CD review: Brandi Disterheft With George Coleman – Surfboard 2020: Video, CD cover

Award-winning Canadian jazz contrabassist, singer, and composer Brandi Disterheft and her Trio have unveiled their new single, “Surfboard” along with a video for the release.

Featuring the legendary saxophonist George Coleman (Miles Davis, Herbie Hancock), “Surfboard” is a Brazilian Jazz album showcasing Juno Award winning Brandi Brandi Disterheft’s inventive writing, power-socket bass playing, and sweet ethereal vocals alongside Portinho the “James Brown of Brazilian Funk Samba” on drums (Harry Belafonte, Paquito De Rivera) this trio shines with slick vignette arrangements paying homage to composers from Carlos Jobim to bassist Sam Jones.

The title track from her forthcoming album, Surfboard — set for release October 2020 via Justin Time Records — the single and its surrounding body of work are touted among Disterheft’s most accomplished yet. Joined by two octogenarian masters — virtuoso tenor saxophonist George Coleman and the definitive Brazilian drummer Portinho — and world-class pianist Klaus Mueller, Disterheft authoritatively and organically guides the flow on a varied program that reflects her capacious interests.

On “Surfboard,” most notably, the artists nothing short of shine with their slick vignette arrangements and fitting homages to composer and co-creator of bossa nova Carlos Jobim, and bassist Sam Jones throughout. Inspired by documentary tandem surfing footage for the video, Portinho shines his signature groove on this pull from the Brazilian Songbook Standards with unrivaled finesse.

01.Surfboard (4:03)
02.Prelude to Coup de Foudre (2:58)
03.Coup de Foudre (3:51)
04.My Foolish Heart (6:50)
05.Nanã (4:31)
06.Manhattan Moon (3:51)
07.The Pendulum at Falcon’s Lair (3:37)
08.On Broadway (4:42)
09.Speak Low (5:20)
10.One Dream (5:24)
11.Portrait of Porto (5:05)
12.Where or When (3:42)
13.Del Sasser (5:44)
14.Reveries (4:37)

Brandi Disterheft, double bass
George Coleman, saxophone
Klaus Mueller, piano
Portinho, drums