Brandi Disterheft Trio, Silk Purse Arts Centre, 1570 Argyle Ave., West Vancouver, Saturday, Jan. 28 at 7: 30 p.m. Tickets: $20/$18. For more info www.brandidisterheft.com.
FOR the past couple of years Brandi Disterheft has been living out her dream in New York City.
A short documentary film made by filmmaker Guy Dixon in 2009, TorontoNew York, follows the bassist as she makes her late-night rounds of jazz sessions in the Village just like Charlie Parker and Miles Davis did back in the day. The time-honoured after-hours creative practice of learning by jamming.
Disterheft, a Handsworth grad born and raised in North Vancouver, is part of a new generation of jazz musicians steeping themselves in a rich tradition which in her case involves orchestration classes at Juilliard and lessons with Miles Davis alumnus Ron Carter.
Like Renee Rosnes, another Hands-worth grad who has made her way to New York City, Disterheft finds many affinities in the music of Miles Davis who as an innovator was open to many things but always spoke in the language of jazz.
Carter was a member of what has been called the second great Miles Davis quintet in the early 1960s, playing alongside Herbie Hancock, Wayne Shorter, Tony Williams and Davis on a number of classic jazz albums. He's gone on to work with many great musicians over the decades and is an invaluable resource for those interested in tapping into the tradition.
"He's such a master," raves Disterheft. "Ron basically reinvented the concept of jazz bass playing. He has such a beautiful, huge sound and his conception of harmony and walking bass lines is like no other. He's an idol of mine and I feel so blessed to be studying with him because he's taught me so much about sound. His attention to detail is astounding. I went to him specifically because players in the past had told me he gets rid of 'the iron fist.' Sometimes you feel the need to pump out a lot of volume and hit hard on the bass but really you don't need to and he's showing me how to have a huge, beautiful rounded sound."
Disterheft has released two albums Debut (2007) and Second Side (2009) of mostly original material with a third one, Gratitude, scheduled for release in May on Justin Time Records. She recorded the new album just before Christmas with Renee Rosnes sitting in on keyboards.
"I'm really excited about it," says Disterheft. "I asked Renee to be on it. She's just a powerhouse - to record with her has always been a dream of mine. She has such a beautiful touch. There's so much tradition in her playing and I'm such a fan. I had this concept that I thought her playing would fit perfectly. I called her up and asked her if she'd be interested in rehearsing and getting together and workshopping through the songs as a band and then ultimately recording.
"We're both from North Vancouver and went to the same high school. I met her (in 2004) at the Handsworth retirement party for Mr. Reb (Bob Rebagliati) our band teacher. Since then I've seen her in New York in various bands that we were playing in, billed at the same time, so I would always reintroduce myself."
Rosnes plays keyboards on all the tracks except for the title tune which features bass and three horns. "Gratitude was written for a cousin of mine," says Disterheft. "He was like a brother and he was just suddenly diagnosed with cancer. We thought he was going to make it and a couple of months later he passed and I've dedicated it to David Jahns."
The title track off her upcoming album is also an homage to the music of Duke Ellington with its gospel hymn sonorities built from bass flute, alto saxophone, trumpet and bass instrumentation.
A couple of songs on Gratitude feature Disterheft on vocals, including two covers "But Beautiful" and "Compared to What." Roberta Flack made the original recording of the latter track on her 1969 First Take album which featured Ron Carter on bass.
"The album is a return to the tradition," says Disterheft. "The roots of jazz that I was listening to as a child growing up."
