Brandy Butler & The Brokenhearted in Zurich

Shortly after 7pm I already was standing at Schiffsbau, in front of the Moods. One of the many concert locations close to Hardbrücke, and one of the most important Jazz-Clubs in Europe (at least I’ve read so 😉 ). There was already a short queue in front of the door, what was surprising me. Esp. as they were mainly elderly people and the concert location actually is rather small. The queue kept growing towards the door opening and finally, when everyone was let in, everyone was rushing inside the locatoin to get one of the seats.

Yes, whilst on this evening there was the big Swiss Music Awards party at Hallenstadion, the class reunion of the Swiss music scene, Brandy Butler celebrated with her band The Brokenhearted the release of her first solo album “The Inventory of Goodbye”. And as much as I bedrudge them their award and I am happy for some, I prefer to support Swiss music with a concert visit. But to each his own.

As lately many locations, also Moods was rebuilt recently. I only was in this club once (as far as I remember) about 3 years ago and so at first sight everything seemed unchanged. But as I was told then, the bar is now bigger and got a new tray. All in all there’s a nice, comfortable ambience. And esp. there’s a new sound and video system built in. Some concerts you can now even watch at home via live stream – suppotional you got a subscribtion. But I rather invest in a ticket than a subscribtion. Live on site it’s just still better. What also Brandy proofed that evening.

Before Brandy & The Brokenhearted entered stage, she was praised and complimented by programme manager of the club. The way she was in various critics, that were read to the audience at the beginning of the evening. Shortly after 8.30 pm Brandy entered stage with her four member band. The Brokenhearted are bass player Rodrigo Avarena, guitar player Robin Girod and drummer Domi Chansorn. Furthermore she was supported by Andreas Achermann during some songs at the keys. Brandy light up some joss sticks and started with soft tunes as well as her strong soul voice. Brandy took her audience on a journey, told her story about love, loss, mourning and letting go. Her own story, she didn’t only tell to her audience that evening, but also had released it with her first solo album at the beginning of the month.

Who didn’t already know Brandy before as a background singer of various well-known bands, musician and projects, possibly knows the accomplished jazz musician from the first season of The Voice of Switzerland. Basel singer Nicole Bernegger had won the season back then, but if Brandy wouldn’t have battled against her, she also could have become the voice.

Brandy grabbed her ukulele and started her second song the way she had written it – with her small mini-guitare on her bed. “The Inventory Of Goodbye” is a rather quite, but also a very rhythmic and lively album. Her songs are partly profond, but then again light, in every case very emotional. And stylistically her songs are totally variable. There are on the one side pop ballades, on the other side you hear various influences of jazz, soul, rock or folk.

Brandy thrilled the concert visitors not only with her incredibly versatile voice and high qualitative songs, she was playing next to the ukulele also the flute. She was reading poems on the subject during her concert and welcomed with Aargau musician Frank Powers a great duet partner. She sang with him the cover „Bang Bang (My Baby Shot Me Down)“. The two of them were wonderfully harmonising and there was so much power in this duet. And next to many great songs,  for the end of her story as well as the end of concert, they played the suitable title “CU”.

Sure she’ll see some of these concert visitors again after playing such a wonderful concert. And the next occassion will come soon, as there are several upcoming concert dates. Just have a look at www.brandybutlermusic.com. So worth it.

Infos:
www.brandybutlermusic.com
www.frankpowersmusic.com
www.moods.ch
www.zkb.ch