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Paul Broadnax began his professional career in 1946 working with baritone sax player
Joe Perry, the brother of Ray Perry, who was one of the top jazz violinists of the 1940s.
Broadnax also had a trio in the late '40s that entertained troops at the Roxbury, MA USO. But even before then,
Broadnax was in the Special Services branch of the U.S. Army during WWII, where he worked with pianist
Donn Trenner. A half century later,
Trenner was to become the musical director for
Broadnax's album Here's to Joe, a tribute to
Joe Williams.
Broadnax comes from a musical family. His uncle,
Joe Lee, was a stride pianist and his parents were classically trained singers. Although
Broadnax studied music during his youth, it was in mechanical engineering that he received a degree from Northeastern University. Over the years, there have been appearances at clubs, festivals, and concerts in and around the New England area, including stints at Sculler Jazz Club and stints at jazz festivals in Brockton and Winthrop, ME and at Portsmouth, NH. In 1992,
Broadnax performed at
Lionel Hampton's festival in Moscow, ID. His trio had a regular program on the ABC TV station affiliate in Boston during the '60s.
Broadnax cites
Nat King Cole and
Lester Young as stylistic influences. Like
Cole, he accompanies himself on piano.
Broadnax recorded his first album as a leader -- It's About Time -- for Brownstone Recordings in 1994. His tribute album to
Joe Williams, Here's to Joe, came out in 1996.
Broadnax and
Williams not only had similar styles, but were friends up to the latter's untimely death. Another album, Strike Up the Band, was released in 1999, and
Broadnax's other recordings have included Friends and Live at Indian Hill Music. He has also appeared on albums by
Greg Abate, Monica Hatch, and the Ken Hadley Big Band. Blessed with a smooth, silky baritone in the mold of
Joe Williams,
Johnny Hartman, and
Earl Coleman,
Broadnax had to work the boards for far too many years before getting his recording chance. As his solo albums attest, it was a long wait, but worth it. ~ Dave Nathan