Pianist
Brandon Soehaidi
"The piano is my canvas, jazz is my paint."
"The piano is my canvas, jazz is my paint."
Brandon Soehaidi is the pianist and harmonic foundation of Class5. His sophisticated chord progressions and melodic sensibility create the rich sonic landscape upon which the band builds its performances. With fingers that dance across the keys and an encyclopedic knowledge of jazz harmony, Brandon is the band's musical anchor.
Beginning piano lessons at age 6, Brandon showed prodigious talent from the start. His classical training provided the technical foundation, but it was his discovery of Bill Evans and Oscar Peterson that opened his eyes to the possibilities of jazz piano. He spent countless hours transcribing solos, analyzing voicings, and developing his own voice at the piano.
Brandon's playing style is characterized by its elegance and sophistication. He favors lush, colorful chords and intricate voicings, often adding unexpected harmonic twists that elevate the music to new heights. His comping (accompaniment) is textbook perfect—supportive yet creative, always listening and responding to what his bandmates are doing. When it's time for his solos, he combines technical virtuosity with deep emotional expression, telling stories through his melodic lines.