Joanne Brackeen is one of jazz's most prized possessions: a virtuoso pianist and master composer who epitomizes the history and evolution of jazz from traditional to free, and everything in between; all with a contemporary edge. Joanne's unique sound was honed through a period of apprenticeship with some of the world's greatest names: Art Blakey and the Jazz Messengers, Joe Henderson, Stan Getz, and the list goes on. Since the mid 70's, Joanne has been at the forefront of new music, recording over 20 albums as a leader with some of the most respected musicians in jazz. Her playful and complex sense of time, rhythm and mood permeates her original repertoire, which now numbers close to 300 compositions.
Joanne was born Joanne Grogan in Southern California in 1938, and began to play the piano during her childhood. Her exposure to jazz began during this time with the recordings of bandleader and pianist Frankie Carle, who she imitated as she taught herself to play and improvise. As her talent was realized, she was accepted to the Los Angeles Conservatory of Music, but dropped out to pursue jazz. By the late 50's at the age of only 20, Joanne had already played with heavyweights Dexter Gordon, Harold Land and Charles Lloyd, and her jazz career was launched. Moving to New York in the mid 60's, she began to command the attention of the upper echelon of jazz players, and played with Woody Shaw and Dave Liebman in 1969. She spent the next several years with the ultimate working band, the Jazz Messengers, led by Art Blakey. She became one of the most lauded pianists of the day, working with Joe Henderson for three years and two with saxophonist Stan Getz. By the late 70's, Joanne had established herself as a cutting edge pianist through her performances around the world. She was leading her own groups, usually a trio, which featured such noted players as Eddie Gomez, Jack DeJohnette, Cecil McBee, Billy Hart, Sam Jones, and others. Her solo performances also cemented her reputation as one of the most innovative and dynamic of pianists.
Joanne has been awarded two grants from the National Endowment for the Arts, leading to solo performances at Carnegie Hall and the Kennedy Center. In the mid 80's the US State Department sponsored her tour of the Middle East and Europe. She also has served on the NEA grant panel, taught as a faculty member at the New School in New York City and as a Professor at the Berklee College of Music in Boston, and currently hosts her own television show called "Joanne Brackeen Presents Jazz". In addition to her small combo work, Joanne has been commissioned to write for large ensembles as well. Her compositions have blended a myriad of textures, rhythms and moods that define of the expanding language of jazz. Champions of her music include Duke University, The New England Conservatory of Music, Rutgers University, Dickenson College, Cleveland's Tri-City Jazz Festival, and SUNY-Plattsburg. She recently participated in a tour of Japan as part of the 100 Gold Fingers Tour, which also featured Hank Jones and Kenny Barron. Joanne tours Europe several times a year, and recent gigs at New York's Avery Fisher Hall, The Blue Note, Town Hall as well as the Smithsonian Institute have been great successes.
Her creative output is undiminished since starting out on her career as a leader, with no end in sight. In 1998, she joined the ranks of New York's Arkadia Jazz, and her debut release, "Pink Elephant Magic" features some of the top players in the world, including Grammy winner Nicholas Payton, Chris Potter, John Patitucci and Horacio "El Negro" Hernandez. Arkadia Jazz is proud to present Joanne Brackeen and her music as we enter the next century and beyond.
ARKADIA JAZZ