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Brandi Disterheft

Jazz bassist Brandi Disterheft relocated to NYC to begin an apprenticeship under Miles Davis' bassist Ron Carter. It’s not only her fiery bass playing that make audiences stand-up and holler, but also her innovative live shows showcasing her uptempo, swinging originals and ambient voice. Her mother, a Chicago-born jazz B3 organist who opened for acts such as the Supremes and Carlos Jobim in the 1960's, trained Brandi's ears from the tender age of 5 when she began classical piano studies; yet, her Aunt a GRAMMY WINNING session singer in LA (Claire Fischer, Sergio Mendez) encouraged Brandi to sing.

Winning a JUNO (Canadian Grammy) for her “Debut” album, Brandi had the honor to be the bassist for the legendary Hank Jones on the album “Pleased to Meet You” and has since captivated international audiences at jazz festivals in Japan, Haiti, Canada, Europe, USA and at prestigious venues including Carnegie Hall, and the Vienna Opera House. Recordings and performances include collaborations with top drawer musicians such as Anita O'day, Benny Green, Cyrus Chestnut, Vincent Herring and Renee Rosnes to name a few.

This promising talent from the north is currently touring her 4th album Blue Canvas featuring a New York City line-up with jazz master Harold Mabern (recorded with Freddie Hubbard, Sarah Vaughan, and Joe Williams, Lee Morgan, JJ Johnson, Wes Montgomery, Sonny Rollins) and drummer Joe Farnsworth (McCoy Tyner, Wynton Marsalis, Benny Goldson, Lou Donaldson, Pharoah Sanders.)

In her eloquent liner notes, the multi-talented musician reminds us of the Muses of Ancient Greece philosophized by Plato, and how these Gods and Godesses would lead the artist into a state of ecstasy. And such are the feelings that lead her to state that: "This album tells a story about that escape to freedom and the unyielding feeling of coming alive."

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Album Review

Anthony Wonsey: Lorraine's Lullabye

Read "Lorraine's Lullabye" reviewed by Jack Bowers


As it “takes a village" to raise a child, writes Anthony Wonsey, it also takes a village to raise a jazz pianist, and Lorraine's Lullabye is Wonsey's way of saying “thank you" to many of those who have helped and nurtured him throughout his journey including New York educator and social worker Lorraine Tiezzi, the album's namesake. As we come into this world alone, cared for by our parents and others, so Wonsey begins the musical odyssey ...

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Radio & Podcasts

Charles Lloyd, Coleman Hawkins and Brandi Disterheft

Read "Charles Lloyd, Coleman Hawkins and Brandi Disterheft" reviewed by Joe Dimino


From a brilliant crop of young bassists on the New York City scene, we begin the 703rd Episode of Neon Jazz with “My Foolish Heart" from Brandi Disterheft's Surfboard. We also hear from her mentor Ron Carter and a crop of the old guard and young lions. The great Charles Lloyd, Coleman Hawkins and Bennie Maupin represent a lot of history. The group of Joe Bowden, Chris Rottmayer and Chien Chien Lu represent the youth. Enjoy the jazz my friends. ...

3
Album Review

Brandi Disterheft: Blue Canvas

Read "Blue Canvas" reviewed by Dan Bilawsky


A canvas is often viewed as a neutral starting point, but it needn't be so. Even a so-called “blank" space can be suffused with certain color(s) before brushstrokes are ever applied, as Brandi Disterheft reminds us. Her fourth album is a trio date painted atop, around, over, and with the color blue. It's a work that uses various shades and hues of the titular color to form a connective design, or if you prefer, a loose theme, built with confident ...

1
Album Review

Brandi Disterheft: Gratitude

Read "Gratitude" reviewed by Dan Bilawsky


Canada has had its fair share of fine female jazz exports over the past few decades: piano-vocal crossover star Diana Krall; trumpeter Ingrid Jensen and her equally fabulous saxophone playing sister, Christine Jensen; and pianist Renee Rosnes have all made their mark below the 49th parallel. With the release of Gratitude, bassist Brandi Disterheft is poised to join their ranks. The Vancouver-born bassist first garnered attention in Canada with her Juno Award-winning Debut (Superfran, 2007) and its ...

394
Album Review

Brandi Disterheft: Second Side

Read "Second Side" reviewed by Raul d'Gama Rose


The leap forward from Debut (Superfran Records, 2007) to Second Side is, quite literally, a significant one for Canadian-born bassist, Brandi Disterheft. Now enjoying herself immensely, the bassist appears to greet her emerging music with infinite self-assurance and unabashed style. Claiming spiritual (and therefore musical) ancestry from Charles Mingus, Disterheft plays with a rare muscularity, thrusting her bass into the spotlight and leading from the front. As a composer, she explores a myriad of metaphors and idioms as she documents ...

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Extended Analysis

Brandi Disterheft: Debut

Read "Brandi Disterheft: Debut" reviewed by Raul d'Gama Rose


Brandi Disterheft Debut Superfran Records 2007

While the rest of the world was talking about Esperanza Spaulding another bassist has been busy making a quiet noise, in a voice all her own. Brandi Disterheft's mature bass playing--both pizzicato and arco--and her ability to write original material and arrange with a natural ear for the tones and textures of strings, brass and woodwinds speak volumes of lessons learned from--at least spiritually--the legendary Charles ...

140
Album Review

Brandi Disterheft: Debut

Read "Debut" reviewed by Jerry D'Souza


Bassist Brandi Disterheft says that she was inspired by singer Björk to call her first recording Debut. The debt to Björk acknowledged, Disterheft comes into her own and shows why she has been creating a stir.

A native of Vancouver who began playing in her mother's band, Disterheft has come a long way. She has led her own band from the time she was nineteen, has played with top-notch Canadian musicians including saxophonists Mike Murley and Richard Underhill, and has ...

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Performance / Tour

Brandi Disterheft, Charlie Hunter, Sophie Hunger and Ibrahim Maalouf Light up L'astral

Brandi Disterheft, Charlie Hunter, Sophie Hunger and Ibrahim Maalouf Light up L'astral

Source: AAJ Staff

Organizers of the Jazz All Year-Round series, part of the Festival International de Jazz de Montréal presented by TD, are proud to add four concerts to the marquee at L'Astral, the magnificent venue housed by the Maison du Festival Rio Tinto Alcan. We welcome three revelations and a “young veteran" who shone last year, especially at the Festival: young Canadian acoustic bassist Brandi Disterheft, spellbinding Swiss singer Sophie Hunger, supremely gifted Franco-Lebanese trumpeter Ibrahim Maalouf and virtuoso American guitarist Charlie ...

Photos

Music

Recordings: As Leader | As Sideperson

Lorraine's Lullabye

Cellar Records
2021

buy

Blue Canvas

Justin Time Records
2017

buy

Gratitude

Justin Time Records
2012

buy

Second Side

Justin Time Records
2009

buy

Debut

Superfran Records
2007

buy

Videos

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