Home » Jazz Musicians » Brian Woods

Brian Woods

Brian Woods is an African-American pianist, vocalist, producer, songwriter, actor, and author. Brian’s musical roots are based out of the gospel church in Akron, Ohio where he has performed for most of his life, but his musical accolades expand far beyond that. Serving as a radio DJ for 88.9 “The Edge,” he began to broaden his musical tastes. In college, he also ran security for the national entertainment acts that were brought in. It was there that Brian saw his future. On a fateful evening working detail for Blessed Union of Souls, Brian saw one man playing a piano and singing and watched as it transformed the entire atmosphere. His name was Elliot Sloan. “He owned the crowd of a thousand plus students that day and he controlled what they felt and what they believed. I saw a segregated crowd joining hands and hearts”, Brian told himself. That fateful night he became determined that one day that he would do the same. Since that day, Brian has sung and played in numerous bands and has opened for such acts as Tower of Power and Mint Condition, he has performed live on Cleveland’s Fox 8 News as well as several regionally-based Cleveland and Pittsburgh radio stations. Needless to say, Brian loves to entertain! He is passionate about the music of his mind which spans from gospel and R &B all the way to standard jazz and blues. Brian’s goal is to bring his sound to the world and use it to bring joy to every soul he can reach.

His debut book "From a Father" was released nationally in 2020 and his national recording debut on "Cleveland Time" as a member of Matthew Alec and The Soul Electric was released in 2021. The album has garnered international recognition from Jazziz Magazine, All About Jazz, JazzMonthly.com, SoulTracks.com, WBSS Media (Great Britain), Glide Magazine, Cleveland.com, and many others. The album also peaked at #13 on the NACC Jazz Radio Chart. Brian currently serves as a producer at Cleveland Time Records, an all-new record label dedicated to bringing the world jazz from the great city of Cleveland.

Matthew Alec: Cleveland Time

Read "Cleveland Time" reviewed by Troy Dostert

by Troy Dostert
April 5, 2021

Tenor saxophonist Matthew Alec is on a mission--and it's all about furthering the jazz scene in his native Cleveland. This starts with his own music, of course, going back to his first band Winslow, a fixture in the Cleveland scene from 2005-2016, and now continuing with his current ensemble, the Soul Electric. Its first release, Cleveland Time, is a strong dose of funk-based fusion, and an auspicious start for Alec's new label, Cleveland Time Records. The album's opener, ...

"“Baby You Got Me” is definitely ready for the radio, the streaming service or whatever your preferred method of musical enjoyment may be. The track finds Woods using his emotive and power packed baritone to declare his undying love and commitment to his woman will go down like sweet nectar to lovers of that classic, analog soul sound." - SoulTracks.com

"Other cuts bring individual members of the band to the fore as vocalists: keyboardist Brian Woods has a soulful presence on the medium-tempo 'Baby You Got Me'" - All About Jazz

"Cleveland, OH jazz-fusion group Matthew Alec and The Soul Electric have got a rhythmic step in the down and dirty direction with some legit golden era funk that grabs the grooves of Tower of Power and snazzy sensibilities of The Greyboy Allstars" - Glide Magazine