Home » Jazz Articles » Album Review » Brandi Disterheft: Second Side

Brandi Disterheft: Second Side

By Raul d'Gama Rose
September 15, 2009
View read count

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

bass, acoustic
1922 - 1979

" data-original-title="" title="">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 her emotions in song. Her melodies and lyrics are edgy, creating spectacular whorls of moody poetry, yet she manages to eschew the trite and the florid.

Using a sinewy, evocative style of playing, Disterheft employs daring rhythmic changes with superb dynamic control. In this regard she takes a direct cue from her idol, Mingus, as she uses this device with staggering effect, especially on "Liege," which features a wonderfully undisguised rendering of Charlie Chaplin's "Smile." Her solo on "Let Her Shine" possesses a raw sophistication, and flutters loudly like a palpitating heart long after the music dies, leaving behind echo of both alegria and saudades. With an ability to strongly emote, she stages masterful reflections of

Milton Nascimento

guitar and vocals
b.1942

" data-original-title="" title="">Milton Nascimento, who inspired her to write much of the material on the record. The odd, oblique meters employed in the mature lyrics also pay successful tribute to another ubiquitous songwriter,

Joni Mitchell

vocals
b.1943

" data-original-title="" title="">Joni Mitchell.

As a vocalist Brandi Disterheft appears inspired. "Combien de Chances," is somber, and the veracity of its politic is wistfully authentic. She is no less wondrous in "Twilight Curtain." The two other vocalists on the record are delightful as well.

Holly Cole

vocals
b.1963

" data-original-title="" title="">Holly Cole sounds triumphant on "He's Walkin,'" while

Ranee Lee

vocals
b.1942

" data-original-title="" title="">Ranee Lee tears up the rhythm with aplomb on the classic "This Time The Dream's On Me."

Many bassists enjoy a je ne c'est quois with their drummer. Mingus did so with

Dannie Richmond

drums
1935 - 1988

" data-original-title="" title="">Dannie Richmond,

Ray Brown

bass, acoustic
1926 - 2002

" data-original-title="" title="">Ray Brown with

Ed Thigpen

drums
1930 - 2010

" data-original-title="" title="">Ed Thigpen, and even the somber

Percy Heath

bass, acoustic
1923 - 2005

" data-original-title="" title="">Percy Heath did so with

Connie Kay

drums
1927 - 1994

" data-original-title="" title="">Connie Kay. Disterheft finds similar symbiosis with Sly Juhas, who always seems to know just where the boss wants him; exactly where rapid thunder is needed and where accents would suffice. Nowhere is this telepathic relationship more evident than on "Sketches Of Belief," a deconstruction of

Miles Davis

trumpet
1926 - 1991

" data-original-title="" title="">Miles Davis virtually eponymous and legendry flamenco excursion. "My Only Friends Are The Pigeons" and "A Night In Haiti," that puckishly refracted bit of

Dizzy Gillespie

trumpet
1917 - 1993

" data-original-title="" title="">Dizzy Gillespie, also showcase the Disterheft/Juhas unit.

Despite being more adventurous than Debut, Disterheft continues to reference the blues with deep conviction. Using contemporary interpretations of that idiomatic platform, the bassist/composer has succeeded in creating truly ebullient, elastic and ever-evolving compositions, as she plucks her way forward. The result is a record that is delightfully unexpected in content and near-flawless in performance.

Learn more about our star rating system

Track Listing

Sketches of Belief; Combien de Chances; Second Dawn; Twilight Curtain; My Only Friends Are The Pigeons; He's Walkin'; Dawn; Liege; A Night in Haiti; Let Her Shine; This Time The Dream's On Me.

Personnel

Brandi Disterheft

bass, acoustic

Brandi Disterheft: acoustic bass, bass sample (3), kalimba, vocals (2, 4), whistling (6); Sly Juhas: drums (1-6, 8-11); Daniel Stone: percussion (2, 4, 6); Chris Gale: tenor saxophone (1, 4, 5, 11); Shawn Nyquist: alto saxophone (4, 5, 11); William Sperandel: trumpet (1, 2, 11); Jason Logue: trumpet (1, 11); William Carn: trombone (11); "Champagne" James Robertson: guitar (2-4, 6, 7); Stacie McGregor: piano (8--11), Farfisa Organ (2), Rhodes (3, 4, 7); Holly Cole: vocals (6); Ranee Lee: vocals (11), Superfran Records Choir (10); Rhys Fulber: bass sample (3).

Album information

Title: Second Side | Year Released: 2009 | Record Label: Justin Time Records

PREVIOUS / NEXT

Jazz Legacy Productions: Sprucing up...
< Previous

Transplants
Next >

Support All About Jazz

All About Jazz has been a pillar of jazz since 1995, championing it as an art form and, more importantly, supporting the musicians who make it. Our enduring commitment has made "AAJ" one of the most culturally important websites of its kind, read by hundreds of thousands of fans, musicians and industry figures every month.

Go Ad Free!

To maintain our platform while developing new means to foster jazz discovery and connectivity, we need your help. You can become a sustaining member for as little as $20 and in return, we'll immediately hide those pesky ads plus provide access to future articles for a full year. This winning combination vastly improves your AAJ experience and allow us to vigorously build on the pioneering work we first started in 1995. So enjoy an ad-free AAJ experience and help us remain a positive beacon for jazz by making a donation today.