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Footsteps of Our Mothers: The Brandi Disterheft Interview

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JD: Ya, that stuff is really popular. I saw David Sanchez at the Vancouver International Jazz Festival at the Vogue, 4 or 5 years ago. He opened for somebody and he stole the show. He was really, really good.

BD: Ya. I just saw him in Montreal.

JD: Did you? You're spoiled (laughs). What's the last piece of music that you listened to, that really excited you?

BD: That's a good question-there's so much ...

JD: That's a good thing though.

BD: I'd have to say, Branford Marsalis's take on John Coltrane's Love Supreme (CD title: Footsteps of Our Fathers ).

JD: That's a good CD. We have it at the station. I like that one, too. Now, you are on a number of other people's CDs. When are we going to hear one with Brandi leading?

BD: I have plans to record my group this coming fall and following that I'll have my debut CD release. I'm really excited about that. I have a sextet with piano, bass, 2 tenors, drums, bass and guitar. I really like to break it down as well. I can't always play in clubs with the sextet, so I've got a quartet and a piano trio.

JD: So, who's in your sextet.

BD: Liali Biali (piano), Sly Juhas (drums), who's also in Liala's trio, Mason Hilts on guitar and a great tenor player in Toronto named Chris Gale and an alto player in town named Tara Davidson-Tara's also on Liala's record.

JD: Ya, I really like the cut she appeared on. So Brandi, you've been doing some composing.

BD: Yes, I have.

JD: When you are composing do you have structured writing habits, for example do you compose at certain times of the day, or do you write when the ideas come to you? How does it work with you?

BD: I usually write when I'm in a certain mood; either if I'm upset about something or happy about something. Sometimes I'll write when I just don't feel like practicing the bass. I just got a piano and I have this small, little bachelor apartment, so often it's very inviting because it's right there in front of me all of the time, so I can just sit down there and compose. So, it's whenever my mood strikes.

JD: Yes. That was a "stock" question and from my experience it seems that composing and strong emotion go hand in hand and many of your colleagues say the same thing.

BD: Ya.

JD: What aspect of your work brings you the most pleasure-performing, composing?

BD: It's performing on the bandstand with my friends; just swinging real hard. I'm really lucky. I get to play with some of my closest friends in Toronto. The jazz scene is great. There's lots of work and I'm really lucky. I get to play with some of my closest friends in Toronto. The jazz scene is great. There's lots of work and I'm constantly playing. I'm constantly playing. I have the most fun. I often play at The Rex Hotel. It's a loud atmosphere and it's often packed with walk-in crowds. It's great to play and swing real hard and go outside. It's real casual-it reminds me of the old days when you listened to Charlie Parker and the bands were swinging behind the people.

JD: I'm so jealous. We don't have one of those in Kamloops -believe me. There's not a lot of jazz happening here.

BD: I was just in that part of the country with Lila (Biali) and we played at the Black Box and had a lot of fun.

JD: That's in Kelowna.

BD: Yes, I've never played in Kamloops.

JD: We have a small jazz society and slowly but surely we're trying to get jazz in town and we will get things done at some point, here. Now, you played in a much bigger place: The Orpheum.

BD: Yes, I played at the Orpheum with Liala Biali. We opened for Diana Krall. I also played at Carnegie Hall with Liali and Sly Juhas and Tara Davidson, when we had a quartet called the Crossings Quartet. I played in the Vienna Opera House when I did Sisters if Jazz. I've been quite fortunate, so far.

JD: Yes you have, indeed. What's it like playing in a place like the Orpheum, in front of that many people. Did you get stage fright, at all?

BD: I had such stage fright that night. Usually, I don't have it anymore, because I'm playing all the time, but this time, with all these people who are all intently listening to you and opening for Diana Krall. It's such a rush and it's really, really, really fun. We had such a great night musically, though and it was really fun.

JD: It must have been. That's a neat place. I'd be terrified to stand on the stage if the place was empty. Well, thanks for talking with me and I wish you luck with your career. I look forward to your new CD when it is finished.

BD: Thank you, Jim.

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