01/12/12

Brandy Herbert

“"Brandy Herbert is a splendid guitarist with a strong southwestern influence...Born in Dallas..and establishes a fine, funky mood.” – Leonard Feather

 (From the Kansas City Women's Jazz Festival 1983 program...)

     “When Emily Remler's father became ill, causing a last-minute cancellation, we immediately thought of substituting Brandy Herbert, who performed as an All-Star at JazzWomen '81.  We were delighted to learn of her availability and those of you familiar with Brandy's musicianship will agree that our decision was incontestable.  She has been a member of the Houston Pops Orchestra, the Buddy Brock Orchestra, and has recorded jazz albums with Jerry Sandifer and tenor sax great, Arnett Cobb.  She was lead guitarist with "The Bobbie Gentry Show" and has performed with Benny Goodman, Lionel Hampton, Sammy Davis, Jr., Patti Page, Kay Starr, David "Fathead" Newman, Chuck Berry, and many others.  The Jazzwomen '81 All-Stars with whom Brandy appeared were labeled "the best ever" by Leonard Feather; that sextet including Judy Roberts (piano), Rosemary Galloway (bass), Marilyn Donadt (drums), Jean Fineberg (reeds), and Kathryn Moses (vocals).  We're deeply grateful to Brandy for coming to our rescue and we look forward to another stellar performance from this great guitarist.”

(From the “JJQ “Website:  http://www.justjazzquintet.com/)

After years on the road and in recording studios performing with an impressive list of guest artists, from popular stars to jazz greats, Brandy spent 5 years in Houston, working with the Houston Pops Orchestra.  Then spent 5 years in California's Silicon Valley working in the computer field and playing music in the Bay Area. 

In 1990, she moved to Colorado and now has a home in the mountains west of Denver. A computer systems Project Director by day, she continues to play jazz, blues, funk & rock guitar with some of the region's best bands and appear at festivals such as the Women's Jazz Festivals in Kansas City, and the Colorado All-Women’s Blues Festival, “Women Rock the Night”.  Her latest project was working with a newly formed jazz group from Santa Fe, NM, called “SugarLips”, featuring Nancy Nielsen on vocals.   She has also been playing jazz clubs in the Santa Fe & Denver areas, plus occasional recording sessions before being transferred to Little Rock for a new project, and is looking forward to getting plugged into the Little Rock music scene.

"Hi Brandy, it's Albert Lee, my friend Mike Warner told me to check out your site and the 'High & Dry' track...Very cool! ... Keep up the great work." -- Albert Lee

BIO Info

1968-69, Musical Director/Arranger/Conductor/Guitarist for "The Original Platters", USO Tours to the Far East; 
1971-72, Lead Guitarist, "The Bobbie Gentry Show",
(Las Vegas, Reno, Lake Tahoe, Honolulu, Vancouver, Sydney, Australia)

Musically:
Studio work, Dallas, 1968-1972;     
    (commercials, jingles, commercial records)
Audio Recording Engineer/Mixdown Engineer, Pepper & Tanner, 1968-1972
Big band work, “Buddy Brock Orchestra”, Houston, TX, 1977-1982;
Full-time member, "Houston Pops Orchestra", 1977-1982;
Player: "Women's Jazz Festival", Kansas City, 1979-1986
      (Member of "All-Stars" twice: 1981, 1983)
Michigan Women’s Music Festival - “All-Stars House-Band”, 1983
West Coast Women’s Music Festival - “All-Stars House-Band”, 1983
Currently playing with jazz, funk & blues groups in the Denver & Santa Fe, NM, areas. 
 

Partial list of people I've played with:
   Jimmy Reed,
   Jimmy Elledge                 ("Ain't It Funny How Time Slips Away", 1962 [lead guitar]),
   Chuck Berry,
   Jackie de Shannon,
   Jimmy Clanton,                 (“Just A Dream”)
   Annette Funicello & Frankie Avalon (Dick Clark show),
   Chad & Jeremy,
   The Original Platters,
   Bobbie Gentry,
   Billie Joe Royal,
   The Shangri-La's,
   Ray Sharpe                      ("Linda Lu"),
   Bruce Channel                 ("Hey Baby"),
   Jimmy Velvit                     ("We Belong Together"),
   Janie Fricke,
   Stan Kenton,
   David "Fathead" Newman,
   Ron Tutt,                            (Drummer: Elvis, Neil Diamond)
   "Blue Lou" Marini,             (The Blues Brothers),
   Tom "Bones" Malone,      (The Blues Brothers),
   Dean Parks,                      (Steely Dan),
   David Hungate                  (Toto)
--------------------
  Teresa Brewer,
  Sammy Davis, Jr.,
  Jim Bailey                           (The "Illusionist"),
  Kay Starr,
  Michael Martin Murphy,
  Johnny Lee,
  Lionel Hampton,
  Benny Goodman,
  Cab Calloway,
  Patti Page,
  Steve Allen,
  Burl Ives,
  The Four Aces,
  Nancy Wilson,
  Anita O'Day,
  Dave & Sugar,                   (“Queen of the Silver Dollar”)
  Arnette Cobb,
  Clifford "Scotty" Scott       ("Honky Tonk"/Bill Doggett),
  Nat Adderley
  Teresa Trull                        (Tracks on album: "Unexpected")
  Ferron
  Kim Stone                         (bassist: “The Rippingtons”/”Spyrogyra”)
  Kim Ciara                          (bassist, recording artist)