SUZANNE BROOKS, THE JAZZ GENERATION: Listening To The Radio

Suzanne Brooks, The Jazz Generation

Listening To The Radio

© 2005 Suzanne Brooks (634479230004)

CD IN STOCK. ORDER NOW. Will ship immediately.

(About MP3 downloads at CD Baby)

This is a new and moving original ballad/slow bossa nova love song about a 98 year old man who descended from Louisiana slaves by a smooth-voiced jazz singer who is his biographer

notes

Listening to the Radio (lyrics and music) was composed by Suzanne Brooks in 2005 in memory of Jack Hall who hired her as his biographer in the last year of his life. She visited him weekly, including his last 6 months in a nursing home, bringing him catfish and spaghetti and singing jazz and gospel songs to him at his bedside. Born March 9, 1903, he died December 7, 2000. Brooks delivered his eulogy and wrote his obituary.

Who was Jack Hall? The grandson of slaves and son of Louisiana/Arkansas sharecroppers, Mr. Hall (as he was called) rose above many adversities in his life without losing his positive outlook, persistent sense of humor, resistance to injustice and faith in God. Mr. Hall was once a singer on Arkansas street corners with other members of a quartet. Learned from his grandmother, the Gospel song, "Remember Me" was his lifelong favorite. With Listening To The Radio, Suzanne Brooks does just that.

For this special CD, she asked Reggie Graham, noted Sacramento jaazz/Gospel musician and her good friend to join her. Graham has performed in John Hendricks's "The Evolution of The Blues" and with Dizzy Gillespie, the Ellington Orchestra, Stanley Turrentine, Jimmy Goins, and with Gospel artists Helen Stevenson, Arthur Jones, & Angela Christie. Musician, singer/songwriter, educator Michele Weir contributed the arrangement. In 2003 Brooks formed her own band, The Jazz Generation. The Jazz Generation musicians are a superb group, now including Chris Lee, keyboard, Rolin Shafer, keyboard and Big John Evans, drums with featured artists on bass and guitar.

Brooks has published 2 books: Ins and Outs and Escape Is Not An Option, collections of poems, short stories & essays, available at authorhouse.com and womenofcolorday.com, where CDs are also available. Books/CDs available from Creative Concepts Systems, Sacramento, CA. Fax inquiries to (916) 483-9805. CD sales support promotion of Women of Color Day and projects honoring women for outstanding contributions to their communities. Brooks is a multi-faceted individual singer, writer, actress, hula dancer, speaker, social activist, and entrepreneur. A native of Philadelphia, PA, she is a graduate of LaSalle College & Washington State University.

reviews

Please log in to review this album.

  • http://www.judyjoyjonesshow.com
    author: Joy

    Wow! If I could choose someone to be at my bedside when I make my transition; please let it be Ms. Brooks. All I need is to be listening to her singing; she doesn't physically have to be there at all because her heart, soul and spirit combined pour into all cells of me with just a simple melody sung by Suzanne. She was born with a gift and the world has only to listen to her songs; to agree; God shined his light on this one and placed within her third eye A STAR!! She is!

  • a smooth historical ride
    author: monique jefferson

    the music is just what the doctor ordered for soothing the soul and riding around town. the cool beats and fine muscisianship of the vocalist and the band show that they are rehearsing to perfect their sound and not just winging it (which is ok sometimes) but they are feeling the songs and the music. great work

email

Please log in to email this artist.