ANDREA BRACHFELD

A HOLIDAY CELEBRATION OF LIGHT

Pacific Coast Jazz

Andrea Brachfeld, flute/alto flute/vocals/composer; Bill O’Connell, piano; Blake Meister, acoustic bass; Eric Kennedy, trap drums/percussion. SPECIAL GUEST: Wycliffe Gordon, trombone/vocals/spoken word.

Andrea Brachfeld has a thriving wide-ranging career as a flutist, composer, arranger, educator and bandleader. She has always wanted to record a holiday album featuring her flute. The premise of this recording is summed up in the title of the only original song she has included called “See the Light.”  Brachfeld hopes that her music inspires us to remember we are all creations of light and we must see the light of good, peace and harmony within ourselves in order to pass it on to the next person, the next family member, the next friend, the next stranger, the next generation.

Beginning with “Silent Night,” They celebrate a gospel arrangement tinged with the blues and spotlighting the awesome talents of Wycliff Gordon on a soulful trombone interpretation of this old familiar holiday hymn. Andrea Brachfeld joins him on flute, offering her own flighty improvisation, holding a musical conversation with Wycliffe’s trombone. Both of them take free-flight across my listening space. Their unified strength is solid. This is followed by “Angels We Have Heard on High.”

Brachfeld’s concept for this album was to offer a mix of Christmas, Hanukkah and sacred traditional holiday songs for our listening pleasure.  She shapes a nine-track program that surprises us with unusual arrangements, like when she switches the traditional hymnal of “Angels We Have heard on High” to a Latin infused arrangement with joyful percussive excellence.  Her flute sounds like a happy carnival whistle, and the drumming and percussive mastery of Eric Kennedy lifts the piece. Great arrangement!

This album brings another dimension to the Brachfeld musical identity in that the arrangements are so unexpectedly unique. Her ability to stay contemporary sparkles, while still holding tradition close to her chest. On an ancient Greek Christian hymn called “Phos Hilaron” her performance brings a quiet, more tender contemplation to the arrangement. Her flute is still exuberant and free, along with Bill O’Connell’s tinkling piano keys.

Brachfeld’s single original composition begins with her singing in three-part harmony. She wanted to share this uplifting lyrical message with us. It is followed by a very humorous rap, performed by Wycliffe Gordon in a refreshing way. The tune is called “Ho Ho Ho” and was composed by Bill O’Connell. It’s a jazzy fun-filled four-and-a-half minute song.

If you were waiting for one spirited “swing” tune, you’ll enjoy their arrangement of “O’ Hanukkah: Sevivon.” It incorporates “swing” with a jazz waltz-feel, creating a unique arrangement.

Brachfeld’s flute and alto flute are the defining stars of this production, with Gordon’s trombone providing his own magic to their holiday moment. Rather than a special guest, I would call Wycliff a “special gift.” Andrea Brachfeld is the bright light glistening atop the tree, a jazz angel sharing her message of unity and peace on earth with this holiday album. Their music becomes available to the public on November 13, 2026.

Reviewed by Dee Dee McNeil

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