Brazz Tree

Artist Information

Biography

NYC-based violin/guitar duo Brazz Tree continues to astound and endear audiences across the country with their brand of music: New World Acoustic Rock. Though it draws on traditional forms born in places as far-flung as Ireland and India, their Music remains firmly rooted in the exuberant, questing ethos of the New World.

Since they began touring in 2004, Brazz Tree has traveled extensively throughout the U.S. and the Netherlands playing colleges and Universities, Theaters, Clubs, Art Centers, church coffeehouses, house concerts and libraries. They have performed at the SXSW Music Festival's World and Eclectic Music stage in Austin, TX and were on the Relix magazine compilation CD, as well as in their "Listen Up" section. Their album Spiral On will be featured in stores around the country in Paste Magazine's recommends section in February 2008. Brazz Tree has received Radio play from across the country including a spotlight on NPR and Acoustic Cafe (ACAFE) as "one to watch". They have performed on the Woodsongs Radio Hour at the Lexington Theater (Lexington, KY) to a sold out crowd, WVIA's Homegrown Music Series and WNYC's Soundcheck with John Schaefer. They were on numerous 'best of 2007' lists including NPR's WNYC's best live performances of 2007.

Brazz Tree's first CD "...Quest..." was released in 2004. It included rising tabla star, Suphala and Jason DiMatteo on double bass. They spent the next year touring and writing before they brought new material to producers Alan Camlet and Pete Thompson. With a bevy of guest artists and guest producer Michael Leonhart (Steely Dan, Lenny Kravitz), Brazz Tree's newest creation "Spiral On" is the next step in the evolution of the band with a much more complex sound incorporating electric bass and guitar, drums, loops and samples and a string ensemble. The listener is taken on a musical journey, bringing to mind the music of Peter Gabriel, Fiona Apple and Jefferson Airplane.

"You're not going to hear a more talented duo in a long time."
-Smother

FOR LIVE VIDEO FOOTAGE GO TO: http://www.houseofwally.com/bt.htm

College Bookings: W2 Entertainment; www.houseofwally.com


Contact and Bookings: brazztreemusic@hotmail.com

Instrumentation

Mazz Swift: Vocals, Violin
Brad Hammonds: 6/12 String Acoustic Guitar

Additional:

Alan Camlet- Drums/Percussion
Jason DiMatteo- Bass

Discography

String Quartet EP- March 2008!

'Spiral On' (2007)

'...Quest...' (2005)

Stations Playing ...Quest...:
ACAFE, WRNR, WNCW, WVIA, WMSV, WJFF, WQNR, KRCB, WWUH, WEFT, WHAY, WMKY, WERU, KUMD, KUNM, , KRVM, KSMF, WUTC, KPFT, KSER etc..

Also complete tracks can be found at http://www.myspace.com/brazztree

Official Website

http://www.brazztree.com

Audio

• Out of Time
  Listen   Download
• The Story of a man that lost everything (demo)
  Listen   Download
• Seven
  Listen   Download
• Lullaby for a Working Man (demo)
  Listen   Download
• Shine
  Listen   Download
• Steady
  Listen   Download
• Kiss Me
  Listen   Download

Lyrics

• Anthem
• Kiss Me
• My Blues
• Story of a man who lost everything

Video

In a Hole

Photo Gallery

Press

• Brazz Tree is: [+ Show ]
  

  “a sublime, surprising, bristling and hearty stew of Irish lyricism, daredevil jazz aerobatics and p...“a sublime, surprising, bristling and hearty stew of Irish lyricism, daredevil jazz aerobatics and punk rock moxie.....both the elegance and the energy are off the chain. “
  

• Review from the road- November 2007 [+ Show ]
  

  LAST NIGHT WE SHOWCASED A DUO FROM NYC THAT LITERALLY BLEW THE SOCKS OFF EVERYONE IN THE PLACE! TO...
  LAST NIGHT WE SHOWCASED A DUO FROM NYC THAT LITERALLY BLEW THE SOCKS OFF EVERYONE IN THE PLACE! TOTALLY UNEXPECTED! BRAZZ TREE FEATURES MAZZ SWIFT: VOCALS & VIOLIN AND BRAD HAMMONDS 6/12 STRING ACOUSTIC GUITARS. EVERYONE WAS WONDERING WHY SUCH TALENTED, MIND-BLOWING, SUPER CONSCIOUSNESS-RAISING ARTISTS WOULD EVEN BOTHER STOPPING IN A TINY TOWN LIKE CARLISLE, MA., INSTEAD OF GRACING THE STAGE AT CARNEGIE HALL, WHERE THEY BELONG! THE TRUTH IS, I KNOW WHAT I'M DOING. I HEARD THEM, AND I SIMPLY GOT ONLINE AND BEGGED THEM TO COME AND PLAY FOR US. THEY SAID THEY'D BE DELIGHTED. (TO BOOT, THEY'RE THE NICEST PEOPLE ON THE FACE OF THE EARTH!)THERE ARE COFFEEHOUSES, AND OTHER PERFORMING VENUES BOTH NEAR TO, AND FAR FROM US, BUT, EVEN THOUGH I LOVE IT, I REFUSED TO HITCH MYSELF TO THE TOTAL FOLK BANDWAGON, BEING THAT I LOVE ALL KINDS OF MUSIC, AND THIS WORLD IS JUST OVERFLOWING WITH UNKNOWN MUSIC GIANTS TRYING TO SCRAMBLE UP THEIR OWN BEANSTALK, JUST TO BE SEEN AND BE HEARD. BRAZZ TREE BILLS THEMSELVES AS A BAND THAT BLENDS TRADITIONAL MUSIC FROM ALL CORNERS OF THE WORLD INTO ONE, NEW SOUND. AND HERE IS WHERE THE WORD `TRADITIONAL' AS IT IS COMMONLY KNOWN, STOPS! BECAUSE, THERE ISN'T A SINGLE THING TRADITIONAL ABOUT THEM. MAZZ' VOICE IS SO POWERFUL AND SO DAMN CONTROLLED (YES, SHE'S THAT GOOD) THAT SHE'LL START RIPPING OUT YOUR SOUL, THEN EVER SO GENTLY PUTTING IT BACK, BEFORE YOU EVEN KNOW WHICH WAY THE WIND IS BLOWING. BRAD, UNDOUBTEDLY HAS THE FASTEST FINGERS IN THE EAST. I HAVE NEVER, EVER SEEN FINGERS FLY UP AND DOWN THE NECK OF A GUITAR, AT THIS SORT OF BREAK-NECK SPEED. IT'S ONLY A MATTER OF TIME FOR THESE TWO. BEFORE YOU KNOW IT, THEY'LL GET TO THE TOP OF THAT BEANSTALK, WITH ALL THE WORLD AT THEIR FEET, AND I FOR ONE WILL BE IN THE CROWD. TO HEAR THEM GIVES YOU GOOSEBUMPS. TO SEE THEM PERFORM LIVE CAN NEARLY MAKE YOU BLEED. NOW, THAT'S PASSION, MY FRIEND. www.brazztree.com
  
  Dian @ Union Hall
  Carlisle, MA

• Review of Quest: April 2006 [+ Show ]
  

  "...Quest..." is the debut album from masterminds Mazz Swift (vocals, violin) and Brad Hammonds (aco..."...Quest..." is the debut album from masterminds Mazz Swift (vocals, violin) and Brad Hammonds (acoustic guitar). Swift, a Juilliard dropout, joined forces with Hammonds, a NYC jazz guitarist, to create something rare in the music scene: a blend between Eastern and Western influences. Mixed at Solar Sonic Studios in Brooklyn they include a little of everything- Celtic, rock, jazz, pop, abd folk with the help of Jason Dimatteo on Double Bass, Suphala on tabla, and Glen Fittin on percussion. Swift, who has a gifted voice to match the talents of Jill Scott, is unafraid to take chances with the melodies and nuances that Hammonds so expertly provides. Case in point Mazz has accompanied and collaborated with artists like Kanye West, Moby, Jay-Z, Perry Farrell, and DJ Logic. Brazz Tree performs once a month at Rockwood Music Hall, and twice per month at Caffe Vivaldi. www.brazztree.com
  

• Vernon Reid Review (Living Colour) [+ Show ]
  

  Mazz is a remarkable player fluent in styles from Celtic to Jazz...Brad is a strong player in the Ri...Mazz is a remarkable player fluent in styles from Celtic to Jazz...Brad is a strong player in the Richard Thompson tradition, with a beautifully hypnotic approach. This music is sinuous and sensual with a progressive edge....Mazz is a great vocalist; by turns vulnerable and fiery; a perfect complement to the gritty dreaminess of the songs.
  -Vernon Reid

• Live Show Reviews [+ Show ]
  

  Performance Date: April 4, 2007 The Brazz Tree show went very well. We enjoyed having Brad and Mazz...Performance Date: April 4, 2007
  The Brazz Tree show went very well. We enjoyed having Brad and Mazz on campus. We would definitely invite them back!
  Jackie Smith, Director of Student Activities, Illinois Central College – East Peoria, IL
  
  Performance date: March 27th 2007
  Brazz Tree was great. They were very easy to work with and all the students loved their music. It was a great success!
  Kimberly Thornton , Assistant Director for Student Leadership and Involvement , Louisiana State University in Shreveport
  
  Performance Date: March 6, 2007
  The show went great last night, students really enjoyed their sound and actually hung out to just sit and listen for quite a while. Sometimes when we do these coffee nights (we just run a tab at the counter and people can come and order whatever drink they want) students will get their goods, hang for about 10 minutes and then leave. Last night they seemed to stay around. Our VP for Student Life and VP of Faculty also went too, and they loved it!
  Jackie Weber, Director of Student Activities, Westminster College - Fulton, MO
  
  Performance Date: March 14, 2007
  Hi House! Brazz Tree was EXCELLENT! Thank you so much for helping me to get the show here. Brad and Mazz were extremely professional and the students were making comments about their amazement at their musical talent. I heard many students make comments such as "You can really tell they're performers". There were a core group of students who stayed and watched intently throughout the show. I talked to Mazz and Brad before the show to tell them about the atmosphere so I think they were anticipating it, but it's always nice if there is a group of students who are there to just see the show, and there were. All in all, it was a success!
  Shannon Chronister, University Of Wisconsin at Marathon County - Wausau, WI
  
  Performance Date: March 14, 2007
  They were amazing! I have to admit I was a little nervous about the last minute switch, but I couldn't have been happier. The audience loved them as well. Brad and Mazz were wonderful to work with - so laid back!
  Brooke Wegner, Director of Student Life, Alverno College - Milwaukee, WI
  
  Performance Date: March 7, 2007
  It was great! Much better crowd response than most shows. They were super easy to work with too. Lots of good feedback!
  Kelley Pfeiffer, Student Activities Coordinator, SaintCharles Community College - Cottleville, MO
  
  Performance Date: March 6, 2007
  Brazz Tree worked out perfect for a coffee shop! Unique music, the students seemed to enjoy it. They were very easy to work with.
  Kelly Dye, Student Programmer, Westminster College - Fulton, MO
  
  Performance Date: Feb. 26, 2007
  They were fantastic, hoping to hook up with them when I go to New York in a few weeks. How fun, they were great, and I am looking forward to having Deidra here tomorrow!
  Kelly Lewis, Coordinator of Student Activities, Kankakee Community College - Kankakee, IL
  
  Performance Date: March 1, 2007
  Brazz Tree was great last night, they were a great fit for Starbucks and Butler. I really enjoyed their sound as did the students who were there enjoyed themselves. Not only did I like Brazz Tree's music, but I really liked Brad and Maz's personalities and how they told stories in between songs. Thank you!
  Jenna Widmann, Coffeehouse Co-Chair, Butler University - Indianapolis, IN
  
  Performance Date: Feb. 21, 2007
  Brazz Tree was fantastic! I got a lot of feedback from the audience wondering where I had gotten them from and asking me to bring them back. In other words, the audience loved them! Brad and Mazz are really fun and have great personalities. I was very pleased and I hope to bring them back to Valpo when I have the chance. T
  Ashley Funk, Union Board - Series Programming, Valparaiso University - Valparaiso, IN
  
  Performance Date: February 7th, 2007
  Students enjoyed their music. So did I! I hope they had a nice visit.
  Leigh Davis – Assistant Director of Student Activities , Queens University, Charlotte, NC
  
  Performance Date: February 7th, 2007
  It went very well...No problems at all.....It was during our dinner service so it was more of fill music for the crowd....
  Michael Porowski – Student Activities Coordinator , Johnson and Wales University Charlotte, NC
  
  Performance Date: Nov. 21, 2006
  This is Janet from Benedictine University. I am the president of the campus Programming Board, and attended the event at which Brazz Tree performed with several members of the board, including the music chair. I loved the duo, and was told by members of the board that they felt the same way. Not only were the two personable, chatting before the show and engaging listeners during the show, their music was great. It was original and fresh, and stuck out from the other acoustic performers often on campus. I would love to see the two of them again!
  Janet Bilder Programming Board President, Benedictine University - Lisle, IL
  
  Performance Date: Nov. 17, 2006
  Josh Schoenfelder, UBG Coffeehouse Co-Chair, Augustana College - Sioux Falls, SD
  
  Brazz Tree was, at the very least, excellent; first class. The students that I talked to really appreciated their set and diversity of musicianship and talent; I'm not sure Augie's coffeehouses have ever showcased artists of this genre. It was a very hip coffeehouse; the music was real, the vocals were tight, and everything was ON. You can feel safe in promoting them with highest recommendation!
  
  Also worth noting is how enjoyable Mazz and Brad themselves were. I was fortunate to talk to both before the show, and two of my committee members accompanied them to dinner, and we all were thankful for how down-to-earth, interested in us/Augustana, and ultimately friendly they were. (We had a coffeehouse musican not too long ago that I would not give these props to! Eek!). They hung out with our students after their show and signed autographs, shook hands, and Brad actually bought a fundraiser T-shirt from one of our students. They're very good people.
  
  Performance Date: Nov. 15, 2006
  Colton Pratt, UPB Live at the Quarry Coordinator, Saint Cloud State University - Saint Cloud, MN
  
  Everything went very very well with the show, Brad and Mazz where wonderful to work with and did a great job performing.
  
  Performance Date: Nov. 9, 2006
  Chris Mikkelsen, Assistant Director of Student Life - NormandaleCommunity College - Bloomington, MN
  
  Their show was great and they were great people. The audience seem to really enjoy their music. Most of the comments I heard were related to what unbelievable musicians they both were.
  
  Performance Date: Nov. 16, 2006
  Amanda Long, Bud's Place Co-Chair for SAC, Grand View College - Des Moines, IA
  
  Thank you so much for letting us get Brazz Tree here to perform at our school. The show went great... everyone I talked to absolutely loved the music! I already had a request for their information for possibly having them come perform again
  
  Performance Date: Nov. 10, 2006
  Chad Driscoll, CAB President, Saint Ambrose University - Davenport, IA
  
  The students there really had a great time!!! They loved the interaction and the music the played. It was a real down to earth performance... Thanks for letting them come play for us!!
  
  Performance Date: Nov. 10, 2006
  Mardell Mommsen, Director of Student Activities, Clinton Community College,
  Clinton, IA
  
  They were fabulous!!!!! I will have to bring them back again.
  
  Performance Date: Nov. 7, 2006
  Cari Ann Cook, Director of Student Activities - Dominican University - River
  Forest, IL
  
  They were really great to work with-low maintenance and high quality.
  
  Performance Date: Nov. 1, 2006
  Blair O'Connor Coffeehouse Chair for SAC, Coe College - Cedar Rapids, IA
  
  Brazz Tree was awesome. They were very patient while we had some difficulties with a speaker that was on before them. The audience really loved their performance. I had people ask during their sound check if
  CD's were being sold. They were overall amazing!
  
  Performance date: September 14, 2006
  They were phenomenal! I hope we can get them back next year!
  Kelly Warren , Coordinator of
  Student Activities Florida Community College Kent Campus , Jacksonville, FL
  
  Performance Date: Sept. 22, 2006
  They were really great- more impressive than I remember from Boston... I
  think we sold about 8 CD's and considering there were roughly 30-40 or so students who were present for their set I think that's a pretty good sale!
  Scott McEver, Director Student Activities- Connecticut College, New London, CT
  
  Performance date: August 30, 2006
  Brazz Tree was absolutely phenomenal. We had students coming out of the dining hall so they could hear them better on the patio . We will definitely have them back to our campus.
  Azurdee M. Garland, Program Coordinator, Western Kentucky University
  
  Performance Date: September 5,2006
  The show was great. The students really enjoyed them.
  Thanks!
  Megan
  Megan L. O'Brien, Director of Student Activities
  Centre College
  
  

• Review of ...Quest... (July 2006) [+ Show ]
  

  Simplicity in music is all but irrelevant in this day and age, with music in its most humble form be...Simplicity in music is all but irrelevant in this day and age, with music in its most humble form being nothing but a thing of the past, something passé for today’s generation that is blessed with technology at its behest. In such a day and age where technology in music has become as integral as the music instrument itself, a band like Brazz Tree, for the kind of music they are making, is an aberration.
  
  If technology is believed to be a norm in modern music, then Brazz Tree would be music’s Amish equivalent; overly modest is what this debut is. ...Quest... is music in its most organic form. Not only the style of this band, but the music itself is nothing less than earthy to the greatest extent possible. Consisting of duo Mazz Swift (on vocals and violin) and Brad Hammonds (on acoustic guitar), Brazz Tree has a sound that is based (completely) on two of music’s most basic instruments, in their rawest forms.
  
  For an album that has absolutely no rhythm section (no drums at all and minimal bass guitars), and no other extravagance whatsoever, ...Quest... is phenomenally exciting. The band has a very free-form style of composing, so the tracks seem very spontaneous. The whole sound of ...Quest... feels like an aggressive jam between Hammonds and Swift.
  
  Beneath Brazz Tree’s rusticism is a band of great depth and serious talent. Swift is an elegant lyricist and an articulate singer; her singing styles change effortlessly as the duo’s eclectic music does, which is a farrago of diverse influences ranging from Traditional Scottish to Americana.
  
  With the help of the same old tools -– an acoustic guitar and a violin -– Swift and Hammonds show the great range in their musical ability as they swiftly jump styles from the elegant Traditional Scottish arrangements on “Return To My Town” to some jazz on “My Blues” and “Kiss Me,” then adding a taste of Indian ethnicity on “We Get,” and then going roots music on “Four Elements” and “Ghost.”
  
  Music has rarely been so crude and yet so vivaciously brilliant and refined, let alone in the last several years. ...Quest... is a breath of fresh air for anyone seeking some serious originality, and a style that’s more hip than it is down to earth. This is an album every bit worth checking out.
  
  Rating: A

• Review of NXNE Showcase [+ Show ]
  

  It's all in the eyes, when lead vox Mazz looks at you with the divine madness in her gaze reveals in...It's all in the eyes, when lead vox Mazz looks at you with the divine madness in her gaze reveals information far beyond what can be expressed through the limited palettes of speech and movement......This girl is far more trained than half of the NXNE performers combined..Brazz Tree creates their own sound....Why they aren't inciting a new revolution in music, I'll never know.
  

• Whisperin & Hollerin (UK) [+ Show ]
  

  Brazz Tree are an intriguing mix of haunting folk songs with sharp, jazz overtones. The band consist...Brazz Tree are an intriguing mix of haunting folk songs with sharp, jazz overtones. The band consist of singer and violinist, Mazz Swift- a former pupil at prestigious music school Julliard, and Brad Hammonds on acoustic guitar. Their music is eerie, evocative and totally different from anything heard before.
  
  The closest comparison that can be made is with Martyn Bennett, a folk singer who combines traditional Scottish folk songs with hip hop and drum and bass tracks with surprisingly good results. Brazz Tree though are completely different, yet just as good and ‘Quest’ with its fusion of influences, soaring violins and dreamy vocals is a record which is totally unique, and absolutely brilliant.
  

• Editor's Pick [+ Show ]
  

  A strong debut by a Julliard drop-out and a New York City jazz guitarist under their assumed name Br...A strong debut by a Julliard drop-out and a New York City jazz guitarist under their assumed name Brazz Tree. Blending Western and Eastern music influences, “Quest” is a journey through powerful sounds and transcendental ambience. On the album there’s a marriage of Celtic, Indian, roots rock, jazz, and ambient that breathes an elegant and esteemed vibe into the nine songs present on the album. You’re not going to hear a more talented duo in a long time.
  
  - J-Sin

• Stunning Debut [+ Show ]
  

  Brazz Tree’s Quest is a stunning debut from an exciting new band. Brazz Tree’s intermingling of the ...Brazz Tree’s Quest is a stunning debut from an exciting new band. Brazz Tree’s intermingling of the guitar with other strings creates a one-of-a-kind sound. This is not your typical folk band. Brazz Tree takes from a variety of musical and cultural styles and uses them to create their own. Some of the tracks have a more rock sound, while others sound like traditional Irish folk music. Then there are those that have a more laid-back jazz feel. Each song on Quest has different elements that may not seem like they would work together, but Brazz Tree succeeds in blending them into a perfect harmony.
  
  Reviewer: Gail Hoffer new pop
  

Setlist

Two 40 minute Sets
We play mostly original songs but we throw in a couple cover songs every once in a while:

White Rabbit- Jefferson Airplane
(You Better) Love Me Before I Am Gone - Brian Jonestown Massacre

Irish Songs - The Blacksmith, The Night Visit, Raglan Road

An occasional Astor Piazzolla tune

Basic Requirements

Calendar