Sarah Brindell
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Sarah Brindell

Boston, Massachusetts, United States | INDIE | AFM

Boston, Massachusetts, United States | INDIE | AFM
Band Jazz Singer/Songwriter

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This band has not uploaded any videos

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"Metronome Magazine, Feb. 2005"

Readying for her trip on Tuesday, the fourth day of our new year, to visit her uncle in Zurich, Switzerland, Sarah Brindell spoke to me via phone from that purple house on a hill in San Francisco where she grew up; that purple house now famous to fans who read the bio on her Web site at www.dragonladymusic.com, as well as in flyers and press kits. Family life in that purple house, described as loving and slightly eccentric, became the descriptive birth place of another entertainer in a long line of musicians, composers and published writers.
Sarah, in addition to fronting her band with sweet vocal sensibilities and hands poised to dance across her Nord Electro Keyboard (specializing in vintage sounds like the clavinet or the Wurlitzer and Hammond), also teaches songwriting and arranging at Berklee
College of Music in Boston. “I just made up a songwriting class for Berklee’s online extension school, which caters to anybody that wants to take online classes around the world. I’m starting to do that more so that I can basically use the online classes to catapult me into touring more often. Then I can just live off the laptop, which is the ultimate goal, I think,” said Sarah Brindell.
Sarah went to the New School in New York, and moved up to Boston when she was
offered a teaching position at Berklee about 3 years ago; while in New York, Sarah lived about 2 blocks away from the World Trade Center for almost 6 years, and left September 1st of 2001 (very lucky!). “I’m really happy to be in Boston at the moment, and I’m planning a tour of the Northeast with a couple of friends, going out as a three woman bill that focuses on our respective solo talents. I’ve been mostly touring solo and playing local with the band. I found that taking the band down to New York involves spending a lot of money. Plus, solo touring is actually kind of empowering and fun as well, so I’ve been doing a lot of that.”
Brindell’s current band lineup is comprised of a serendipitous grouping, with Mike Null on guitar, Aaron Bellamy on bass, and Mauricio Zottarelli on drums. Serendipity seems an apt moniker since it’s a term Sarah has heard throughout her life (her mother even nicknamed her Serendipity as a child).
The gathering of Sarah’s band took place over a few years after her arrival in Boston and at Berklee. When she forced it, looking for band members to fill upcoming gigs, she was sometimes hard-pressed, but she would see the current members of her band at various venues, by chance. She heard Mauricio while passing by a Berklee drum recital, getting and forgetting his contact information, and then having a student bring the two of them together again; months later she found the contact information she had misplaced and saw that it was for the same person. Brindell came into contact with Mike Null at a cafe, and was stricken by his ability to create colors with the guitar, as well as textures. She saw Aaron Bellamy play with his own band a few years ago, thought he was amazing, didn’t see him for about 2 and a half years, but clicked at a gig and the two have been playing together ever since.
Brindell and her band recently recorded a live album during two sold out sets at the Paradise Lounge in Boston, Massachusetts, close to a year and one month after the debut of her first studio album, Piece of Mind. Two Thousand Three’s Piece of Mind contains cameo appearances by her mother, Jill Brindel (San Francisco Symphony) on cello, her father, Bill Klingelhoffer (San Francisco Opera, Ballet Orchestras) on French horn, and her aunt Mary Stolper (Chicago Symphony Orchestra) on flute. The new live album is coming out during the winter of 2005, most likely in March.
The live concept as a second album is in direct contrast to 2003’s Piece of Mind. That latter first album, as described by Sarah, is more of a “sit down by a candlelight dinner and drink some wine and listen to the album kind of album. It has much more of a chill, kind of laid back vibe.” With her forthcoming album, Sarah captured the live energy that she and her band create at shows. “These guys are so good and I really want people to hear them in a live setting, so I got them to show off their stuff and we created more of a dance feel, and an upbeat energetic kind of album,” Sarah related.
A couple of the songs from Piece of Mind were reworked to produce the upbeat energy, such as “Purple Lullaby” and “Sweet Candlelight.” “Additionally, there are new songs that I really wanted to get recorded, but at this point I was creatively in a place where I wanted to do a live album and catch that spark that happens between audience members and artists. There’s really nothing like that, and I really wanted to capture that feeling.”
There will be one cover for sure, and possibly two. The definite, at this point, is Sarah’s arrangement of Gershwin’s “Summertime.” Sarah stated that, “it doesn’t
even sound like it in spots, it’s kind of its own thing. I know it’s a very popular standard to arrange, but we did something different with it, if that’s believable. So we’re thinking of that as a definite, and then possibly Prince’s “How Come You Don’t Call Me Anymore,” which appeared on the album, Girl Six, and it’s on his third disc of hits, the B-sides. It’s a great tune, with just vocals and piano, so I played that solo. It’s a stomping foot backbeat and I got the audience snapping their fingers and stomping their feet, so it should come across really well. We still need to pick the tunes. We went from recording the album right into the holidays, but only the finishing touches are needed. It won’t take long to mix down and get together, but I need to get together with the producer when I get back from Zurich. Actually, Dennis Carroll is the producer. He runs a company called Six Media Group and works for a lot of artists in Boston and New York.”
Sarah’s audience encompasses a wide mix of fans: people looking for something that’s a little different, a little alternative to the normal Jazz/Pop that you can typically hear on the radio. “Maybe they are looking for some more harmonic changes or something that’s not so tightly categorized. Obviously everything can be placed in a category, but I think it crosses a few genres.
My music definitely has Jazz sensibilities, so in that respect, it definitely caters to older people as well as younger people. Some of it is a little racy, so it does get sexy, but it’s sexy in a metaphorical rather than a blatant way. At shows, I’ve had people bring their parents and the parents loved it just as much as the kids. You don’t see that kind of widespread acceptance at a lot of shows. The lyrics are poetic and there is a certain swelling complexity to the music, although recently I’ve been getting into the idea of simplicity. My more recent music has leaned toward the R&B vibe, much more than the older stuff did,” stated Sarah.
Sarah Brindell’s music does have a very eclectic feel to it, reminiscent of the striding distinctions that set Rikki Lee Jones apart from her peers, and can also be found in the music of the kings of Jazz crossover, Steely
Dan. Sarah elaborates, “We definitely honed more of our own sound, and that was the general consensus of people that have known my stuff for a while and came to the live show for the recording on December 5th. They said, ‘Wow, you guys have really developed your own thing.” So, people who love the fast drum beats can get
into this because they can watch Mauricio, who’s this amazing Brazilian drummer, just go off with all of his crazy mathematical rhythms. Then the funk people really like it because Aaron... this little guy who dances around while he plays, and he’s just the funk master. Then, those people who love blues, really love Mike Null because he has this B.B. King meets David Gilmour kind of vibe.
In Boston there’s a certain widespread acceptance and love of all things Folk and Indie Rock, the only two musical genres that Sarah and her band don’t strike upon, and she’s had an uphill battle to find places to draw and grow her audience. Even the straight ahead Jazz clubs were hard-pressed to fit here in. If she wanted to played those clubs, she needed to tone down and be quiet, but if she played rock clubs, like the Middle East, she was looked at as a little too cocktail lounge. Ultimately, Sarah’s feeling is that she does best in theatres, where people buy tickets and sit down to really drink the music in. It’s a tough goal to attain, but she seems to be on her way.
As for the push to garner record company attention, it hasn’t been Brindell’s top priority. Sarah feels that she’s standing on the cusp of such a strange time in the music industry, and that because of downloadable music, the grasp and strength of record companies might be waning. Developing her own audience independently is definitely at the forefront of her current and future plans. Eventually, if record companies take notice, then that’s great. “I really want to be the kind of band and solo artist that generates their own audience to a point where the record companies come and say, ‘do your thing, it’s
obviously working.’ I’m very wary of anything else,” stated Brindell.
The outstanding and most eclectic element of Sarah’s musical style is her incorporation and deft usage of keyboard sounds, using a Fender Rhodes electric piano and Wurlitzer to record Piece of Mind, and recreating those sounds on stage with her Nord Electro. She related her affinity for the Rhodes and other vintage sounds came from listening to Donny Hathaway, Herbie Hancock, and especially Stevie Wonder, whom she had a chance to meet when she
was eighteen. Piece of Mind definitely shines through with the kind of soulful vibe and extraordinary creation that Stevie Wonder captured in the 70s, and I’m betting that her live album will show Sarah’s ability to capture an audience and a moment of time, as well as her wide spectrum of musical diversity.
You can check out Sarah Brindell and her band on Thursday, January 20th, at The Fireplace, 1634 Beacon Street; Washington St., in Brookline., and at Johnny D’s Uptown Lounge in Somerville, in Davis Square, on Tuesday, January 25th. The Johnny D’s show is a benefit for Doctors Without Borders, a group providing assistance to people in South Asia affected by the Tsunami.
Check back to Sarah’s Web site at www.dragonladymusic.com for future show dates, sound clips, and pictures of Sarah and her band, as well as to read all about the purple house on the hill. - Brian M. Owens


"Boston Globe"

“…if anything is going to put us in the right groove, it's this newly minted diva of funk, pop, and jazz….Brindell's debut CD, "Piece of Mind," has been soothing our soul of late.”

- Richard Gilman


"Boston Weekly Dig"

Have you ever wondered what honey sounds like? Sarah Brindell is a soulful sexy siren from the same beehive as Ella Fitzgerald, Aretha Franklin, Stevie Wonder and Erykah Badu. Behind the piano, she performs a melodious blend of funk, jazz and soul that is a remedy for the ear. - Bobby Iafolla


"Best Female Musicians, NYC"

Sarah Brindell weaves together seven songs that are well written, well produced, and to say her voice is flawless would be an understatement...[Piece of Mind] is full of songs that really grab the listener's full attention - Dennis Halsey


"San Francisco Examiner"

Brindell's strong, vibrant voice is an exception.  She handles her songs effectively. - Robert Hurwitt


"Time Out Magazine, San Francisco"

When she looks into the audience and sings with that lovely voice of hers, it's impossible not to be taken in. Sarah...is simply mesmerizing. - Maggie Crum


"CDReviews.com"

If you’re looking for a good jazz-pop album, look no further.  Sarah Brindell possesses not only a classically-trained voice, but also the candor necessary to do popular music.  Brindell, a teacher at the Berklee College of Music, proves herself far from being caught up in the stuffy, technically proficient, yet boring mores of so much of what is called “classical” music these days.  Technically proficient, hah.  Brindell’s voice will knock you out of your socks.  Her writing and arrangements are standards of balance and melody.  For good reason, too: she teaches the stuff at, hey! Berklee College!  That’s where the recently reviewed Jon-Erik Borgen studies!  Well, with two excellent albums coming from the same institution, I’d say that we have a trend.  Maybe the two artists ought to get together and jam some time.
Seriously, though, folks, there isn’t a poor song in the bunch.  Brindell effortlessly slides from seductive vocals among wah-pedalled guitars on “Sweet Candlelight” to the clear, naked emotion of “Own Skin”, to the cheeky, yet charming “Aprhodite.”  Brindell’s tight, punchy piano skills are also showcased on “Aprhodite,” showing us that she can tickle the keys with the best of them, just as well as she can play slower, moody pieces in support of her virtually perfect voice.  When the (engineer, producer?) calls out “Hot Damn” after “Aphrodite”, it’s with good reason.
Brindell’s back-up band also does an excellent job.  Mauricio Zottarelli on drums and Aaron Bellamy on bass create a rhythm section whose work accentuates all the right places, and Mike Null can provide either sultry wahs or diamond picks or anything in between  using his guitar.  Brindell comes from a musical family too.  Her mother, father, and aunt all guest on the record, and all sit on professional orchestras in the U.S.
One of my favorite moments on this album is the opening of “Shadow”.  We hear the sounds of the city: restaurant chatter, a jackhammer, car horns, and then Brindell’s keys jingling as she opens the door to the studio, walks up the stairs, and sits down to play.  It’s a really cool effect, perfectly setting up the big-city, yet intimate feel of the song.
The most touching part of the record, though, is the only cover: Robert Telson’s “Calling You.”  It’s mostly just Sarah and her piano here.  When her high, plaintive voice rises and then soars on the chorus, it gives me goosebumps.
Finally, just a couple quick notes.  Piece of Mind is unfortunately misspelled.  What is meant is Peace of Mind.  I checked the lyrics, and the spelling as is doesn’t make any sense in the song.  Brindell certainly isn’t angrily giving us a piece of her mind, but rather a little peace of mind.  Also, there is a hidden track!  For those who don’t have the patience to sit through the silence, it’s track 27.  It’s a fine song, a quieter piano ballad, which wasn’t hidden because it was sub-par, but rather perhaps because it’s a bit more pure jazz than what’s found in the album-proper. - Joel Dunham


"Boston Girl Guide"

From the first few bars, I was intrigued. Almost immediately images of Norah Jones and Fiona Apple entered my mind – smooth and silky, funky and edgy, whispery yet substantial. The opening track “Own Skin” is a fusion of jazz melodies and is a throw back to the days of Billie Holiday when the music was metaphor for turmoil and trouble but sounded like honey.


The entire recording is velvet smooth which allows the deeper meaning of the lyrics to sink in almost imperceptibly behind the fusion of cello, French horn, and bass. With the underlying theme of heartbreak as in Purple Lullaby “I won’t regret the world I chose with open eyes / but I’ve found a way to make it all go away / I’m gonna serenade the sky / into a Purple Lullaby” and struggle with finding yourself in Own Skin “With a little luck you can find / A place to fly away free in your Own Skin”, Brindell manages to paint a realistic picture of life but covers its harshness with a voice that acts as salve to comfort. She even manages to throw in raw sexual energy dressed up retro-rhythm in Sweet Candlelight, but simple melodies and a honey-warm voice can’t disguise the core – pure seduction.


For an unexpected change of pace, pop this CD into your player. For more information, check out www.dragonladymusic.com.
- Becca Holland


"Metronome Magazine, June 2005"

No female singer-songwriter-musician is making as many musical waves in Boston as the multi-talented Sarah Brindell. She’s a naturally gifted vocalist and equally talented piano player that can easily hold a candle to the likes of her contemporaries Norah Jones and others. On this, her second full-length CD, Sarah is captured live at Boston’s famed Paradise Lounge with her outrageous band in top form. Jazzy, sensual and oozing with an electric vibrancy, Sarah and her band treat the receptive Paradise audience to a lesson in dynamics, rhythm and pop sensibilities.
Whether she’s whispering funky, belting it out or climbing the vocal ladder, Sarah is in passionate control with a range that’s simply astounding. She strikes deep in to the listener’s psyche and makes you feel every nuance of her vocals. Meanwhile, her band keeps the soaring Brindell firmly grounded with superb drumming, thumping bass lines and sizzling solo guitar work. This band is truly a force to be reckoned with.
Original, inventive and bustling with new dawn creativity, Sarah also displays a penchant for writing great songs. Shaking up a mixed bag of jazz, blues, funk and pop, Sarah knows the meaning of a good hook and delivers song after song. With talent this obvious and the right breaks, Sarah could very well become one of the music businesses real success stories. Outstanding!
- Brian Owens


"Kenwood Dennard, a world-renowned drummer"

“One of the most gentle and loving ASS KICKINGS I’VE HEARD!” - himself


Discography

Dandelion EP, released NOW, Copyright Dragon Lady Music 2007, Live at the Paradise Lounge, released May of 2005, Copyright Dragon Lady Music
Piece of Mind, released March of 2003, Copyright Dragon Lady Music
Mp3s sound clips are available at
http://www.myspace.com/sarahbrindell, http://www.sarahbrindell.com and www.itunes.com
and Newbury Comics, Boston.

Songs also can be heard at Pop Storm radio (internet), KCRW in Santa Monica, and The Upper Room with Joe Kelly (WVOF), as well as 92.5 The River, and WERS Emmerson College Radio (Boston)

Photos

Bio

Ater a long stint in Europe, Sarah is back in Boston, but going to San Francisco for the holidaze! Check her out at Lefty O'Douls 333 Geary St. across from Union Sq. on Dec. 30th at 8:30pm.

“One of the most gentle and loving ASS KICKINGS I’VE HEARD!”

This was world-renowned drummer Kenwood Dennard’s reaction to Sarah Brindell’s performance at the Paradise Lounge in Boston, MA.

Sarah Brindell grew up in a purple house on a hill in San Francisco. She was raised in a family of professional musicians, composers and published writers. She began dancing at 3, playing piano at 5, and singing at 14. To this day, she is a constant performer. Behind the piano or keyboard, she performs a melodious blend of soul, jazz, Bossa Nova, pop and R&B that continues to captivate audiences at venues around the world.

Recently, she has joined forces with one of the most astounding rhythm sections in the country: The Nates, comprised of the honeylike stylistics of Nate Edgar on bass, and the subtle nuances and wave-like groove of Nathan Sabanayagam on drums. They emerge in 2007 fresh out of Chillhouse Studios, in Charlestown, MA, where they are currently finishing their new album, due to be released this fall. Cameo appearances are made by Sam Kininger and Kenwood Dennard!

History: On November 15th, 2003, Sarah Brindell released her debut album, “Piece of Mind.” Cameo appearances are made by her mother, Jill Brindel (SF Symphony) on cello, her father, Bill Klingelhoffer (SF Opera, Ballet Orchestras) on French horn, her aunt Mary Stolper (Chicago Symphony Orchestra) on flute. On December 5th, 2004, she recorded a live album, playing two sets to a sold-out audience at the Paradise Lounge in Boston, MA.

Notable credits: Sarah Brindell has had the honor of being named a finalist by the 2005 Song of the Year contest, sponsoring VH-1’s Save the Music Foundation. In 2004, she also received an honorable mention award from the Billboard World Song Contest. In spring of 2006, she performed at the New York Songwriter’s Circle, a prestigious event where many established artists began their careers. She also teaches songwriting and arranging at Berklee College of Music in Boston, MA.
Check www.dragonladymusic.com for upcoming tour dates and www.myspace.com/sarahbrindell for new songs from their latest album, COMING SOON!!

“If anything is going to put us in the right groove, it's this newly minted diva of funk, pop, and jazz….Brindell has been soothing our soul of late.” – Boston Globe
“Sensual and oozing with an electric vibrancy, Sarah’s music is sweet and sultry, but also showers the listener with a downpour of original harmonies and poetic lyrics. Whether she’s whispering, belting it out or climbing the vocal ladder, she is in passionate control with a soulful range that’s simply astounding. With talent this obvious and the right breaks, Sarah could very well become one of the music businesses real success stories. Outstanding!” – Metronome Magazine
“Behind the keyboard, she performs a melodious blend of jazz, blues, funk and pop that is a remedy for the ear – and the sweet tooth, too. – Boston’s Weekly Dig