The New York City Jazz Record – Sept 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. ...Read More
Evolution – The New York City Jazz Record-“Evolution”, by flutist Andrea Brachfeld & Insight, is not just an album; it’s an eloquent, impassioned plea for humanity. Brachfeld, with a first-call rhythm section of pianist Bill O’Connor, bassist Harvie S and drummer Jason Tiema, sets out a musically and culturally divers welcome table that is instructive as well as entertaining. ...Read More
Evolution – Take Effect Review-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… ...Read More
Evolution – Jazz Cafe, Argentina Press-"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… ...Read More
Evolution – All About Jazz Review-"...in Evolution, she brings listeners to different corners of the planet. Sometimes what sounds at first straight-ahead jazz then goes to totally new territories and vice versa. "Qingauilt" is a piece from the Inuit duo Tudjaat, but it is hard to distinguish it from a traditional jazz tune. The lyrical bass solos glue together the flute and… ...Read More
Evolution – Saxophon Forum Review-"The American flutist Andrea Brachfeld has recorded an impressive new album with her quartet Insight. She uses a wide variety of flutes from the normal C flute and alto flute to various bamboo flutes, which contribute to an exciting touch of world music. Their trio is spectacular, especially pianist Bill O'Connell impresses with gripping uptempo… ...Read More
Evolution – JazzWax Review and Interview-"After hearing Andrea's beautiful playing on Evolution, I reached out for an email interview. To fully understand Andrea's grace, spiritual energy and flowing technique, I wanted to know everything about her—what she went through growing up and the stakes she faced as she pushed to become the fluid and soulful player she is today." Read… ...Read More
Evolution – Downbeat Review-"This band's balance of taut cohesion and adventurous improvisation is mighty impressive. A central figure of New York City's jazz & Afro-Cuban scenes over the last five decades, flutist Andrea Brachfeld, like most artists over the last two years, found a great amount of time to reflect on their art, community, and humanity. For "Evolution,"… ...Read More
Evolution Review-An ode to flowers that peek through concrete, Evolution is a work of art and love. It's a chapter in the transformation of a recording. It's a road in the progression of an artist. I remember Andrea Brachfeld when she graced the cover of Charanga '76 as part of the Afro-Cuban band. Her prior jazz workshops with Jimmy Heath… ...Read More
Brazilian Whispers Review-While the flute has been an important part of Cuban music and Afro-Cuban jazz since its beginnings, it is heard less often in Brazilian jazz settings. That is surprising since its soothing sound is a natural fit for gentle bossa novas. Andrea Brachfeld, one of the top jazz flutists of the past few decades, had… ...Read More
Brazilian Whispers-Flutist Andrea Brachfeld’s latest release does more than just whisper “Brazil’.” Start with eight classics from the vast Jobim songbook given some innovative touches — “Waters of March” infused with a swing feel, “Girl from Ipanema” recast as a samba. Add to them three genre-rich tunes co-composed by Brachfeld and pianist Bill O’Connell and Brachfeld’s soulful alto flute on “Never Let Me… ...Read More
Andrea Brachfeld: Brazilian Whispers-Andrea Brachfeld plays both C and alto flute with a galloping team of Bill O’Connell/p-key, Harvie S-Lincoln Goines/b, Jason Tiemann/dr, Portinho/dr, Roni Ben-Hur/g and Chembo Corniel/perc on this mix of Jobim and originals. O’Connell’s keyboards give a vintage CTI soul feel to the rich read of “Double Rainbow” and “Ligia” as Portinho’s brushes glide to the… ...Read More
Andrea Brachfeld “Brazilian Whispers” Review-“Brazilian Whispers” is the result of fan request for Andrea Brachfeld to play more Brazilian music. Her thorough research resulted in an album true to the music while conserving her signature style. Original Brazilian Music Standards Once Andrea decided to release an album of Brazilian jazz, she did a thorough research of the country’s music. In particular,… ...Read More
Her Full-bodied Sonorous Tone Makes for a Consistently Pleasant Listen-There’s comfort in flutist Brachfeld’s loving embrace of samba and bossa nova in this tribute to Antonio Carlos Jobim. Although she doesn’t dare so much as a single wayward note, her full-bodied sonorous tone makes for a consistently pleasant listen. ~Eric Snider, Jazziz.com, March 2020 ...Read More
Five Artists: February 2020 Andrea Brachfeld – Brazilian Whispers-The flute as the lead instrument in any jazz combo relies on an empathic and sensitive rhythm section that will not overpower the wind instrument's delicate voice (Jethro Tull's Ian Anderson notwithstanding). Flautist Andrea Brachfeld happens upon a dandy rhythm section in pianist Bill O'Connell, bassist Harvie S and drummers Jason Tiemann and T Portinho. That said,… ...Read More
EXOTIC SOUNDS…Andrea Brachfeld: Brazilian Whispers-Andrea Brachfeld plays flute and the darker alto flute set to a collection of Brazilian themes dominated by Antonio Jobim. She mixes and matches with Bill O’Connell/p-key, Harvie S-Lincoln Goines/g, Roni Ben-Hur/g, T. Portinho-Jason Tiemann/dr and Chembo Corniel/perc with some boppy pieces like her own “Espaco Aberto” and a relaxed “Triste E Solitaria.” Jobim’s “Double… ...Read More
Andrea Brachfeld: Brazilian Whispers-While Brazilian Whispers marks Andrea Brachfeld's first thorough exploration of the titular stream of sound, you'd never know it from the results. Teaming up with Bill O'Connell, her longtime pianist and sounding board, the veteran flutist, who's typically engaged in Afro-Cuban affairs or straight ahead suggestions, sounds like she's been playing this music all her… ...Read More
Musical Memoirs Review of Brazilian Whispers-Andrea Brachfeld is pictured smiling on her CD cover, with her head thrown back, the ocean waves and a tempered blue sky are the backdrop and she’s holding her flute delicately in her left hand. The first track of this album of Brazilian music sounds as happy and relaxed as this picturesque CD cover. It’s… ...Read More
La Habitación del Jazz on Brazilian Whispers-There are a number of instruments that do not quite feel comfortable in jazz or is it jazz which is not comfortable with it? One of them is the flute. So even when an interpreter of the music who plays this instrument publishes an album of jazz, Brazilian music or a mixture of both, it… ...Read More
JazzTimes Review of Brazilian Whispers-For Brazilian Whispers, veteran flutist Andrea Brachfeld dives deep into the Jobim book, turning out fresh interpretations of familiar gems. Best known for her affiliations with Slide Hampton, Wallace Roney, and Dave Valentin, Brachfeld is joined by her regular working band—longtime collaborator Bill O’Connell on piano and Rhodes, double bassist Harvie S, and drummer Jason… ...Read More
Roots Music Report Review of Brazilian Whispers-Among the first 2020 CD releases on Origin, Brazilian Whispers is the latest solo album from NYC based flutist / composer Andrea Brachfeld. A number of artists support Ms. Brachfeld on the 11-track album, including established names like Roni Ben-Hur (guitars), Harvie S (bass), Lincoln Goines (electric bass), as well as several drummers and percussionists… ...Read More
Brazilian Whispers in London Jazz News-Flautist Andrea Brachfeld’s CV reads like a who’s who of Latin jazz. A graduate of the Manhattan School of Music, and a recipient of some of the genre’s most prestigious accolades (including the 2006 Chico O’Farrill Lifetime Achievement Award), she has recorded and/or performed with such luminaries as Paquito D’Rivera, Tito Puente, Slide Hampton and… ...Read More
Midwest Record on Brazilian Whispers-A member of the sorority of women that know how to pour the flute juice with a free hand that ultimately wind up letting Brazil shine on them, Brachfeld goes right to the Jobim source while avoiding most of the Jobim clichés to really get inside the music she loves. Backed up by a crew… ...Read More
James Rozzi – CD Review of “If Not Now, When?”-Following a year of reflection, Andrea Brachfeld composed and recorded a selection of songs that she submitted for a New Jazz Grant from Chamber Music America. The winning results can be heard on If Not Now, When? (Jazzheads) her ninth release as a leader. Nine of the 10 songs are collaborations melding Brachfeld’s sinewy melodies… ...Read More
Wil Sostre – CD Review of “If Not Now, When?”-To play alongside latin Masters, Dave Valentin, and Ray Barretto, a musician must be really good and have an extense knowledge of the Latin music language. Flutist Andrea Brachfeld is one of those rare jazz musicians who feels equally comfortable and is just as good playing either traditional jazz or Latin jazz. If not now,… ...Read More
WashingtonCityPaper.com on “If Not Now, When?”-Loving jazz flute means not getting many opportunities to write about it. Most of the time it’s a saxophonist’s second (or third) instrument, broken out in a big band to play the Frank Wess part in an old Basie chart and then put away for a few weeks. It’s a shame, because the flute and… ...Read More
Bob Bernotas Reviews “If Not Now, When?”-Andrea Brachfeld: If Not Now, When? (Jazzheads): If the adage, “the whole is greater than the sum of the parts” were ever true — and it is — it’s true about flutist Andrea Brachfeld’s latest release. Through nine of her original compositions Brachfeld, pianist Bill O’Connell, bassist Harvie S, and drummer Jason Tiemann create group… ...Read More
WUMR Feature CD of the Week-The Feature CD of the Week is from jazz flautist Andrea Brachfeld and it is titled If Not Now, When? This is an album that Andrea put a lot of thought into according to her liner notes. She mentions that she discovered that the jazz audience is interested in what inspired a musician to write… ...Read More
“If Not Now, When?” – Instrumental Jazz CD of the Month-Instrumental Jazz CD of the Month Andrea Brachfeld: "If Not Now, When?" (Jazzheads JHI229) 2018 Rating: ***** (musical performance & sonic quality) Produced by Andrea Brachfeld & Bill O'Connell Recorded @ Mozart Studio and Trading8's Studio Mixed by David Kowalski & Harvie S Mastered by Dave Darlington Photo & Graphic Design: Christopher Drukker Featuring: Andrea… ...Read More
Jazz Weekly Review of “If Not Now, When?”-Strong and confident post bop is delivered by multi-flutiest Andrea Brachfeld and her team of Harvie S/b, Bill O’Connell/; and Jason Tieman/dr through a mix of mostly originals. The sole cover is an elegiac to modal read of “Amazing Grace” that covers a wide range of moods and textures. Brachfeld’s tone is warm and virile,… ...Read More
Jessica Valiente Reviews “If Not Now, When?”-On Sunday, March 18th, I headed north to The Jazz Forum in Tarrytown, New York, to check out jazz flutist Andrea Brachfeld. She was performing one of a series of concerts of the repertoire from her latest album, If Not Now, When? supported by a grant from Chamber Music America (CMA) and the Doris Duke… ...Read More
Aaron Cohen Reviews “If Not Now, When?”-Andrea Brachfeld, a veteran jazz flutist with impeccable technique, chooses a more fulfilling path than mere virtuosity on her new disc. If Not Now,When? focuses just as much on her generosity as a bandleader and compositional skills. As Brachfeld mentions in the liner notes, she’s known pianist Bill O’Connell since they began playing in New… ...Read More
If Not Now, When? KZSU Review-Brachfeld delivers a set of music that’s pure heart and fire. She reminds us of the flute’s might and majesty in a straight-ahead realms. 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… ...Read More
Ken Dryden Reviews “If Not Now, When?”-For a great part of jazz history, flute was often a second or third instrument primarily played by saxophonists. But since the beginning of the 21st century, a number of exclusive flutists have come to prominence, though they still have to deal with critics who routinely focus on seasoned reed players for whom flute is… ...Read More
Dan Bilawsky Reviews “If Not Now, When?”-Of all of the necessary tools associated with the creative process, the most overlooked may simply be space to think and grow. While the mile-a-minute, multi-tasking mentality that dominates in modern society makes it difficult to find said breathing room, musicians occasionally need to take a step back to fuel their artistic impulses. Flutist Andrea… ...Read More
The Energetic Bebop Flute-This album reflects flutist Andrea Brachfeld's particular fondnesss for bebop, but she is better known as a Latin Jazz artist, even having led her own group in Venezuela for over two years. Besides training at the Manhattan School of Music, she had private instruction with Hubert Laws, Eddie Daniels, and George Coleman. Her initial Latin… ...Read More
Jazzdelapena Reviews “If Not Now, When?”-On her third straight-ahead jazz album in the last six years, and second for Jazzheads, flutist Andrea Brachfeld is backed by her exceptional and simpatico working band Insight, with bassist Harvie S, drummer Jason Tiemann, and pianist Bill O’Connell, an invaluable longtime collaborator who along with Brachfeld, produced and arranged the CD. It features primarily… ...Read More
“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… ...Read More
Raul da Gama Reviews “If Not Now, When?”-The flutist Andrea Brachfeld has made a glittering career for herself on the Latin Jazz circuit, including performances with Dave Valentin and significant recordings with Chembo Corniel. But Yusef Lateef and Barry Harris also left a lifelong impression on her and – in a sense – she is returning the favour with this mighty sojourn… ...Read More
Jersey City’s Andrea Brachfeld – The universal sound warrior-A conversation with Jersey City flute player Andrea Brachfeld about her music can quickly head down some unexpected and revelatory paths, filled with expressions such as "vibrational universe," "chakras," and "evolution of the soul." But don't let the New Age-y vernacular cloud your senses. Brachfeld is at the top of her game. She's an in-demand… ...Read More
Lotus Blossom Review – Downbeat Magazine-On her seventh outing as a leader, flutist-composer Andrea Brachfeld is accompanied by a stellar crew in pianist Bill O'Connell (who also shares her affinity for Latin jazz), master bassist Rufus Reid and veteran drummer Winard Harper. Together they interpret several familiar tunes and Brachfeld originals, each distinguished by the flutist's rich, flowing lines and… ...Read More
Lotus Blossom Review – Don Jay Smith-Flutist Andrea Brachfeld and friends have a winner! I have to admit upfront that I love jazz flute so I approached this CD with a bias. Andrea Brachfeld recently won Best Flute in the Hot House Jazz Awards, so she can really play and she has a wonderful group of musicians working with her on… ...Read More
Jazzscene Review-I’m sure it’s nothing new to regular readers of this space that I’m no wild-eyed flute fan. That being said, there’s no question that Andrea Brachfeld is a superb player and has chosen stellar musicians on this session; she selected some well loved tunes, too. Her basic rhythm section is comprised of the very creative pianist… ...Read More
AXS Review-This past September, Andrea Brachfeld won her first Hot House Jazz Award as “Flutist of the Year” in Manhattan. When you listen to her new album Lotus Blossom (Jazzheads), out since October 13, it’ll make complete sense. The flutist has a tough time fitting in a jazz setting normally commandeered by the traditional piano-bass-drum format.… ...Read More
Dutch Flute Society Review-The American flute player Andrea Brachfeld was recently the winner of the ‘Best Jazz Flute’ in the Hot House Magazine Awards (to add to her previous awards). In the notes with her new CD, she tells about a spiritual journey and how it has affected her playing today. The difference between ‘playing at jazz’ and… ...Read More
Jazz da Gama Review-The flutist Andrea Brachfeld is one of the most magnificent flutists playing today. She can conjure up any thing of beauty from the flutter of a lapwing to the excited palpitations of the heart; describe ecstasy in welling up in the soul with uncanny facility, weep like a willow and bring alive the excited yelp… ...Read More
Lotus Blossom Review – The Flute View-http://thefluteview.com/2015/12/andrea-brachfeld-lady-of-the-island/ Andrea Brachfeld has a new CD- Lotus Blossom. I’m starting with her list of musicians since this album is a beautiful collaboration of extraordinary jazz musicians. The quartet perform seamlessly and creatively always with an interesting twist and turn! Highlights (there are too many to name) include Herbie Mann’s “Memphis Underground” (track 4) with… ...Read More
Lotus Blossom Review – Ken Thorbourne (The Jersey Journal)-A conversation with Jersey City flute player Andrea Brachfeld about her music can quickly head down some unexpected and revelatory paths, filled with expressions such as "vibrational universe," "chakras," and "evolution of the soul." But don't let the New Age-y vernacular cloud your senses. Brachfeld is at the top of her game. She's an in-demand… ...Read More
Lotus Blossom Review – Rick Anderson-Rick’s Pick Andrea Brachfeld is a flutist equally comfortable playing Latin jazz or straight-ahead swing/bop/postbop styles; her tone is consistently warm and woody, her phrasing lithe, her time impeccable. And she possesses that essential but rare trait: the ability to express herself deeply without taxing the patience of the listener. Listen, for example, to the… ...Read More
Lotus Blossom Review – Arthur Barron-Played (the) “Lotus Blossom” track last night on Jazz After Dark. Very, very nice track. You sound great!!! And, I must add that Lotus Blossom is the best jazz CD that you have released to date. Your flute vocabulary is purely Andrea Brachfeld at its finest!!! Arthur Barron Jazz After Dark 88.9 WDNA Public Radio… ...Read More
Lotus Blossom Review – Peter Kuller-Andrea Brachfield is a revelation! She is excellent and has actually the “Chops” to play credible jazz flute! This would have been possible by her great backing trio of Billy O’Connell, Winard Harper, and Rufus Reid. Will use her music for months to come. Thank you very much for this great CD! Best Wishes and… ...Read More
Latest Review from The New York City Jazz Record, March 2014-Andrea Brachfeld isn’t as well known, in part because she didn’t always focus on jazz, though she merits wider recognition. For Lady Of The Island, she utilizes different combinations of musicians from one track to the next, with material that includes jazz standards, pop and originals. Brachfeld starts with an impressive original, “Bebop Hanna”, featuring… ...Read More
Fluterscooter “Lady of the Island” Review 2014-Andrea Brachfeld’s new CD, Lady of the Island is an excellent addition to the jazz flute discography. Andrea with a terrific band and headliner guests mixes her own original tunes with tunes by Herbie Hancock, Duke Ellington, Freddie Hubbard and (title song) Graham Nash. All the playing is first rate, virtuosic in rhythm, pitch, heart… ...Read More
LATIN BEAT MAGAZINE Review by Luis Tamargo-Mostly associated with New York's Latin Jazz and "salsa" scenes (it has been alleged that she was the first female flutist to be featured by a U.S- based Charanga, back in the mid-1970s), Andrea Brachfeld returns to her bebop roots on the CD "Lady of the Island", in which she tastefully combines jazz standards and… ...Read More
Grego Applegate Edwards Review on blogspot.com, January 16-Not all the "jazz" I listen to, cover, write about is avant. Anyone who regularly reads my blogs knows that. Why? For one thing, a constant diet of avant, or any other style, is not good for the soul. Second, it is important to cover what one thinks are valid musical statements being made today,… ...Read More
The Latin Jazz Corner – Album of the Week!-Sometimes our familiarity with a musician revolves around one genre, but that association often limits our conception of the musician’s fuller artistry. On one hand, a listener can’t really be blamed for connecting a musician with a style; they’re simply making their judgement based off the past performances from albums and live shows. In reality… ...Read More
LatinJazzNet.Com Review by Raul da Gama December 14, 2012-There is something magical about the sound of the flute no matter how well it is played; and when it is played as masterfully as Andrea Brachfeld plays it on her album Lady of the Island it is not only magical but mystical as well. This other-worldly beauty that Ms. Brachfeld brings to the flute comes from… ...Read More
AllAboutJazz.com Review-Flautist Andrea Brachfeld has always professed an affinity for jazz and, though her background clearly demonstrates varied musical tastes, she has always been a hard bop musician at the core. Lady of the Island is the realization of a dream where the music selected reflects the jazz styles that tugs at her heart the most.… ...Read More
Jersey Jazz Society Review-Flautist ANDREA BRACHFELD has been best known for her Latin jazz playing. Lady of the Island (Zoho – 201210) is her first recording as leader for a straight ahead jazz session, and from the evidence here, it will likely not be her last. She plays a C flute on most of the tracks, but turns… ...Read More
JazzTimes.com Review-Jazz flute aficionados should not overlook this CD, for Andrea Brachfeld is currently one of the best players of jazz on the instrument. Brachfeld has been best known as a Latin jazz musician since the '70's, when she became the first female flutist to play in a Charanga band in the United States (Charanga '76).… ...Read More
The Shape of Things to Come by Michael McDowell-Within the jazz spectrum, there have been a number of individuals whose proficiency on their respective instrument of choice has caused them to be cited as the genre’s standard bearer in that respect. To wit, John Coltrane and Charlie Parker have pretty much defined the idiom as saxophonists. Likewise, Miles Davis and Dizzy Gillespie irrefutably… ...Read More
Jazzwax.com review-The jazz flute is hard to come by today. Too few flutists bother to learn the jazz craft, leaving the market a bit dry. Which is why Lady of the Island (Zoho) by flutist Andrea Brachfeld is a delightful surprise. You listen to her play, and you can't believe what you're hearing. Brachfeld is an incredibly skilled jazz player,… ...Read More
L.A. Jazz Scene-While Andrea Brachfeld is perhaps best known for her work in Latin Jazz, Lady Of The Island is her first full-length straight-ahead jazz CD. Featured on C flute and alto flute, she stakes her claim as one of the top jazz flutists around today. With a rhythm section usually comprised pianist Bill O' Connell (who… ...Read More
Jack Goodstein-If you check an online list of the 100 greatest jazz flautists, which seems to have been last updated in February of 2005, of course you'll find names like Eric Dolphy, Herbie Mann and Rahsaan Roland Kirk leading the pack. Andrea Brachfeld comes in at number 70. Listen to her latest album, Lady of the… ...Read More
Jazz Society of Oregon-…I kinda like the fresh approach of Andrea Brachfeld. Her basic quartet of flute, piano, bass and drums is augmented here by a number of guests, notably Wycliffe Gordon on trombone and Wallace Roney on trumpet…Her brisk opener, “Bebop Hanna,” is a flag-waver, and “Dead Ahead” is taken at a tempo not for the faint… ...Read More
CdHotList.com-With jazz flute, you’re always flirting with the danger of sounding like Muzak. There are several strategies for avoiding that fate, one of which is to swing really, really hard; another is to adopt a kind of super-woody tone that communicates musical seriousness; another is to shade off into avant-gardism. Andrea Brachfeld leans on none… ...Read More
Mark S. Tucker of AcousticMusic.com-Pity the poor flute. It suffered horrifically during the long siege of New Agery, which, oh please God let it be so!, now appears to finally have ground pretty much to a halt... ...it appears intelligence is finding its way back to the surface. That's certainly the case with Andrea Brachfeld's Lady of the Island.… ...Read More
AllAboutJazz.com-Andrea Brachfeld's association with Charanga '76,Wayne Wallace, Tipica Ideal, Tito Puente and many others helped to establish her as the first flute lady of Latin jazz, but that designation, while flattering, is limiting. Lady Of The Island posits that she's actually been a closeted straight ahead player all along. For her fifth leader date, and… ...Read More
CriticalJazz.com-"Just do it!" — A bit of a bumper sticker and of course the famous calling card of the Nike brand but that same philosophy and approach to music can be the difference between a performer and a true artist. Flute players are a dime a dozen but artists that play flute are rare. Herbie… ...Read More