A TRIBUTE TO DAVE VALENTIN
Featuring Andrea Brachfeld and Bill O’Connell & The debut of
THE BILL O’CONNELL AFRO-CARIBBEAN ENSEMBLE (ACE)
Bill O’Connell, piano • Andrea Brachfeld, flute • Craig Handy, alto saxophone • Ralph Bowen, tenor saxophone
Gary Smulyan, baritone saxophone • Alex Sipiagin, trumpet • Adam Machaskee, trombone
Lincoln Goines, bass • Robby Ameen, drums • Román Díaz, congas & percussion

An exciting double bill -- members of Dave Valentin’s Quartet led by his former music director, pianist Bill O’Connell with flute virtuoso Andrea Brachfeld perform favorites from the late “Pied Piper of the Bronx.” After intermission, the group expands to a tentet with some of New York’s top Latin jazz artists, to premiere Bill’s newest compositions just prior to recording.

.…With all due respect, she (Brachfeld) plays her buns off; one of the first ladies to disprove the concept that only men can deal with the real deal…”
– Dave Valentín

O’Connell, who has written arrangements for bands led by Mongo Santmaria and Puerto Rican flutist Dave Valentin, composes with freedom and authority – Downbeat