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Videos
Quotes
There’s an incredibly pliant simpatico driving this music ever higher and deeper.
~ Tom McCarter, KZSU 90.1fm Stanford, May, 2018
“Evolution” is not just an album; it’s an eloquent, impassioned plea for humanity.
Brachfeld has serious jazz chops.
“Child of the Earth”, a spoken word affirmation, might be the album’s defining moment. Brachfeld’s delivery reflects the words’ urgency, her gradually rising voice driving the rhythm section relentlessly as the music builds and intensifies beneath her elemental message of acceptance and love.
Brachfeld clearly ranks among the top tier of jazz flutists.
She plays with an enviable fluidity and deep passion…
The first rate composing, arranging , and playing throughout Evolution, establishes it as one of the best releases of the year so far.
~ Terrell Holmes, The New York City Jazz Record, March 2023 View Article
“Brachfeld is joined by Bill O’Connell (piano), Harvie S (bass) and Jason Tiemann (drums, percussion), and they help make for a very unique and worldly approach to songwriting that you can’t help but appreciate. “
~ Take Effect, August 2022, takeeffectreviews.com
“Her flute floats on the upbeat “What’s UP “ and is cirrus fluffy for “The Unraveling Of It All”. Winds in the woods.”
~ George Harris, June 2022, jazzweekly.com
“There is nothing at which she does not excel, regardless of mood or tempo.”
~ Jack Bowers, June 2022, allaboutjazz.com
“When I listen to the gorgeous, rich sound of flutist Andrea Brachfeld, I question why she is not constantly headlining at the world’s top jazz spots.”
~ Don Smith, May 2022, hothousejazz.com
“…the music itself is consistently engaging and admirably performed by Brachfeld and her teammates. When the sum is totaled, that is what counts most.”
~ Jack Bowers, June 2022, allaboutjazz.com/
“With her longtime compatriots fully onboard, the music is allowed to respond to myriad influences, deftly blending into a distinctive voice.”
~Tomas dela Pena, April 2022, jazzdelapena.com/
“Her flute floats on the upbeat “What’s UP “ and is cirrus fluffy for “The Unraveling Of It All”. Winds in the woods.”
~George Harris , June 2022, jazzweekly.com
“With Evolution, Brachfeld continues her discoveries in music and exploration of self.”
~May 23, 2022, soundindepth.com
Reviews
See original article in French here.
A little-known double bassist in France, Santi Debriano nevertheless has a good and legitimate reputation in New York clubs. Born in Panama almost 70 years ago, quickly landed in Brooklyn, he started his career in the 1970s with Archie Shepp. Stays in Paris where he meets the pianist Kirk Lightsey whom he will never lose sight of, and accompanies Sam Rivers. Hearty start! Back in New York, he was invited by L.Coryell, P.Sanders, C.Taylor, C.Valdes, R.Weston, F.Hubbard, H.Jones, E.Jones… (Great track record, which speaks to us! ) before beginning in ’87, a career as a leader, and a solid composer, with renowned fusion, jazz, world (Panamanian), locally (N-Y) groups.
And here we are, plunged into this dirty old Covid-confinement period where we still had to do what we could against bad luck. He takes the opportunity to reflect and bring an ambitious project to fruition. He summons musicians, organizes jams in his cellar which becomes a permanent workshop, even an alchemical athanor. From these collective improvisations, he selected 8 musicians for the multi-Hetnic nonet presented here. A balance of 5 blowers for a section of 4 rhythm-harmonics. “Bembe” comes from a collective trance ritual (Yoruba-Santeria) including music, spirituality, dance and art of living. “Ashanti” is the name of a Togolese tribe where the pseudonym Santi is common. At first listen, we do not perceive anything particularly ‘old’ in this music, except the specific character of each of the components participating in it.
We are first of all seduced by the solid and sensual roundness of the double bass which reinvents itself with each measure leading original themes with real melodies, some of which never stop running through the head well after the end of the record… The acoustic guitar, nylon strings, in the hands of the Brazilian, charms and captivates with its virile limpidity inherited from the favelas and flamenco. He sings the melody, turning it in all directions, in symbiosis with the double bass, surrounded by the velvety arrangements which are reminiscent of the work of A.Shepp in his great orchestral works. Then, it is the twirling tenderness of the flute, on a more exotic rhythm, which takes us into sunny and wild regions, full of attractive mystery, like the flautist in the Douanier-Rousseau painting… A chorus of the viola who surfs on the waves of an ocean where we love to swim with him… And the omnipresence of the joyful double bass maintaining the permanent cohesion of the diligent group, but whose talent of each wants to show us a natural freedom which delights the heart and the ears.
The soul of J.Coltrane watches over the 3rd title, in 6/8, dedicated to the future of the spirits of the deceased in ‘voodoo’ rituals. The baritone is languorous, the guitar sparkling and deep, the piano floats in arpeggios, weightless on the Styx… chords of dark sweetness… Comes the obvious evocation of Mingus, sophisticated work of a complex composition, jaw-dropping tempi, precise counterpoints, a true feat of acrobatics for all! ‘Till then’ by B. Hutcherson. More sunshine, armfuls of it. Piano, flute, viola, bar, double bass, follow one another in a row on a beach of stardust… The trumpet shines on a funky-jazz theme, the drums splashing with swing and groove with its vitality which bounces throughout. A good old ‘Boogaloo’ that wakes up the legs… and the taste buds!
The drummer is enjoying it, and so are we. What follows is a piece full of life where the musicians seem to let loose by delivering their spontaneity, in an open space… once they have accepted the limits of a demanding composition. ‘Mr Monk’, a centerpiece, in the form of a tribute to… The pianist is inhabited by the crazy spirit of the legendary ancestor. Against a background of lively blues, the 3 sax players go about their evocation, with real or suggested quotes, all in an unfeigned cheerfulness from which appears the luminous smile of Mr T. Monk. Finally, as a sign of presentation, and of goodbye, a solo by Santi Debriano, emotion of a wink intended for another master, of the double bass, already mentioned in these lines, on this occasion, you guess…!? Thank you, and see you soon Mr Santi debriano!
~ lagazettebleudactionjazz.fr, August 2023
Panamanian-American bassist Santi Debriano took his Flash of the Spirit band, with Andrea Brachfeld (flute), Bob Franceschini (tenor sax), Bill O’Connell (piano) and Tommy Campbell (drums), to the Django for a one-night-only show (Aug. 1) of rousing Latin jazz. the group, named for the iconic robert Farris thompson volume examining African and Afro-American art and philosophy, kicked off its first set with a rendition of Sam Jones’ classic “Del Sasser”. the Cannonball Adderley Quintet swinger got a heaping helping of Latin spice via Campbell’s clave beat, which propelled fiery solos from his four colleagues and his own climactic exchanges with Debriano. Solo bass opened Archie Shepp’s elegant “Steam”, on which Franchesini blew burly tenor, recalling the composer’s brawny sound, and brachfeld played a soaring songbird flute, followed by O’Connell’s lilting piano and a lyrical outing by the leader. Campbell’s explosive drumming had the crowd raucously cheering. the mood calmed for O’Connell’s “Lazy rumba” on which tenor and flute harmonized the easy-grooving melody over Campbell’s gamboling rhythms. Highflying flute, dug-in tenor, sparkling piano and fleet-fingered bass solos followed. Unaccompanied bass opened the closer, “ripty boom”, which featured a breathtaking uptempo Brachfeld solo, beautifully bowed bass from Debriano and Campbell’s always-entertaining squeaky toy percussion. (RM)
~ nycjazzrecord.com, September 2023
~ takeeffectreviews.com, August 2022
An important artist in New York City’s jazz and Afro-Cuban scene for 5 decades, Andrea Brachfeld spent much time thinking about children’s issues during the pandemic, and that reflection is very apparent in these very diverse and thoughtful songs.
“What’s Up” starts the listen with dreamy flute, crisp drumming, and much warm piano in the fluid jazz climate, and “Decimation Of Transformation” follows with firm piano and cultured melodies guiding the playful delivery.
“The Hut Song”, by the Inuit duo Tudjaat, lands in the middle and recruits skilled percussion amid the stylish and bebop-friendly album highlight, while “Child Of The Earth” showcases exciting spoken word fueling the swift and dynamic meshing of keys, bass and drums.
Shlomo Carlebach’s “Ko Ribon” arrives close to the end, and trims the pace back with eloquent flute adding much to the reflective nature, and “Being With What Is” exits the listen with a dizzying execution of global influences that touch on jazz in exciting, unconventional ways.
Brachfeld is joined by Bill O’Connell (piano), Harvie S (bass) and Jason Tiemann (drums, percussion), and they help make for a very unique and worldly approach to songwriting that you can’t help but appreciate.
~ takeeffectreviews.com, August 2022
“Una figura central de las escenas afrocubanas y de jazz de la ciudad de Nueva York durante los últimos cinco décadas, la flautista ANDREA BRACHFELD, como la mayoría de los artistas en los últimos dos años, encontró una gran cantidad de tiempo para reflexionar sobre su arte, comunidad y humanidad.
En “Evolution”, la escritura de BRACHFELD se vio afectada por su inmersión en los problemas de los niños y la necesidad continua de las necesidades básicas incluso en los mejores tiempos..La pandemia la llevó a una amplia gama de fuentes musicales, cada una de las cuales reflejaba un mensaje universal de la condición humana. “Qingauiit” del dúo Inuit Tudjaat, “The Hut Song” del pueblo baka centroafricano, y el rabino Shlomo”Ko Ribon” de Carlebach, inyecta voces de descubrimiento, trauma y celebración. Con sus compatriotas de toda la vida a bordo, se permite que la música responda a las miradas de influencias, mezclándose hábilmente en una voz distintiva…ANDREA BRACHFELD hechiza con su virtuosismo asegurado y claras proyecciones emocionales…” (Publicado por la Revita Amèricana DOWNBEAT)
El Nuevo Album “Evolution” fue grabado en Nueva Jersey (USA) en Enero/Febrero y Septiembre del 2021 y editado en Mayo del 2022 por el sello Origin Records.
La flautista y compositora ANDREA BRACHFELD esta acompañada por:
Bill O`Connell en piano, Harvie S en contrabajo y Jason Tiemann en bateria y percusiòn.ANDREA BRACHFELD se luce en Flauta Alta, Flauta C, Kalimba, Flauta de Madera Africana, Flauta Colombiana y Voz.
Los Esperamos, cafecito de por medio, en Jazz Cafè FM-Radio Argentina de Jazz, para escuchar y disfrutar el Nuevo Album de la Flautista ANDREA BRACHFELD & INSIGHT – “Evolution”.
~ Jazz Cafe FM, June 2022
Bios
Short Bio
Flutist, composer, arranger, producer, educator, and business owner, Andrea Brachfeld, is a graduate of The High School of Music and Art and the Manhattan School of Music. Study with Hubert Laws, Jimmy Heath, George Coleman, and Mike Longo helped her develop her own improvisational style.
Since she began her professional career as a musician at age 16, she has recorded and played many different genres of music including Jazz, Brazilian Jazz, Latin Jazz, Salsa, Charanga, Funk, Country Western, and Devotional Spiritual music. Some of the many artists she has associated with include Tito Puente, Hubert Laws, Paquito D’Rivera, Slide Hampton, Wallace Roney, Wycliffe Gordon, Ray Barretto, Dave Valentín, Wayne Wallace, Bobby Carcassés, Oscar Hernandez, Alfredo de la Fé, Ralph Irizarry, Joe Newman, Nestor Torres, Kenwood Dennard, Hilton Ruiz, Steve Turre, and Bill O’ Connell among many others.
Her breakthrough performance as the flutist for the popular Charanga band Charanga ’76, catapulted her into Salsa history and fame as the first female flutist to play this music in the United States.
As a high school student, she received the “Louis Armstrong Award for Outstanding Student” from Jazz Interactions, an organization created by Joe and Rigmor Newman. Downbeat magazine referred to Andrea as “one of the finest jazz flutists around.” She has twice been the recipient of the Latin New York Music Award. She received the Chico O’Farrill Lifetime Achievement Award from Latin Jazz USA in Oct. 2006 and the “Pionero Award” in 2010 for her contribution to Latin music. She was also awarded the, “Tribute to the Charanga Flutes,” given by Charanga Legends USA, in August of 2012.
While in Venezuela, having been contracted by music impressario, Renato Capriles, she had the honor of opening for Chick Corea and Paco de Lucia with her first Latin Jazz band in 1982.
Her first Latin Jazz CD, “Remembered Dreams” combines original music with jazz harmony and Latin rhythms. Her second CD, “Back With Sweet Passion”, is a dynamic Charanga Jazz recording featuring Grammy-award winner Oscar Hernandez on piano and Alfredo De La Fé on violin. Her third CD “Beyond Standards”, is a collaborative effort with Chembo Corniel, which features jazz greats Hilton Ruiz on piano, Steve Turre on trombone, and Pedrito Martinez on vocals and bata. Her most recent Latin Jazz CD, “Into the World: A Musical Offering” features guest artists Mike Longo, Paul West, and Brian Lynch. Her first jazz CD named, “Lady of the Island,” was released in October of 2012 by ZOHO music featuring Wallace Roney, Wycliffe Gordon, and Bill O’ Connell, longtime musical director for Dave Valentín. Bill produced the record as well as wrote the arrangements.
She has appeared with the Winnipeg Jazz Orchestra as a soloist performing her own compositions as well as those of Mike Longo, longtime musical director for Dizzy Gillespie.
Andrea has traveled to Cuba a number of times to perform at the International Havana Jazz Festival and has traveled to Peru to play at the International Flute Festival. She was also an integral part of the Wallace Roney,”Universe” Orchestra playing Wayne Shorter’s long lost music originally written for Miles Davis.
In September of 2015 she was awarded the title of “Best Jazz Flutist” by Hot House Magazine and her CD “Lotus Blossom” came out on Jazzheads Records in October of 2015. The featured performers on the CD include Bill O’ Connell, Rufus Reid, Winard Harper , Chembo Corniel, and special guest appearances by Wycliffe Gordon and Nancy Harms.
Andrea currently tours with her own jazz group, Andrea Brachfeld and Insight, featuring Bill O’ Connell, Harvie S and Jason Tiemann, and The Bill O’ Connell ACE project; Afro Caribbean Ensemble and Bill O’ Connell’s Jazz Latin group featuring Andrea Brachfeld. Her newest group ,”Andrea Y Su Charanga” has reemerged and has been playing concerts in and out of town. Andrea and the Dave Valentin Tribute band recently came back from a tour in Japan playing at the Cotton Club. In June 2017, Andrea was awarded a grant from the prestigious organization, Chamber Music America and the Doris Duke Charitable Foundation, to compose a new jazz work. Her CD, “If Not Now, When? ” was released on the Jazzheads label in May of 2018, and reflects this new music. Andrea’s latest project,”Brazilian Whispers” is a Brazilian Jazz recording which features her band, “Insight”, Bill O’ Connell, Harvie S, and Jason Tiemann, as well as guest artists Portinho on drums, Lincoln Goines on the bass, Roni Ben-Hur on guitar and Chembo Corniel on the congas and percussion. It was released in January of 2020 on Origin Music. She was also recently awarded the Presenters Consortium grant from Chamber Music America which provides funds for three concerts. Her latest recording “Evolution” was released in May, 2022 featuring Bill O’ Connell, Harvie S, and Jason Tiemann, on Origin Records. It has received rave reviews and continues to be on the Jazzweek charts .
Bio – 200 Words
Flutist, composer, arranger, producer, educator, business owner, Andrea Brachfeld, is a graduate of the High School of Music and Art and the Manhattan School of Music.
She has recorded ten CDs as a leader with music spanning from Latin Jazz to Charanga Jazz, to Jazz and devotional music. Some of the guest artists who have recorded on her CDs include Wallace Roney, Rufus Reid, Wycliffe Gordon, Mike Longo, Paul West, Winard Harper, Bill O’ Connell, Oscar Hernandez, Steve Turre, Pedrito Martinez, and Hilton Ruiz among others.
Andrea currently tours with her own group, Andrea Brachfeld and Insight, Santi Debriano and Arkestra Bembe, and Santi Debriano and Flash of the Spirit. In June 2017, Andrea was awarded a grant from the prestigious organization, Chamber Music America and the Doris Duke Charitable Foundation, to compose a new jazz work. Her CD, “If Not Now, When? ” was released on Jazzheads in May of 2018 and reflects this new music. Andrea’s CD,”Brazilian Whispers” , released in January, 2020 features Bill O’ Connell, Harvie S,Jason Tiemann, Roni Ben-Hur, Lincoln Goines, Portinho and Chembo Corniel. Her latest CD, “Evolution” was released in May, 2022 and is a combination of straight- ahead jazz and world music.
Bio – 100 Words
Flutist Andrea Brachfeld, a graduate of Manhattan School of Music, and recipient of the “Best Jazz Flute“ award from Hot House Magazine in 2015, began her musical career at 16 and has associated with Tito Puente, Ray Barretto, Hubert Laws, Nestor Torres, Dave Valentín, Paquito D’Rivera, Wycliffe Gordon and Wallace Roney, among many others.
Flutist Andrea Brachfeld, a graduate of Manhattan School of Music, and recipient of the “Best Jazz Flute“ award from Hot House Magazine in 2015, began her musical career at 16 and has associated with Tito Puente, Ray Barretto, Hubert Laws, Nestor Torres, Dave Valentín, Paquito D’Rivera, Wycliffe Gordon and Wallace Roney, among many others.
In June 2017, Andrea was awarded a grant from the prestigious organization, Chamber Music America and the Doris Duke Charitable Foundation, to compose a new jazz work. Her newest CD,” Evolution” was released in May,2022 featuring Bill O’ Connell, Harvie S and Jason Tiemann.
Bio – 400 Characters
Andrea Brachfeld, recent recipient of the “Best Jazz Flute “ award from Hot House Magazine, has associated with Hubert Laws, Tito Puente, Paquito D’ Rivera, Wallace Roney. Wycliffe Gordon, Dave Valentin, and Ray Barretto, among others. She received the New Jazz Work grant from Chamber Music America and the Doris Duke Charitable Foundation in 2017. Her newest CD, “Evolution” was released in May, 2022.
Bio – 85 Words
Andrea Brachfeld, recent recipient of the “Best Jazz Flute “ award from Hot House Magazine in 2015, has associated with Hubert Laws, Slide Hampton, Tito Puente, Paquito D’ Rivera, Wallace Roney. Wycliffe Gordon, Dave Valentin, and Ray Barretto, among many others. In June of 2017, Andrea was awarded a grant from the prestigious organization, Chamber Music America and the Doris Duke Charitable Foundation, to compose a new jazz work. Her new CD, “Evolution” was released in May of 2022.
Awards
- Received the “New Jazz Grant from Chamber Music America and the Doris Duke Foundation” 2017
- Received an Artist Residency from the Millay Colony for composition 2015
- “Best Jazz Flute” from Hot House Magazine 2015
- “Official Hall of Fame Artist”, Salsamagazine.com Salsa Awards 2012
- “Tribute to the Charanga Flutes”, given by Charanga Legends USA presented in August of 2012
- “Pionero” Award for my contribution in Latin Music – Mario Torres Productions
- Nominated as “Best Latin Jazz flutist” – Chip Boaz – Latin Jazz Corner
- “Tribute to Women in Salsa” – Salsation Productions, Washington DC
- “Chico O’Farrill Lifetime Achievement Award” – Latin Jazz USA
- “Latin New York Music Award” – Twice the recipient for flutist
- “Louis Armstrong Award” for Outstanding Student from Jazz Interactions
Career Highlights
- Was a member of the Universe Orchestra led by Wallace Roney
- First woman to receive the “Pionero” Award in November, 2010 for her contribution to Latin Music from Mario Torres Productions.
- Received the Chico O’ Farrill Lifetime Achievement Award
- First woman to play with a Charanga (Salsa) Band in the United States, Charanga ‘76
- Released, produced four Latin Jazz CD’s and one meditation and yoga CD as a leader
- Performed with Hubert Laws and David Fathead Newman – Cape May Jazz Festival
- Played the JVC Jazz Festival with the International Women in Jazz at St. Peter’s Church
- Played at Madison Square Garden with Charanga America
- Played with Conjunto Libre- Andy Gonzales, Jerry Gonzales, Manny Oquendo
- Opened for Chick Corea, Paco Lucia and Gary Burton- Caracas, Venezuela
- Guest artist with Nestor Torres, Dave Valentin, Jon Lucien
- Invited by Chucho Valdéz and Bobby Carcasses to perform at the Havana Jazz Festival
- Invited and appeared on the Bill Bogg’s Show with Karen Joseph
Stage and Tech Specs
RS Berkeley C flutes and alto flutes.
