“Anima Mea is a delight, with the right kind of pianissimo pyrotechnics as her fingers certainly do the talking in a masterly fashion.” ~Raul da Gama, May 2018, latinjazznet.com
“The Silence is vividly characterized, with the flutist running the gamut between dark turbulence and pastoral tranquility with absolute assurance. She does not waste time finding novel ways to dazzle – she just lets the music speak through her flute, often exercising unusual restraint where other musicians might take showy liberties.” ~Raul da Gama, May 2018, latinjazznet.com
“Every work on the disc is a unique showpiece and Miss Brachfeld plays each with exceptionally clear articulation in the flashes of intense virtuosity, as well as elegance and lyricism.” ~Raul da Gama, May 2018, latinjazznet.com
“If Not Now, When?” Downbeat Editor’s Pick
In the promotional materials for her new album, the flutist Andrea Brachfeld says, “If you want to play jazz, you have to be able to get the articulation of Charlie Parker, to make the instrument sound like a trumpet or saxophone. With a lot of flute players, I don’t hear those articulations.” As evidenced on […]
“As evidenced on If Not Now, When?, Brachfeld’s playing has a muscular flair and bite. She’s not here merely to make “pretty” flute music; she’s here to dig deep… In one portion of “Anima Mea,” Brachfeld plays at a slower tempo than her bandmates, building a dramatic arc of musical tension that is resolved in brilliant fashion. This band’s balance of taut cohesion and adventurous improvisation is mighty impressive… For Brachfeld, a beautiful timbre is not enough; a pleasant tone must be in service of an engaging instrumental narrative. A great example is “Deeply I Live,” which combines Brachfeld’s lovely, breathy lines with an intricate flurry of boppish fury, as well as fine solos from bassist Harvie S and drummer Jason Tiemann—and, most importantly, compositional acumen.” ~Bobby Reed, May 2018, downbeat.com