Sitting in a classroom at the University of North Texas, freshman David Brehm was suffering the scorn of his music teacher and fellow students for mentioning Carlos Santana among his favorite jazz influences. Brehm, who at that time was barely aware of the rules of music much less jazz, was not one to take such a rebuke sitting down. He told the class: “Have you ever heard Samba Pa Ti, or Europa?” Pulling forth his guitar, Brehm proceeded to play his own acoustic arrangement of Santana’s legendary ballad “Europa.” As the story goes, when Brehm finished playing the class burst into applause.
So much for the rules. David (and wife Stephanie) Brehm make their own music. But they do it with a benevolence that is seldom seen in the world today. During a recent interview, Stephanie got a phone call from the promoters of “Jazz by the Boulevard,” inviting the band to perform at the Fort Worth Jazz festival alongside Stanley Clarke and Trombone Shorty. Stephanie returned from the call gushing like a schoolgirl who’d just gotten an A.
Barely married a year, The Brehms wrote and produced their first album, released earlier this summer. The first single “Red Dress” went on to become a finalist in the International Songwriting Competition. Next came a television performance on the “Good Morning Texas” show. Spurred by the confidence gained in these early victories, The Brehms have learned to believe in themselves yet still maintain the awe for all their fellow musicians. And maybe that is the secret ingredient.
- The Brehms Blogger
staffwriter@bluelogicentertainment.com
