Chamber Music America (CMA), the national network for ensemble music professionals, has awarded the prestigious New Jazz Works grant to jazz flutist Andrea Brachfeld for the creation and performance of a new jazz composition. The funding, made possible with the support of the Doris Duke Charitable Foundation, is designed to provide financial and administrative support for new ensemble works and to underwrite performances and the recording of the new composition. Fifteen jazz composers and their ensembles were chosen from a pool of hundreds of applications.
“I am honored to have been recognized by Chamber Music America with this major commission,” said Andrea Brachfeld, “and I am thrilled to have the support of this acclaimed organization. My quartet and I look forward to our upcoming performances.”
Named Jazz Flutist of the Year for 2015 by Hot House Jazz Awards, Andrea Brachfeld has been acclaimed by critics and audiences for her music. Her latest CD “Lotus Blossom” on the Jazzheads label received 4-stars from Downbeat and was played on jazz stations around the country. Featuring Bill O’Connell, Winard Harper and Rufus Reid, the release stayed in the top 20 on the JazzWeek charts for several weeks. A graduate of the Manhattan School of Music, Brachfeld started her career at All Nite Soul at the age of 16. She has performed with great musicians such as Charles Eubanks, Adam Nussbaum Tito Puente, Wallace Roney, Hubert Laws, Paquito D’Rivera, Hilton Ruiz and many others. Her first straight ahead jazz CD, “Lady of the Island,” featured Wallace Roney, Wycliffe Gordon, and Bill O’Connell and received great reviews. She has earned accolades throughout her career including recognition for her musical achievements as a jazz student with a Louis Armstrong Award, and then later with the Chico O’Farrill Lifetime Achievement Award, and the Pionero Award for her contributions to Latin music.
Her current group, Insight, includes pianist Bill O’Connell, bassist Harvie S, and drummer Jason Tiemann.
Bill O’Connell is well-known as a band leader, soloist, arranger, musical director and sideman who is equally at home playing both the Latin and straight-ahead jazz. Breaking in with the legendary Mongo Santamaria, O’Connell quickly established himself as an in-demand keyboardist and arranger in the world of Latin music. But he also worked with some of the greatest straight ahead jazz musicians in the world including Chet Baker, Sonny Rollins and Dave Valentin. He has released 13 albums as a leader along with scores of recordings as a sideman, earning well-deserved praise from critics and audiences.
Bassist Harvie S has recorded and performed with a who’s who of jazz: Stan Getz, Chet Baker, Dexter Gordon, Tony Bennett, Michael Brecker, Paquito D’Rivera, Gil Evans, Art Farmer, Yusef Lateef, Joe Lovano, Zoot Sims, Toots Theilmans and countless others. He toured throughout Europe as a Jazz Ambassador for the United States and has been featured in stories in many different publications from Downbeat to The New York Times. In addition to playing all over the world, Harvie S is Professor of Jazz Bass at the Manhattan School of Music.
New York City-based drummer Jason Tiemann maintains a busy schedule of recording and performing. Influenced by legendary drummers such as Tony Williams, Billy Higgins and Elvin Jones, Tiemann has recorded and played with many of the top NYC artists including Benny Golson, Dave Liebman, Eric Alexander and Slide Hampton.
Insight is currently putting together a tour to premiere the new work before going into the recording studio. For more information about Andrea Brachfeld and her work, visit www.andreabrachfeld.com.
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Editor’s Note: For interviews, photos or more information, contact Don Jay Smith at 908-832-1020 or by email at don@lksassociates.com. Photo by Lori Sloan.
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