Acclaimed guitarist Bobby Broom is set to shine as the featured soloist on the upcoming recording More Amor: A Tribute to Wes Montgomery, which will be released on March 28, 2025, under the Chicago Jazz Orchestra Records label. This exciting project, born from a collaboration between Broom and CJO musical director Jeff Lindberg, revisits a vision first sparked back in 2004, when Broom performed a Montgomery retrospective concert with the Chicago Jazz Orchestra featuring big band and strings.
“I was thrilled when Jeff reached out to me to finally bring this recording to life,” says Broom. “Seeing this vision through has been a rewarding collaboration for both of us.”
The More Amor recording features fresh arrangements of both iconic and lesser-known Wes Montgomery compositions. Broom and Lindberg enlisted talented arrangers Alex Brown, Tom Garling, and Charley Harrison to reinterpret Montgomery’s works, such as “Four on Six”, “Somewhere”, and “What the World Needs Now Is Love”.
An important aspect of this project for Broom is the inclusion of his longtime trio—bassist Dennis Carroll and drummer Kobie Watkins—who form the core rhythm section for the album. “For me, this project is a dream,” says Broom. “Having the trio as part of this recording was essential. It provided a level of comfort and inspiration for me to create. I’ve always wanted to record in this setting, especially with strings, and to do so with such an incredible big band is beyond anything I imagined.”
Bobby Broom’s Upcoming Releases and Projects
In addition to his work with the Chicago Jazz Orchestra, Bobby Broom is busy in the studio with his trio, recording a project dedicated to his mentor, Sonny Rollins. Titled TYSR (Thank You Sonny Rollins), this album will reimagine Rollins’s iconic compositions from various stages of his illustrious career, including tracks like “Alfie’s Theme” and “Strode Road”, as well as some lesser-known gems like “Allison” and “Kim”.
Broom is also preparing for the release of his first solo guitar album, slated for spring 2026. In the meantime, fans can look forward to the remastered re-release of his 2001 trio album Stand!, which will be available on all major streaming platforms soon via Clean Sweep Music.
Bobby Broom’s Upcoming Performances
Bobby Broom continues to perform around the globe, with recent appearances including a successful three-night run at the Half Note Jazz Club in Athens, Greece, as well as performances at Berklee College of Music and City Winery Chicago.
Looking ahead, Broom will perform in a Benny Golson Tribute with the Ravinia Jazz Mentors on April 4 at Bennett Gordon Hall, Ravinia Festival Grounds in Highland Park, IL. As a Ravinia Jazz mentor for over 25 years, Broom has contributed to the development of numerous rising jazz stars. The Ravinia Jazz Scholar Program has helped shape the careers of talents such as Marquis Hill, Rajiv Halim, and Kyle Swan.
From April 10-13, Broom will perform with the Ben Paterson Organ Trio at the Jazz Showcase in Chicago. Ben Paterson is a member of the Bobby Broom Organi-Sation, which toured with Steely Dan in 2014.
This fall, Bobby Broom will perform with the Naples Philharmonic Jazz Orchestra at Daniels Pavilion, Philharmonic Center for the Arts in Naples, FL on October 15, 2025.
Finally, the much-anticipated More Amor: A Tribute to Wes Montgomery CD release concert will take place on March 16, 2025, at the Logan Center Performance Hall in Chicago. “This concert premiere will be an important event for Chicago’s jazz scene,” says Broom. “It will be a celebration of the excellence that went into the making of this remarkable recording.
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