April
2 ,
2004
David
Bromberg Quartet to Perform at MHC April 16
|
David
Bromberg |
David Bromberg,
returning to the Pioneer and Connecticut River Valleys for
the first time in at least four years, will appear at 8 pm
Friday, April 16, in Chapin Auditorium.
Seeing David Bromberg in concert is a rare opportunity. He has "retired" several
times over the years. But the “99-percent retired” Bromberg
is a legend among his still-rabid following, who maintain a thriving
Internet subculture, swapping bootleg tapes of his 1960s and
1970s live gigs and chatting about where and when he might pop
up next. “Hopefully there’s a clinic they can go
to,” said the still acerbic Bromberg, gently chiding his
fans’ tendency toward hero worship.
For those who don’t remember, Bromberg was considered a
musician’s musician, a master of the guitar, banjo, mandolin,
and violin, who initially had a successful career as a sought-after
session and backup instrumentalist. After a short stint with
a gospel singer named Brother John Sellers, Bromberg became the
quintessential rock ‘n roll sideman, playing guitar for
Chubby Checker and Jay and the Americans, and helping producers
of canned pop rock achieve the sounds for fake bands like the
Archies. “It was really stupid work— I could probably
blackmail a few people,” said Bromberg of those early days.
Bromberg soon found work more worthy of his talents, backing
up Jerry Jeff Walker on the classic, “Mr. Bojangles” and
Bob Dylan on his seminal “Self Portrait” album. His
performance of “Bullfrog Blues” at the legendary
Isle of Wight Festival in 1970 sparked a decade of success as
one of America’s premier folk artists. As much a comedian,
verbal essayist, satirist, and philosopher as he was a musician,
Bromberg performed storied live shows once characterized as “the
thinking man’s foot-stomping music.”
A popular collaborator with other recording artists, Bromberg
created albums that benefited from the talents of featured guests
like Emmylou Harris, Bonnie Raitt, Ricky Skaggs, and members
of the Grateful Dead.
Bromberg’s fate as a cult hero was sealed when he quit
performing and recording in 1980, upon graduation from violin-making
school. He’s been collecting fine violins ever since and
has become an expert in the field to the extent that he’s
put together an exhibit of his collection for the Smithsonian.
According to his manager of 28 years, Gary Haber: “David
has probably one of the most valuable collections of American-made
violins in the world. He has established himself as a very successful
dealer in fine instruments. Frankly he does better now financially
than he ever did in music.”
Bromberg is happily married and raising a couple of kids in Wilmington,
Delaware, where, in a unique arrangement with the city, he renovated
a building and created a music store, school, and repair shop
all under one roof. He acts as a sort of musical ambassador for
the neighborhood around his storefront.
“
It wasn’t so much that it was terrible,” said Bromberg
of his touring days, “but it took me away from my family.
And when you’re traveling between cities there’s
so much unproductive time—it’s like you’re
dead. People call me up and offer me money, but now I have a
lot of demands: no clubs, no two-set nights—who wants to
get out at 4:00 AM anymore? The main thing is that I want it
to be fun—for me, the musicians, the audience, everybody.”
All seats are reserved and priced at $30.00 and $27.00 each.
Tickets can be purchased at www.twincloud.com or by calling 1-800-THE
TICK (800-843-8425) or 413-586-8686. Tickets are also available
at the Northampton Box Office, 150 Main Street, Northampton,
Massacusetts. The show is sponsored by 93.9 The River.
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