AndreaBrachfeld

Andrea Brachfeld was born on May 3 in Utica, New York. She is a flutist, composer, and educator. She graduated from The High School of Music and Art and the Manhattan School of Music. Some artists she has associated with are Tito Puente, Ray Barretto, Hubert Laws, Nestor Torres, Dave Valentín, Paquito D’Rivera, Hilton Ruiz, Steve Turre, Wycliffe Gordon, Wallace Roney, and Bill O’ Connell among many others. Her breakthrough performance as the flutist for the popular Latin band Charanga ’76, catapulted her into Salsa history and fame as the first female flutist to play this music in the United States. Her many awards include the “Louis Armstrong Award for Outstanding Student” from Jazz Interactions in 1974, twice the recipient of the Latin New York Music Award, the Chico O’Farrill Lifetime Achievement Award in 2006, the “Pionero Award” in 2010, the “Best Jazz Flutist” by Hot House Magazine in 2015, and Downbeat Magazine referred to Andrea as “one of the finest jazz flutists around.”

Andrea tours with her group Andrea Brachfeld and Insight, featuring Bill O’Connell, Harvie S and Jason Tiemann, the Wallace Roney “Universe” Orchestra, and The Bill O’Connell Quartet / Dave Valentin Tribute Band. In June 2017, Andrea was awarded a grant from Chamber Music America and the Doris Duke Charitable Foundation to compose a new jazz work. Her new CD, If Not Now, When? will be released on Jazzheads in May 2018, reflecting this new music.

www.andreabrachfeld.com

www.wijsf.org