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| Andrea Brachfeld and Phoenix Rising Jazz CD Release Party  CD Release Party - Andrea Brachfeld and Phoenix Rising, Tues., Nov. 20th at Zinc Bar (2 west 3rd street between Thompson and Sullivan St. NY 10012). Sets at 8:00 and 10:00 pm. Featuring: trumpet-David Weiss, Saxophone-Todd Bashore, Piano-Bill O'Connell, Bass- Andy Eulau, Drums-Kim Plainfield, Congas and percussion- Chembo Corniel, Special guest- Steve Turre- trombone. What The Press Is Saying About "Lady of the Island": …she stakes her claim as one of the top jazz flutists around today……Lady of the Island... is Andrea Brachfeld's definitive recording thus far. Scott Yanow Waxing Poetic Reviews L.A. Jazz Scene Flute players are a dime a dozen but artists that play flute are rare… …The latest Zoho release from Andrea Brachfeld certainly places her at the very top of the list when it comes to memorable artistry… … Brachfeld draws a slightly more hard bop line in the sand then one would expect and delivers the goods. The real deal… …Andrea Brachfeld turns in an impressive performance along with her 4tet and special guests for a solid and incredibly entertaining release. Brent Black www.criticaljazz.com …For her fifth leader date, and first on the Zoho label, Brachfeld unleashes brazen chops and beauty with heart and flute aflutter… …This marks the dawn of a new day for the fabulous flute of Andrea Brachfeld and those willing to open their ears to it. By DAN BILAWSKY www.allaboutjazz.com …this is a solid release… …Brachfeld's own forays between measured lyricism and bop… …Favorite cut? Four Corners. Knocks me on my ass, though Bebop Hanna is exceedingly memorable as well, as much for its humor and brash in your face sassiness as its chops. Folk & Acoustic Music Exchange by Mark S. Tucker …she does demonstrate admirable swing and tonal flexibility, and her compositions display an impressive balance of accessibility and complexity… …she's a very skillful and idiomatic player and her band is exceptional. Rick Anderson http://cdhotlist.com Brachfeld plays passionate hard-driving be bop with the best of them, and in softer moments her tone is magic… …Like I said, if Lady of the Island is any indication of what Andrea Brachfeld can do, as well as what she may be doing in the future, somebody better take another look at that list of 100 greatest flautists and give some serious thought to its revision. Jack Goodstein blogcritics.org Brachfeld can write as well. Her brisk opener, "Bebop Hanna, " is a flag-waver, and "Dead Ahead" is taken at a tempo not for the faint of heart… …Brachfeld is anything but the stereotypical "lady flute player." So don't expect seamless New Age sounds. Brachfeld has surrounded herself with some steaming colleagues, and she definitely fits right in! George Fendel Jazz Society of Oregon Liner Notes For "Lady of the Island" "Wish it – dream it – do it." That's what one of my many car bumper stickers say . Why am I talking about my bumper stickers? Well, because my dream has always been to play jazz, and this record is my dream come true! I just didn't expect such amazing musicians to play on my record, but here they are, and here I am! Oftentimes life has many circuitous paths we follow in order to get to where we want to be. Our plan is not always God's plan. I guess mine has been curvaceous as well. My musical path began when I played my first jazz gig at age 16 at "All Nite Soul, " then found myself with the title of the first woman in the US to play in a Charanga band in 1976. After taking a semi-hiatus for about 15 years in 1998, I put together a Latin Jazz band and recorded and produced my first CD. Now I've come full circle to playing my first love, jazz. The hard work, persistence, determination, visualization techniques, the process of letting go, and then hoping that what I want, is my destiny, has paid off. The Lady of the Island project began many years ago. Over the course of a couple of months, after a personal injury occurred, I was disabled from playing my flute. Fast forward seven years and many doctors, healers, and shifts of energy later, I healed myself. But that is a whole story unto itself. Then it became clear to me that I needed to play what I loved to play in life and no longer put it off; that was to play jazz! Many people have appeared in my life throughout this process who have inspired me, including Wycliffe Gordon, Frank Wess, Mike Longo, Hubert Laws, Dave Valentín, and of course my first jazz teacher ever, Jimmy Heath. I would first like to thank God for allowing me to be the conduit through which my music reaches you, my audience. Thanks to my parents who brought me into the world. Special thanks to my daughter who is always there for me. My heartfelt thanks goes out to all of you who have helped me produce this CD: Bill O' Connell, Kim Plainfield, Chembo Corniel, Andy Eulau, Bob Quaranta, Yasek Manzano, Wallace Roney, Wycliffe Gordon, Todd Bashore, Maureen Plainfield, Olga Luz, Chris Sulit, Ed Littman, Jack Frisch, and Jochen Becker. Everyone supported this project and believed in me and did me solids over and over again. So, my friends, my fans, my colleagues, my mentors, my elders, the masters; enjoy this music which so many people put so much hard work and love into! Be in joy! And don't forget that double rainbows above your house can change your lives! Be Bop Hanna- I composed this piece, because one day I walked into my niece's house and her three year old daughter kept saying that she wanted more bebop! I asked her mom what she was talking about- it was candy! I just had to write a composition for her. Whenever I hear Wycliffe Gordon's solo I can't stop laughing! He puts so much humor into his amazing playing, and the smoothness of one line melting into the next is just amazing. Kim Plainfield's sense of timing on this tune is perfect. Eye of The Hurricane- In the process of acquiring as many CDs of the masters as I could, Herbie Hancock's recording of "Eye" really spoke to me. When Bill O'Connell wrote the arrangement for it, I knew it was one of the right songs to record. He really nailed the concept of the composition with the complexity of the 6/8 rhythm and his intricate arrangement of the horns. Wycliffe gives the music his all, as he always does- playing with such passion. Wallace Roney plays a beautifully simple solo then gradually morphs into a killing, complex one. I just love his soulful and unique sound. I Got it Bad- Bill and I were discussing which ballad to record when I came across this one. Duke is one of my favorite composers and I always felt an affinity for him since he and I were born in the same month. I also really related to the lyrics as I'm sure many women can. Bill's suggestion of a duo for this piece really came out perfectly with the interplay of the melody and improvisation between us. Little Girl's Song- I composed this tune many years ago to celebrate my daughter. She has grown into an amazing person who is beautiful inside and out, but I still can't stop treating her like my little girl. I've told her many times that she might as well give up the fight. She'll never win! Andy Eulau plays his solo with total melodic and harmonic control. I can always count on him to keep the groove going! Dead Ahead- This composition is written by Bill. We needed a tune that was really fast and this one did the trick. Bill didn’t have a title for it, so I just said, “Why not call it “Dead Ahead” as a play on words for straight ahead. He agreed, so here it is. Wallace nails the changes and of course brings his magic sense of chromatics to it. Bill also played with such fluidity and his ideas seem like they never stop, with different ones every bar. Birdlike- When I heard this composition with the introduction sounding so Latin-like, I knew I had to record it. Bill did an amazing job with the arrangement and with Chembo Corniel’s congas on the Latin part of the tune, the driving rhythm brings out all the passion of each player. Todd Bashore played a killing solo on this tune as well. I am heavy into Bird (Charlie Parker), so this is my tribute to him. In the Center- I composed this composition when I was in a very meditative state. I was feeling very peaceful and centered and whenever I perform the tune, it immediately puts me in that state. Bill convinced me that the bridge needed some work, so he rewrote the bridge and it really felt like a perfect fit when I heard it. Lady of the Island- I have always loved this tune. The simple melody and the lyrics have stayed with me for years. It is a love song and especially speaks to the musician’s way of life in such a beautiful way. When we first played this at the rehearsal, Kim Plainfield and Bill O’Connell immediately said- Jon Lucien. And that is how we recorded it- with Jon in mind. Kim and Bill played with him for many years and I knew him well. This one’s for you Jon! The fluegelhorn on the song is played by Yasek Manzano, a wonderful young musician from Cuba. He really added a soft and sensual flavor to the tune. Four Corners – I composed this tune after I had gotten my house cleared and evaluated by a Feng Shui master. The process literally changed my life in so many ways, so this song is a tribute to this amazingly ancient and totally practical Chinese custom. Kim, Chembo and I decided, as a result of Bill’s suggestion, to start my solo with just percussion and flute which gives the tune a different vibe to it. I’d like to also say that Bob Quaranta’s solo on this composition is the best I’ve heard yet! Yasek also plays beautifully crafted lines on the tune which shows why he is so well respected as a jazz player. Be on the lookout for this young lion i write your comments about the article :: © 2012 Jazz News :: home page |