Pianist Joanne Brackeen has been called ..."a visionary of extraordinary depth" by Tony Bennett, and  "a pianist-composer of phenomenal capacity", by the late Bill Evans. Her (seemingly) effortless swinging style is rich with rhythmic complexity and emotion. She interprets jazz standards in a personal way and her sometimes whimsical original compositions have a Picasso like quality.

Brackeen's early association and recordings with Freddie McCoy, Woody Shaw and Dave Leibman brought her to the attention of Art Blakey who's band - The Jazz Messengers - she joined and recorded with. She can be heard on albums with Joe Henderson, Joe Farrell, Sonny Stitt, Stan Getz and "Toots" Thielemans.

Joanne Brackeen's web site lists 14 albums under her name as leader going back more than forty years. Though the piano trio seems to be her preferred musical home, she has several recordings featuring larger groups with artists such as Dave Liebman, Nicholas Payton, and Kurt Elling to name just a few. Her two solo CDs - Popcicle Illusions and Live at Maybeck Recital Hall represent her love for jazz standards, Latin Jazz and her very creative original compositions.

It gives us great pleasure to present this wonderful artist to Fox Valley listeners as nobody represents the jazz spirit better than Joanne Brackeen.

http://joannebrackeenjazz.com/