By Josef Woodard | Published September 2022
Flutist Andrea Brachfeld, a veteran virtuoso who has worked deftly in jazz and Afro-Cuban music for decades, pulled together the pieces and passions of her latest album, Evolution, over three sessions spanning from before the COVID-19 lockdown to the end of 2021. On this intriguing set, abetted by the empathetic allies of her group Insight (with pianist and co-producer Bill O’Connell, bassist Harvey S and drummer Jason Tieman), Brachfeld extends the tighter focus of her earlier Brazilian Whispers to a more pan-global landscape. Brachfeld manifests worldly sympathies by channeling musical languages from afar, and includes indigenous instruments not often heard in jazz circles. Colombian clay flute, African wood flute and kalimba enhance and expand the record’s anchoring Western flute sonic protagonist role.
The album’s sequence leaps out boldly with the assertive tunes “What’s Up” and “Decimation Of Transformation” but weaves artfully on ethnic detours into Inuit culture (“Qinguaiit”) and African Baka tradition (“The Hut Song”), in jazz-aligned garb. The sole spoken-word piece, “Child Of The Earth,” becomes an explicit declaration of one of the concepts underscoring the album: her compassion for the fate of the world’s children, especially in this fragile period. We’re easily drawn back for repeat listenings to the album’s engaging musical tapestry, fortified by supple soloing, palpable ensemble dialogue and an organic conceptual agenda.
Evolution: What’s Up; Decimation Of Transformation; Qingauiit; The Hut Song; Child Of The Earth; The Unraveling Of It All; Ko Ribon; Being With What Is. (50:08)
Personnel: Andrea Brachfeld, C flute, alto flute, spoken word, Colombian clay flute, African wood flute, kalimba; Bill O’Connell, piano; Harvie S, bass; Jason Tiemann, drums, percussion.
Ordering Info: originarts.com
