Singer-songwriter Jack Broadbent will perform at the Beaches Museum Chapel in Jacksonville Beach on Feb. 17 as part of his cross-country North American tour, performing songs from his fifth and latest record Moonshine Blue.
“The young English slide-guitar bluesman has it all,” said Jeff Spevak, 30-year Rochester, New York arts reporter, who saw Broadbent play at the Xerox Rochester International Jazz Festival. “The songs, the gruff-to-caterwauling voice, the out-of-the-mainstream look and a guitar style best described as ruthless.”
Broadbent was named “the new master of the slide guitar” by the Montreux Jazz Festival and has been mastering his craft since early childhood with his father, musician Micky Broadbent, who played alongside UK vocalist Bram Tchaikovsky during the late ’70s and early ’80s.
“Being brought up with guitars all along the wall and going to shows, it was definitely inspiring,” said Broadbent, while sitting in an Applebee’s while taking a break for lunch. “Seeing my dad up there and all the people in the audience, I knew I wanted to do the same and create music that will impact people and make them happy.”
The album, Moonshine Blue, created half in Nashville, half in Montreal, is an ode to Broadbent’s travels, with songs inspired by life on the road.
“If” depicts a “broken man” who must venture out in the world to find a breakthrough. “If you’re leaving, where you going? I hope you’re searching for yourself out there,” Broadbent sings in the catchy track.
The album blends the sounds of blues and folk with subtle jazzy tunes and the occasional saxophone solo like in the track, “The Other Side.”
But no matter the genre, Broadbent only hopes to reflect one thing in his music, honesty, a trait he’s admired since listening to musicians like Radiohead, Joni Mitchell, Little Feat, Robert Johnson and more.
“If you look at all those artists, they’re all actually very similar,” he said. “They were honest in their music, in their lyrics. They were fantastic lyricists. My father (for example) was and continues to be a great musician and songwriter.”
Broadbent is following his father’s footsteps with over 6 million streams on Spotify. He’ll be opening for U.K. musician Peter Frampton in May, but regardless of his success, Broadbent keeps it modest.
Rather than speak about his achievements, Broadbent boasted about his opening act, Jarrod Dickenson, a Texas-born musician who often performs with his wife, Claire, and will open for Broadbent at Jacksonville Beach show.
“Him and I have very similar, rooted styles.” Broadbent said about his tour partner and friend, passing over the spotlight. “He’s really great, actually, maybe you could give him a little shout out.”
