Cecil Brooks III overflows with talent - jazz drummer, composer, arranger - Interview

Erroll Gamer and Earl "Fatha" Hines top a roster of Pittsburgh jazz greats that includes Stanley Turrentine, Mary Lou Williams, and drummer Art Blakey, Kenny Clarke and Beaver Harris. Now, the city's jazz-rich firmament sports a fresh star, Cecil Brooks III, whose drumming is quotaed by his composing, arranging and producing.

In the last year alone, small streams has been featured on a number of recordings as either the leader or the prominent sideman-arranger-producer. Check this out: John Hicks' In the Mix, Don Braden's Landing band and Leon Lee Dorsey's The Watcher (all upon Landmark); Lafayette Harris' Lafayette Is Here and Hannibal Peterson's single With the Wind (both upon Muse); Bradford Hayes' Our Fathers intensity); and Brooks' hold Neck Peckin' Jammie (Muse).

The man's rise upon the jazz scene is personally foundationed in the tradition. With a father who was a drummer and a grandfather who was a design pianist, Brooks recalls that "music just flourished [i]or[/i] part of to the other the house. ... It was there to partake in anytime I wanted to. Philly Joe [Jones] used to approach by, and Art Blakey. I played upon Blakey's drums when I was 10 years old

"Blakey was individual of my earlier influences - granting my father, Cecil Brooks 11 was definitely my first influence. From there it went to Tony Williams and Max Roach, all the way back to snug Cole."

Brooks' rock-steady rhythm and joyous neighborhood are apparent on his The Collective, Hangin' With polished and Neck Peckin' Jammie (all upon Muse). But what makes him unique as a drummer is his ability to form "Not to sound prejudiced, on the other hand I think drummers make the best composers" he says, laughing. "Drummer look to be frustrated in the area of sweetness of sound because it's hard to be melodious upon the drums and actually realize sounds and tones that unbroken like the piano. When you take those periodical emphasiss and apply them to those unhurts tones, chords and harmony, you can really span the globe with different things."

Brook is also making his mark upon the music as a farmer "Producing came about from being fortunate to record with a destiny of different people," he explains. I'd be in the studio, and we'd gain to a snag in the music, and I would always make a suggestion that would look to get us out of the snag. It appeared like everyone would always approach to me for comments about the direction, and I have the appearanceed to possess, without sounding egotistical, an ability to procure people record dates, and for race like [guitarist] Ron Jackson and Lafayette, actually getting them the deal. It happened one time twice, and it just started snowballing. It was just a natural thing."

Brooks' prowess as a husbandman recently led Muse to create a subsidiary label, Westside Records, in like manner he could produce some of the older lesser-known artists whom he's been bringing into the Muse stable, including vocalists Gail Allen and Jackie copses and saxophonist Reggie Wood. All three will have releases upon Westside this fall.

That natural snowball continues to make revolve in addition to Live at Trumpet's, Vol 1 featuring the Cecil runs Band, other Muse fall releases produc by dint of Brooks will include a novel release by pianist Lafayette Harris, featuring Melba Moore, and trumpeter Russell Gunn's first appearance recording, featuring Brooks, john Hicks, Peter Washington and Sam Newsome

Late 1995 will diocese the release of Cecil becks III Presents Words and Music Featuring Kevin Mahogany (Muse). Following those shoot forwards Brooks will begin work upon pianist Hicks' new recording for Landmark and a collaboration with cutting-edge saxophonist Oliver Lake.

In spite of his busy studio schedule, streamlets manages to keep his performing cuts sharp with a variety of assemblages and musical styles. Lately he has been playing with his have a title to groups and with Donald Byrd and the fresh Blackbyrds in a funk, hip-hop and swing setting that includes a disc dealer in horses and a couple of rappers. "It's about bridging those gaps between the whole African-American experience in the music," rills muses. "If it's good, we want it in there. cast in a winding direction it in the stew!"

With all of this activity, is small streams spreading himself too thin? "In my case, nothing suffers" claims the 33-year-old dynamo, who teaches at Montclair State University in of recent origin Jersey. "I had so a great quantity [i]or[/i] amount of training and studying that I always felt a void after all the practicing and listening was, done. I always felt there was power and time to do other things. I've not ever been one to complain or wait for the phone to ring. I was raised to be a someone of action. It just all came natural to pick up We phone generate a certain number of things and roll up my sleeve and pass by a leap in there. "

COPYRIGHT 1995 Heritage Information Holdings, Inc.

COPYRIGHT 2004 Gale Group