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“SHE HAS THE SAME LOPE OR RHYTHMICAL PULSE AS MY LATE BASSIST, RAY BROWN. SHE IS WHAT WE CALL SERIOUS.”
- OSCAR PETERSON |
When asked about her premiere disc, "DEBUT" winning the 2008 JUNO for Traditional Jazz Album of the Year, Brandi had this to say:
"It was a real thrill! When my name was called at first I didn't even go to accept it because I couldn't believe that they had called my name. In my acceptance speech I said, 'Did you know that jazz in Canada is THRIVING?' Because I really believe it is. Even around us younger folks, there's just so much passion here.”
Still in her twenties, Brandi Disterheft indeed is at the moment the hottest bassist in Canadian jazz and has been taking the jazz world by storm since even before the release of her first CD. Brandi has already toured Japan and China; opened for Diana Krall, and Pharoah Sanders; performed at Jazz Festivals in Vienna and Chicago, and she's even played Carnegie Hall. It is not only her swinging bass playing that is making people sit up and take notice, but also her innovative writing style using lively grooves with influences from Mingus to Bjork.
Her suite of nine original songs, "DEBUT", has had the ear of audiences and critics who are grooving to Brandi's powerful compositions and fiery playing. The disc has earned raves from the likes of All About Jazz: "Disterheft's debut is testimony to a remarkable talent"; The Globe and Mail: "[she] generates the sort of rhythmic confidence that makes her whole band swing"; and Eye Weekly: "This rising star is now the centre of her own solar system." The recent JUNO win is surely just one sign of a very bright future.
Brandi and her bandmates have already toured across Canada and more travel plans are on the horizon. In Spring 2009, Brandi will play sixteen shows in sixteen days in eight countries, including Germany, Romania and Poland. Lately, she's been spending time in New York City developing new repertoire for the next album.
“Somewhere along the way jazz has evolved into an introspective, dinner music. But, jazz in its prime day was completely lively and uplifting- it was celebratory party music. That's what I'm trying to bring back! I want to show especially the younger generation that jazz can have a huge back-beat. It's always a thrill to play jazz music to a packed house where the audience is absolutely going crazy dancing!"
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