this music, but there are also some very deep, raw emotions,” confesses Bromberg. “It would be incredibly rewarding to me if listeners felt like they got to know me in a different way after hearing these songs and the heartfelt improvisation throughout the album.”  Bromberg kicks it up a notch on “Just Be Boppin’ Around,” a spirited ditty enraptures you in its arresting melody and bottom-heavy groove that strikes you right in the chest.  Bromberg and saxophonist Marion Meadows leave nothing on the table with their telepathic interplay.Awakening closes with the R&B inflected “So in Love, So Alone” with its ironclad kinetic groove and Bromberg’s dazzling agility. It’s a perfect way to end because when the final note drops you want to hear more!

A consummate musician, Brian Bromberg’s motto is “Good enough is never good enough. Always strive to be the best you can be in music and in your life.” Born in Tucson, Arizona, the versatile bassist, and producer has recorded the diverse repertoire of Jaco Pastorius, Antonio Carlos Jobim, Jimi Hendrix and Scott LaFaro and collaborated with a who’s who list in jazz from Freddie Hubbard and Lionel Hampton to Shirley Horn and Dianne Reeves.  Hailing from a family of musicians and artists, Bromberg gravitated towards the drums as a toddler and by the time he was a teen he was working professionally. At only 18 years old Brian’s first big break came in 1979 when bassist Marc Johnson recommended Bromberg for a gig with tenor titan Stan Getz.  Bromberg is a self-professed, quite novice wine connoisseur and is passionate about professional drag racing, animals, nature, and astronomy. The genesis of Awakening has been a journey of healing and personal evolution for Bromberg. This music is a gift not only to himself but to his fans. He concludes, “Awakening is deeply personal to me; I think the emotions within the music are universal. No matter who we are, what we look like, or where we come from, we all experience joy and loss, love and pain, hope and change.”