“This band finds a way to leverage different strengths on each track, but it also taps into a universal mentality across the entire date. There’s an incredibly pliant simpatico driving this music ever higher and deeper. If Not Now, When? is a beautiful example of four beings in tune with one another and fully aware of their own resources and recesses.” ~Dan Bilawsky, May 2018, allaboutjazz.com
“Joined by longtime musical associate and sounding board Bill O’Connell on piano, the esteemed Harvie S on bass, and percussive pillar Jason Tiemann on drums, Brachfeld delivers a set of music that’s pure heart and fire.” ~Dan Bilawsky, May 2018, allaboutjazz.com
“Brachfeld’s style of playing has blowing strength (as with a shakuhashi) and clarity.” ~Dr. Debra Jan Bibel, May 2018, amazon.com
“Brachfeld is highly esteemed as a flutist, bandleader, and composer, and this new recording is sure to find a warm welcome at jazz radio as well as with the jazz press.” ~Tomas Peña, Editor-in-Chief, May 2018, Jazzdelapena
“Andrea Brachfeld truly is one of the most important voices in the history of the contemporary flute.” ~Raul da Gama, 2018, latinjazznet.com
“All of the music actually announces Miss Brachfeld’s genius in a quiet yet uncompromising manner. And most of these songs are also refreshing in their audacity and confidence. And all of these pieces on this striking recording show the flutist to be firing on all cylinders as she goes out of her way to emphasize the freshness and cheekiness of her voice.” ~Raul da Gama, May 2018, latinjazznet.com
“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
“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