Jazz Articles about JoAnne Brackeen

Joanne Brackeen: Breath of Brazil

by William Grim
August 1, 2002

Pianist Joanne Brackeen is one of the best non-Brazilian interpreters of Brazilian music on the scene today. For many years a sideman in a wide variety of jazz combos, Brackeen has a natural flair for Brazilian and Latin rhythms as it quite clear from her brilliant album Breath of Brazil that features the works of a number of composers including Ivan Lins, Antonio Carlos Jobim and Sergio Mendes.

“Madalena” and “Velas” are two songs by Ivan Lins that have become ...

T.K. Blue: Eyes of the Elders

by James Nichols
May 1, 2001

Saxophonist and flutist T.K. Blue, the artist formerly known as Talib Kibwe, continues to evolve his own brand of post-bop on Eyes of the Elders, his second release as a leader for Arkadia Jazz. Despite the pretentious title, this album contains some worthy performances by a cadre of jazz veterans and young lions. Though T.K. Blue fits the ubiquitous description of the contemporary jazzer infatuated with jazz tradition, he actually spent years paying his dues with jazz veterans including Abdullah ...

T.K. Blue: Eyes Of The Elders

by AAJ Staff
February 1, 2001

When he was the artist known as Talib Qadir Kibwe, T.K. Blue spent a good many years as Randy Weston's musical director, and he performed on some of Weston's now-classic recordings with Melba Liston like The Spirits Of Our Ancestors and Volcano Blues. Previously, Kibwe lived in Paris for eight years after a three-year association with Abdullah Ibrahim in the late 1970's. Journeying to Africa from his Paris base throughout the 1980's, Kibwe delved deeper and deeper into the spiritual ...

Various: Thank You, Joe!

by AAJ Staff
August 1, 2000

Arkadia has a good thing going for it: tribute albums. Interestingly, Thank You, Joe! is Arkadia's first CD of appreciation extended to a living jazz legend. Previous honorees have included John Coltrane, Duke Ellington and Gerry Mulligan.Thank goodness that Arkadia had the insight to honor Henderson. Such a tribute raises the question, however, of how many other living jazz innovators should be honored: Lucky Thompson, Ray Brown, Dave Brubeck, Jon Hendricks, Freddie Hubbard, Bobby Hutcherson, Horace Silver, Roy ...

Joanne Brackeen: Popsicle Illusion

by Glenn Astarita
August 1, 2000

Pianist Joanne Brackeen’s Grammy nominated release; “Pink Elephant Magic” easily ranks as one of the top releases of 1999. With her follow up, titled Popsicle illusion - Ms. Brackeen embarks on a solo piano recital that features a series of originals and time honored standards as the jazz public receives yet another extraordinary glimpse of this remarkably talented musician.

Listen to how she seamlessly melds James P. Johnson style stride piano with lush harmonies and jazzy single note leads while ...

Joanne Brackeen: Popsicle Illusion

by AAJ Staff
August 1, 2000

Joanne Brackeen is an original, that's for sure. And a very talented original, needless to say. Seeming to go her own way in the inspirations for her music, she also goes her own way during a performance. It's as if she sets out with a foundation for a tune, and then anything goes as she builds the structure upon her immovable underpinnings.Take “If I Were A Bell". Legitimized by Miles Davis as a source for jazz improvisation, Brackeen ...

Joanne Brackeen: Popsicle Illusion

by David Adler
August 1, 2000

This virtuosic solo piano outing by Joanne Brackeen gives Chick Corea’s year 2000 solo series a run for its money. It’s also quite a departure from the busier sound of 1999’s Pink Elephant Magic. But like her previous record, Popsicle Illusion is packed with Brackeen’s characteristic exuberance, sophistication, and diverse stylistic command.Beginning with a 7/4 stride piano version of “If I Were a Bell," Brackeen goes on to tackle several other standards and four strong originals. She performs ...