The Pace Report: "A Woman of Many Hats" The Joanne Brackeen Interview
Here's a special edition of The Pace Report from this year's 2015 Detroit Jazz Festival featuring jazz pianist and educator Joanne Brackeen and her quartet.
Mrs. Brackeen has paved her way musically by backing the likes of Harold Land and Dexter Gordon while playing on Central Avenue in Los Angeles. The Ventura, California native moved to New York where she became the first female to join Art Blakey's Jazz Mesengers. From there she backed and recorded legendary saxophonists Joe Henderson and Stan Getz where she eventually became a featured soloist backing her own groups.
In addition to leading her own band and composing, she also is a instructor at Berklee School of Music in Boston.
I had a few minutes to talk with Joanne at this year's DJF and talked about her life playing with the Jazz Messengers as well as her role as a teacher and what she instills upon her students.
For more info on Joanne's upcoming tour and club dates please visit her online at www.joannebrackeenjazz.com