The Artistry of… Brandi Disterheft
The concept of that Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur’s Court presents the adventures of a smart, wry individual who, like a kind of duck out of water, introduces much of what he is about and where he is from to the world in which he has landed, and uses wit to his advantage.
Brandi Disterheft is a Canadian-born bassist, bandleader and composer based in New York with a cache of wit, artistic wryness and musical wisdom far beyond her years. She plays with drive and determination that — like the Yankee of the story — dazzles and amazes. But that is where the comparison ends, because Disterheft’s is artistry, not veiled wizardry.
There is nothing but confidence to her playing, from hard work and personal challenge. She brings everything she has, and the experience for the listener is unforgettable. Her latest album is Blue Canvas, and the liner notes speak to her depth and soul, relating to the Muses of Ancient Greece and how these gods and goddesses would lead the artist into a state of ecstasy. Disterheft says this: “This album tells a story about that escape to freedom and the unyielding feeling of coming alive.”
The Artistry of… is a weekly series that reflects on the passion and essence of an artist. It airs Wednesday evenings on Dinner Jazz with John Devenish.