A dynamic and versatile singer performing songs representative of some of the greatest women vocalists, based on her show, "Great Women of Jazz" which premiered in 2004.

13 MP3 Songs
JAZZ: Jazz Vocals, JAZZ: Smooth Jazz



Details:
SUZANNE BROOKS, Jazz Stylist, with a smooth, mature voice delivers sophisticated jazz vocals & moving interpretations of lyrics. Known also for passionate and moving Gospel and a repertoire of R&B, Salsa and Country tunes, as well as jazz, she delivers in a style all her own. In Great Women of Jazz: A Tribute, she presents a selection of songs from her show, âGreat Women of Jazzâ which offers a musical history of women in jazz between 1890 and 1990. The show, which premiered in 2004, focuses attention on some distinguished singers, from Bessie Smith and Adelaide Hall to Nina Simone and Betty Carter. Also represented are significant singers like Astrud Gilberto, Annie Ross, Nancy Lamott and Blossom Dearie, as well as the expected Sarah Vaughn, Billie Holiday, Ella Fitzgerald, Dinah Washington. Following a subsequent performance of âGreat Women of Jazzâ in a dinner theater environment, Brooks began the work to record this sampling of songs from the show which accompany her original script. With the completion of this project, work has begun to put the show, which includes dancers with original choreography by the remarkably brilliant Pepper Von, on tour.

An array of studio musicians accompanied Brooks in the recording Great Women of Jazz: A Tribute in the studio she owns in Sacramento. Some also performed in the shows and some perform frequently in her band, aptly named The Jazz Generation. Featured on Great Women of Jazz: A Tribute are the following: Rolin Shafer, keyboardist, who has accompanied Brooks for nearly two years. Originally from Indiana, Shafer has performed with the Four Tops, Teddy Pendergrass, Harold Melvin and the Blue Notes and others in California, DC, Dallas & in Korea on a USO Tour.

BROOKS has also just released LISTENING TO THE Radio, a single and her own compositionââ¬"lyrics and musicââ¬"written in 2005 in memory of Jack Hall, a grandson of slaves and son of sharecroppers, who hired her as his biographer in the last year of his life. She visited him weekly, singing jazz and gospel songs to him at his bedside. For this special CD, she asked Reggie Graham, noted Sacramento jazz/Gospel musician and her good friend to join her. Grahamâs history includes performances with legends like John Hendricks, The Ellington Orchestra, George Benson, Stanley Turrentine, and Dizzy Gillespie.

In 2003, Brooks recorded the CDs âEven Sad Memories Are Sweetâ and âMiles To Go, Before I Sleepâ with Eric Tillman, keyboardist who formerly accompanied the Temptations and performed with Willie Bobo. All Brooks/Jazz Generation CDs are available at cdbaby.com and Creative Concepts Systems, 3325 Northrop Ave., Sacramento, CA 95864. Fax inquiries and booking requests to (916) 483-9804 or email CreativeSy@aol.com. A portion of the proceeds of sales supports the promotion of Women of Color Day and other projects honoring women for outstanding contributions to their communities.

Brooks has published 2 books: Ins and Outs and Escape Is Not An Option, collections of poems, short stories and essays. The books are available through authorhouse.com or on one of her websites: http://www.womenofcolorday.com and/or http://www.creativeconsys.com.

Suzanne Brooks is a multi-faceted individualââ¬"singer, writer, actress, hula dancer, speaker, social justice activist, and entrepreneur. She has an extensive background of leadership in civic, community, educational and cultural organizations, along with exceptional life experiences which have led to a uniquely healthy, positive outlook and strategies for success which can be shared. A graduate of LaSalle College and Washington State University. She has also attended The Fielding Institute.