Karen Stachel

A Whim and a Prayer

Karen Stachel, flutes/lead vocals/percussion effects/arrangements; Carlos Chung & Marc Malsegna, acoustic & electric guitars; Manuel Valera, acoustic piano/arrangements; Carl “The Rev” Wheeler, synthesizer/organ/electric piano/synth strings; John Benitez, acoustic & electric bass/arrangements; Eric Smith, electric bass; Francis Benitez, drums/congas/shekera/compana bell; Dante “Taz” Roberson, drums; Chris Velazquez, congas; Benny Kooneyevsky, middle easter percussion; Rob Holland, bongos/congas/woodblock/percussion effects; Norbert Stachel, tenor & soprano saxophone/bass clarinet/shakers/sleighbells/dumbek/percussion effects/arrangements; Derick Hughes, lead & background vocals; Meredith Joseph Augustin, Irma Treminio & Yaritza Lopez, lead vocals.

Karen Stachel is a flautist whose music reflects a solid convergence of creativity and technical skill. On this beautifully produced holiday album, she brings a familiar repertoire of songs we know and love with a special jazz flare. Stachel opens with “Let It Snow,” her flute fluttering above the swinging ensemble. The opening introduction to this old standard is a repeating interlude, creating an arrangement that is stellar. Her husband, Norbert Stachel is featured on tenor saxophone and puts the “J” in jazz. Manuel Valera adds a whimsical piano solo to the mix, improvising with fingers dancing all over the keys. This production makes me want to cuddle up on the couch and watch the fireplace glow. It’s the perfect music for a winter evening, for holidays, or any other day.

Next, they do their rendition of “Angels Have You Heard on High” that features Carlos Chong on guitar. Karen Stachel’s flute is still the star of her show, sparkling on this hymnal with a sweet, emotional tone. Then, the guitar reappears towards the end of this arrangement with Chong’s improvisation adding a soulful groove to the song’s fade. Another holiday favorite is “Mary Did You Know?” featuring the beautiful voices of Yaritza Lopez and Irma Treminio telling us the story of Jesus, born to his Mother Mary. The arrangement is contemporary and very smooth jazz with Karen’s flute improvisation singing above the voices like a soaring snowbird. I enjoyed Norbert Stachel’s compelling bass clarinet solo on “I Wonder as I Wander.”

Karen Stachel has both jazz and classical training. She formed the Karen Anderson Jazztet in 1991. They played Acid Jazz in the San Francisco area. In 1993, she debuted her premiere album called “In the Name of the Father.” In 1996, Norbert, her saxophonist became her husband. In 2000, she released a Christmas CD, “And of the Son” under her married name, Karen Stachel. They moved to New York City in 2002, where she recorded more music with a group called “LehCats.” This group plays jazz, world music, Latin jazz, R&B, classical, gospel and some folk music, along with their original music.

Karen Stachel’s album offers interesting and imaginative arrangements, from swinging renditions of standard holiday songs to easy-listening tunes and even jazz waltzes. This is a package of beauty, to be played on a cold winter afternoon or for the holiday season. It will put you in a festive mood!

Dee Dee McNeil

And of the Son

"And now for something completely different--a mostly solo set of flute for Christmas. Inspired by her work in hospices, Stachel gives a soulful (but not soul music) reading to the holiday classics (with a ringer slipped in) that’s firmly a set with both feet in the new acoustic music camp as opposed to new age etc. The kind of holiday music you want to hear when things are quieting down and you feel reflective (but not morose), this album’s simple charms are enough to soothe the savage beast. Wildly wining in ways you wouldn’t expect from directions you wouldn’t guess. Check it out."

Chris Spector - Midwest Record

"Karen Stachel has assembled 16 flute instrumental holiday pieces from "Little Drummer Boy" to "Dance of the Sugarplum Fairies" in her CD, "And of the Son - A Christmas Album of Jazz Flute". "And of the Son" is hypnotic. This CD will put you in the musical holiday spirit. "There are no other instruments on the record - only Karen and her flute - and the performances are hypnotic.... The CD Opens with "The Christmas Song", and the spirit winds around the melody as Karen plays an unaccompanied rendition of the classic Torme penned favorite. The highlight of the CD is in track 4's, "Dance of the Sugarplum Fairies". The Nutcracker classic is featured here as Karen has recorded multiple tracks in order to accommodate all of the parts - and the resulting continuity is wonderful. Any time of year, this CD will put you in the musical holiday spirit, for the musicianship and the delightful delivery of the memorable tunes."

earBuzz.com

In the Name of the Father

"Gritty Jazz" best describes the San Francisco-based Karen Anderson Jazztet - jazz progressions and licks with rock beats and funky bass. Though Anderson calls her resultant music "acid jazz", but it's not particularly acidic; perhaps it's that her instrument is naturally soothing. Come listen for yourself. Jazz In Flight again welcomes Karen Anderson to Yoshi's."

Jazz in Flight - Scene Magazine

Karen Anderson Jazztet. A rising star on the Bay Area hip-bop scene, flutist Anderson has a new cassette titled "In the Name of the Father" on which she brings a gently hypnotic quality to such chestnuts "the Shadow of Your Smile," "Amazing Grace" and "Were You There," as well as renders "My Funny Valentine" with a funk backbeat. San Francisco jazz flutist Anderson mixes rock and funk rhythms with progressive jazz arrangements. Her band includes guitarist John Schott (of Planet Good), Norbert Stachel (best known as a reed player he plays bass in the Jazztet), and drummer Elliot Kavee. Karens' smooth, lyrical playing backed up on most pieces by guitar, bass, and drums creates a rhythmic, mellow music that is perfect for the ambiance of a crowded coffee house or jazz club. The Karen Anderson Jazztet is highly recommended for an evening of beautiful jazz mixed with a innovative pieces.

East Bay Express

In The Name Of The Father by Karen Anderson, dist. by New Leaf, Cassette, This album (no relation to the movie") moves me to have people over for a party. In the Name of the Father is a refreshing collection of light jazz classics featuring San Francisco flautist Karen Anderson, who shows a warm rapport with a talented group of "unplugged" musicians on drums, piano, bass, and guitar. The traditional hymn "Were You There" features an outstanding duet between Anderson's clear flute and a growling acoustic bass played by John T. Sherman. Other songs include "My Funny Valentine," "The Shadow of you Smile", "Hi Lili, Hi Lo," "Softly, As I Leave You," and others.

The Post, CW, Napra Trade Journal - Carol Wright

The Karen Anderson Jazztet, which keeps pretty busy around San Francisco clubs, has put out a debut cassette, In the Name of the Father, that mixes standards (My Funny Valentine," "The Shadow of Your Smile") and hymns ("Amazing Grace," "Were You There") and that's a little adventurous, a little tried-and-true. Anderson calls the resultant sound "acid jazz," but it's not particularly acidic; maybe it's that her instrument is the naturally soothing flute. The most recently recorded track "My Funny Valentine," indicates Anderson and crew "guitartist John Schott, bassist John Evans, and drummer Scott Amendola) and headed in a grittier direction.

BAM, by Steve Stolder