Recording: BREM

Artist: BREM

Song: Body and Soul [composer: Johnny Green]

Recorded at The Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge), September 12, 2018.

BREM - Body and Soul

This group (which derives its name from the first initials of performers Brodie West, Reg Schwager, Evan Cartwright and Marilyn Lerner) takes a casual approach to playing standards — before the set began, Brodie West could be seen surveying the members for pieces that everyone knew enough to get together on. From there, it was a close-yr-eyes-and-take-flight sort of affair as the parallel explorations unfolded.

Recording: West-Cartwright-Lerner-Schwager

Artist: Brodie West/Reg Schwager/Marilyn Lerner/Evan Cartwright

Songs: You And The Night And The Music [excerpt] [composers: Arthur Schwartz/Howard Dietz] + If I Should Lose You [composer: Ralph Rainger/Leo Robin]

Recorded at The Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge), August 9, 2017.

Brodie West/Reg Schwager/Marilyn Lerner/Evan Cartwright - You And The Night And The Music [excerpt]

Brodie West/Reg Schwager/Marilyn Lerner/Evan Cartwright - If I Should Lose You

A set of standards from this quartet assembled by Brodie West didn't require any fakebooks or charts — if someone could hum the tune and recommend a key, that was enough to initiate a sprawling excavation. Sometimes that meant it took a little while for everyone to settle into the same groove, but it was intriguing to watch them pull together before letting the songs unwind and arrive at some unlikely/remarkable places.

[Brodie West will be playing with Alex Lukashevsky and others in his monthly timeslot next week (Wednesday, September 13th) at The Tranzac.]