A Life Altering Accident Became Guitarist Kristen R. Bromley's Simply Miraculous Moment

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Dr. Kristen R. Bromley, D.M.A., is a gifted and sought after instructor, as well as a loved performer and composer. In addition to teaching guitar and jazz studies courses and ensembles at Brigham Young University, and directing the BYU Jazz Legacy Band, Dr. Kristen R. Bromley works as a professional arranging/composing, performing, and recording musician; and she is the owner and primary featured artist of Kristen R. Bromley Music, LLC.

Dr. Bromley has a Doctor of Musical Arts degree in Music Education from Boston University, a Master of Music degree in Jazz Studies from Indiana University's Jacobs School of Music, and a Bachelor of Music degree in Jazz Studies, with an additional BA major in Family History and Genealogy, from Brigham Young University.

In January 2016, Dr. Bromley suffered a severe break to her left-arm humerus bone, which likewise involved the crushing of her left-arm radial nerve. The nerve was damaged to the point that she completely lost the use of many of the muscles in her left-arm and hand. Despite a very grim prognosis, which suggested that in a best-case-scenario she would only regain a very small percentage of the function of her left-arm and hand, Dr. Bromley works as a musician and guitarist today. At the time of the injury, she was given a special priesthood blessing wherein God promised her that in time, because of her faith, she would experience a complete recovery. Truly, this miraculous promise has become a reality. After several months of patience and waiting, Dr. Bromley slowly began regaining the ability to move her wrist and fingers; and weeks later she was able to start gradually developing the ability to play the guitar again. In November of 2018 (released June, 2019), Dr. Bromley recorded a debut album called Simply Miraculous, which celebrates her miraculous return to professional guitar playing.

Dr. Bromley is the author of several guitar method books; and is featured on a handful of recordings. She has toured as a musician with bands across parts of North America and Europe; and she has performed at several highly prestigious jazz festivals such as the Edinburgh International Jazz Festival in Scotland, the Birmingham International Jazz Festival in England, the Marlborough International Jazz Festival in England, the Loulé Jazz Festival in Portugal, the San Sebastian International Jazz Festival in Spain, and the Ezcaray Jazz Festival in Spain. Dr. Bromley has also performed and helped present clinics at a handful of International Association for Jazz Education conferences (predecessor of the Jazz Education Network); and she was named the outstanding guitar soloist at the Lionel Hampton International Jazz Festival in 2006 and 2007.

As a scholar, Dr. Bromley has focused much of her research on discovering ways to create more interactive and person-centered educational environments, wherein individuals experience whole-person learning outcomes as they grow through cognitive, emotional, and experiential means, and where they develop greater self-discipline and become more fully-functioning persons. (For more information see Person-Centered Learning in a Collegiate Jazz Combo by Kristen R. Bromley, ProQuest Number: 13425317) Dr. Bromley loves life, seeks to be a friend to all, is deeply religious, and truly believes in the awesome power music has to uplift and edify the soul. She has devoted her career to enriching, uplifting, edifying, and inspiring lives through the education, performance, scholarship, composition, recording, and publishing of music.

Simply Miraculous features Kristen in the trio setting with two highly seasoned pros: Matt Larson on bass and Jay Lawrence on drums. Together they play five of Kristen's original tunes: "Simply Miraculous, " "The L's are Si"ll"ent, " "Winter Sundown, " "Winter Sunrise, " "Rhythm I've Got…"Quarky" as it MayBe;" and her original arrangements of two traditional folk/hymn tunes: "Lasst uns Erfreuen" and "I Know My Redeemer; He Lives!"

In Kristen's own words: "I'm really excited about this new album. It is, without a doubt, Simply Miraculous. About three years ago, my left-arm radial nerve was crushed when I broke my humerus bone in an accident. As a result, I lost the ability to control the movement of my left-hand fingers and thumb, and my wrist. My hand essentially felt and acted like dead-weight at the end of my arm. Consequently, I was diagnosed with a condition called radial nerve palsy; and the prognosis indicated that, in a best-case-scenario, I might someday re-gain a small percentage of the function and use of my left-arm and hand. However, due to God's mercy and intervention, an inspired surgeon, and a lot of patience and hard work on my part, I experienced a miraculous recovery from this injury and I slowly regained the ability to play the guitar. The release of this album is a celebration of that miracle. For me, the music presented here expresses the overall joy that I feel for the gifts of life and music; and for the simply miraculous opportunity that I have to play the guitar again."
Tracks, Times, Composer
1. Simply Miraculous 5:11 (Kristen R. Bromley)
2. The L's are Si"ll"ent 8:20 (Kristen R. Bromley)
3. Winter Sundown 5:59 (Kristen R. Bromley)
4. Winter Sunrise 6:42 (Kristen R. Bromley)
5. Rhythm I've Got…"Quarky" as it MayBe 8:20 (Kristen R. Bromley)
6. Lasst uns Erfreuen "Let us Be Joyful – Let us Rejoice" 10:26 (traditional hymn/folk tune, original arrangement by Kristen R. Bromley)
7. I Know My Redeemer; He Lives! 5:15 (folk/hymn tune by Lewis D. Edwards; original arrangement by Kristen R. Bromley)

Players & Instrument
Kristen R. Bromley – guitar
Matt Larson – bass
Jay Lawrence – drums

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