THE JAZZ NETWORK ~ "A GREAT PLACE TO HANG"
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Victor Brooks
Male
Los Angeles, CA
United States - Share
Victor Brooks's Groups
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Latin Jazz
63 members
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Special Singers and Brasilian Music
34 members
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The Bossa Nova Room
67 members
Victor Brooks's Page
Profile Information
- Marital Status
- In a Relationship
- Where are you located?
- LA/RIO
- Tell us a little about you....
- Like so many other artists Victor began singing in church with his family at the age of 6. By the time he was born, both sides of his family had gained a prominence within their national church community as musical pioneers. This passion for good gospel music was embedded in him at this young age through his mother’s side and the appreciation for the classics and spirituals was made available through his father’s side. At a young age he was given the opportunity to hear the sounds of Mahalia Jackson, James Cleveland, The Five Blind Boys, Sam Cook and the Blend Wrights as well as be taught to perform the Hallelujah Chorus and appreciate the works of his uncle Charles Lee Brooks, Mendelssohn, Bach, and Mozart. Having the un-orthodox ministerial parents that he and his brother and sister were blessed to have, both parents were avid lovers of JAZZ and his maternal grandfather was the Jazz legand Norris Turney who replaced Johnny Hodges in Duke Ellington's orchestra. This basically put the icing on the cake for Victor’s musical foundation when Victor came to love the beauty and originality of the art of JAZZ. At the age of 13 he and his family moved to Memphis, Tennessee. Here Victor was exposed to the trueness and rawness of SOUL, BLUES, R&B, and FUNK. Having the Mecca of SOUL and BLUES right downtown was something that Victor was soon drawn to. Victor met and befriended Bernard Staton who at the time was the lead guitarist for Al Green and had formally been with the Vibrations. Bernard took Victor under his wing and taught him the basics of playing the guitar. This proved to lay the foundation for Victor to take his songwriting basics to another level. Two other people who helped him with his songwriting basics earlier were Little Richard and Clifton Davis. Once the lessons from Bernard kicked in Victor was on his way to writing and performing cover tunes he taught himself to play as well as songs of his own. With this new education now in his blood he was just a little older and that much more curious to know the “goings on” in the clubs of Beal Street and elsewhere. Once he was able to drive he would make weekly detours from the church choir rehearsals to the local music joints. Though he was too young to be allowed in some of the clubs, he was able to convince some of the local musicians he had befriended to let him in the back as long as he was out of the way. One of his favorite places to "get his feet wet" was MARMALADE'S in Memphis on 3rd and Vance. This place was run by the Smith family and to them Victor will always be grateful for allowing him to learn and practice his craft on their stage. Victor would watch and learn from the likes of Al Green, Isaac Hayes, The Emotions, The Barkays, and others. Watching the moves, the vocal styles, the audience communication… everything. Some of the members of the church as well as his family began to hear a different and more soulful, funkier feel coming from his church renderings. Although his parents both knew of his detours, they allowed him to learn and for that he will always be grateful. By 1985 Victor was assisted by one of his lifelong mentors and family friends Little Richard , to co-write a song with Richard on his upcoming comeback album for Warner Brothers entitled “Lifetime Friend”. The song they wrote was “I found My Way…My Father’s House”…It was Victor’s first published song. While in LA he was assisted by two other family friends Clifton Davis and Andre Crouch to be apart of the performance choir on the NBC television show “AMEN”. Over the years, these people had watched and given various tips and words of encouragement, now they were helping him to the next level. In 1987 Victor was invited by Phillip Michael Thomas to come to Miami to be apart of the PMT Production family. This experience was one of pure education and lifelong respect. While there he was able to work with a true classic Soul man...Mr. Leroy Hutson...Victor calls him "THE GROOVE SPECIALIST". The lessons learned will forever be with him. Much thanks to PMT. Upon returning to L.A. Victor began writing with Brian McKnight for Brian's first album in 1990... the project went Gold in 1992 (release year) and soon enjoyed platinum status. By the end of 1992 Victor ceased any type of performing and writing due to a thing called…”LIFE”! While working for Clifton Davis International Victor and Clifton made a trip to Brasil to search for bands to book in the U.S. There Clifton introduced Victor to a young Brasilian Soul artist by the name of Ze Ricardo. Victor and Ze became instant brothers and gained a total respect for the others love of Soul, Jazz, Funk, and Bossa Nova. Victor invited Ze to come to LA and meet other musicians and performers. Victor took him to the house of two of his closest friends; Frankie and Irene Gaye. There Frankie asked Ze had he ever heard Victor Sing, Ze of course had no idea that Victor had at one time. Because of the love and respect that Victor had for Frankie, he obliged and sang “Mr. Miracle”. Since that time Ze and Victor have been performing throughout Brasil and Portugal since 1997 to audiences from 800 seats to 20,000. The awesome arraignments by Ze Ricardo of both classic covers and originals seem to be the perfect satin sheets for the soulful, sensual and Funky vocals and songwriting given from Victor. The press began to call the vibe of the show “a soulful type of Samba”…This being the reason for the name of Victor’s first solo album production…Victor Brooks…Samba Soul. Victor is very committed to the education and cultivation of young talent. Because of his personal history of having older and seasoned artists in his life to educate him along the way, Victor makes it a constant inclusion in his life to give the same attention to any young artists that may need his help. He has created an arts program designed specifically for this need and looks to be of service for as long as he is needed. Victor will forever have the utmost respect and thankfulness to all of the people who had a part of teaching, scolding, and helping him throughout his lifetime, both famous as well as not. Victor will also be very thankful to the following people who have been a special part of his life and musical journey...Larry and Tina Graham, Maurice White, Billy Paul, The Emotions, Wayne Vaughn, Leroy "Sugarfoot" Bonner, John Wray, Jean Lucas, Screamin Jay Hawkins, Gayle and Bill Murphey, Ron Dickerson, Omera Dawson, Aunt Eleanore, Uncle Harold, his grandfather Snaggs Rice and the whole Rice crew from Dayton Ohio and so many others..You know who you are. Your lessons will always be apart of his life and who he is today.
- How did you hear about the Jazz Network?
- Word of mouth
- Website:
- http://myspace.com/victorbrooks
Victor Brooks's Photos
INSPIRATIONAL CORNER
Uncle Hugh 'Peanuts' Whalum is my 80 year-old uncle who has FORGOTTEN more about jazz than I've even learned yet! He released his CD "Introducing Hugh 'Peanuts' Whalum" after gigging in the St. Louis scene for over 55 years! Needless to say his voice, his saxophone, his piano... like a fine, aged Merlot. His energy?! I dare not try and keep up. I'm on stage falling asleep by the time he gets going good – cut from a different cloth. Arnette, Coleman, Hamp, Hank... fine cloth.
Why do I bring them up? Because they represent something really important that we now get to enjoy, like they did back then, but now through technology on sites like this, that we've been missing.
The good news, since family – in this case JAZZ FAMILY – and relationships are much more important, more fulfilling... is that I feel RICHER knowing and following you guys music on THE JAZZ NETWORK!
Sincerely,
Kirk WHALUM
www.kirkwhalum.com
"Congratulations on your creativity, energy and dedication to Jazz, knowing and have worked with your Dad ~ its all in the genes".
~Clem De Rosa
Professional Musician, Educator, Arranger, Composer and Band Leader
Birthdays
Birthdays Today
ADVERTISE YOUR ARTISTRY, BUSINESS OR EVENT HERE ON THE JAZZ NETWORK!
Give the gift of some of The Jazz Network Members music for the Holidays!!
Just click your favorite artist, its as easy as 1-2-1-2-3-4!! :-)
Available on iTunes and www.fredricklevore.com
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The Jazz Network Holiday Promotion offers its members a spot on the front page to display your CD cover for immediate click-thru for purchase for holiday gifting! Feel free to contact Jaijai for details for now is a good time to start promoting Holiday sales!
If you have interest in having a featured spot, want to be spotlighted, promote a 'gig' or CD release party with a flyer or banner, stream your gigs live from a venue worldwide, give a shout-out for any reason ~ post a press release...have a business we should know about?... or even a "sneak peek" of your upcoming release? How about managers looking for artists, or indie labels looking for submissions...This is the place to do it!
Jaijai is also making herself available to help you promote your artistry with marketing tips that will take you to the next level.
If you are interested in becoming a client, please let her know.
If you want your page designed with your CD cover and special slideshows, or that 'extra special touch' Jaijai will also lend her design skills to those that want that 'extra splash' to their pages.
Contact her here on the site to discuss your creative thoughts!
Happy Networking!
:-)
Artwork courtesy of Jeff Laibson
SPOTLIGHTED ARTISTS
Finding THE JAZZ NETWORK has been an amazing experience for Musique Noire. The opportunity to not only gain exposure among the jazz community, but to also learn and network with others in the jazz world has been invaluable. It is a place where we are all treated equally, whether one is a major label act or an indie artist, whether one plays traditional jazz or any of the "branches" of the jazz Family "tree".
Musique Noire is honored to be spotlighted here and are deeply grateful to Jaijai for creating this wonderful world. We're here to stay!
~ Musique Noire
Jaijai, what a wonderful mission you've undertaken to create such a place for artistic minds to meet and share their hearts. A place to renew faded determinations, and revive lessened momentums. A place to display our wares and reconfirm to one another that we actually are on the right track.
I commend you, Jaijai, for caring so much that you created this castle of the heart for all of us. I want to share my praise for all of the new friends as well as old friends that I've met and will meet here in our castle. Here we can garnish the where-with-all, the strength, the conviction, and the selflessness through our symbiosis, to share our gift to the world with an unbiased agenda.
My mentor, Daisaku Ikeda says of art: "A beautiful flower delights and refreshes the hearts of all people equally, no matter what soil it grows in. That is the power of beauty. The same is true of great art. It is this spirit that the German poet Heinrich Heine sang of when he wrote that once the peapod bursts open, the sugar peas inside are for everyone to enjoy."
Let's be audacious, my friends!
Buster Williams
"It was a pleasure to be featured on the Jazz Network Main Page. This Network is a unique forward step for independence, contact and conversation between artist, promoters/agents and fans.
Thank you Jaijai for offering a professional meeting place. I've met new musicians and rediscovered old friends I haven't seen or heard from in years. May we all continue to expand this network.
~ Will Calhoun
"I think that what Jaijai Jackson has done with the Jazz Network shows how the eternal love for this music is passed down from generation to generation. The fire her father lit in her has burned brightly and has inspired her to pass this torch on to future generations. I'm very proud to be featured and I'm very happy that Jazz has a voice and spirit like Jaijai looking after it."
~ Ron Kearns
I am so honored to be on The Jazz Network with so many wonderful and dedicated musicians. Jazz is the truly American art form and as I travel to other countries I find that their appreciation for jazz is really uplifting. There are so many excellent jazz musicians around the world now and The Jazz Network is helping us to find each other. Thank goodness for people like Jaijai who have dedicated so much time and effort to keep the jazz community together and for opening doors to us that we may never have found.
Regarding education in jazz, having done Master Classes in many places I find students need to take time and learn from the Masters and LISTEN. They should go back in history to appreciate ALL styles of jazz and its development. They need to learn melodies and lyrics (yes, even instrumentalists need to know lyrics) and that jazz is not just a series of modes and riffs. I think The Jazz Network can be an excellent tool for that also.
Thank you Jaijai...you are awesome!
~ Lenore Raphael
"Thank you Jaijai for creating a space for the likes of me! I truly enjoy being featured here and really hope it can give me new contacts and opportunities.
Keep up the good work!"
~ Patrick Rydman
Sweden
"The Jazz Network has come into being at just the right time. I believe that we are forever in need of spiritual and artistic enrichment and the way I see it, music, particularly jazz music, is all about the spirit. The Jazz Network allows us to reach out to our fellow artists across the world, in a way that has not been seen before, enlightening us as to who's out there making hip and happening music and helping to shape the culture. Whether artists approach this music from traditional perspectives or attempt to create new and radical sub-genres of jazz, the Jazz Network
is providing exposure, performance and recording opportunities that we might never have found on our own.
The Jazz Network is an amazing resource for the Jazz community. I'm
honored and happy to be a part of it.
Jaijai, thanks for your faith and what you're doing for the jazz community"
Best,
Nicolas
It’s a rare occasion when you meet someone who you feel a real connection to … Someone who possesses a kind spirit, unyielding generosity and a dedication to the jazz community beyond expectations.
Jaijai, thank you so much for creating such a fantastic website for the jazz community. You’ve helped artists connect with each other around the world.
I’m proud to have The Jazz Network be the first site to promote my latest recording. Words cannot express my gratitude to you for your dedication to the music and the artists.
With much love and gratitude,
Denise Donatelli
Hi Jaijai,
Stopping by to show you some love and tell you just how much I appreciate all you've been doing here, not just for me but for this incredible community of jazz musicians. I see that The Jazz Network is growing in leaps and bounds daily and want you to know that I recognize the importance of what's going on here, musicians having a place to connect with each other, young musicians having a place to meet and be mentored by musicians who have been around the block. You've created a beautiful space here and it's obvious that folks are feeling very much at home. Thanks for sharing your time, your heart, your soul. This is a huge commitment and you've taken it on with such determination. I wish you and The Jazz Network continued success and support you in all you're doing.
~ Marcus
© 2008 Created by Jaijai Jackson aka. "Woman of Jazz"
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While not excluding any race, creed or background and promoting cultural diversity, we have a direct focus on the emerging markets, rather they be social economic markets, such as African and / or Latino Diaspora or geographical, like Brazil, Dominican Republic, United States, Asia, Nigeria and other area.
Come, visit, join – we are looking forward to your input – as a user-focused network, we are what you make us. As a little incentive, we are hosting a contest from now till the end of the year for the Best User. You can check out the site for more information. We welcome to provide us with examples of your music, art, film, photos, etc. We are “Sponges” for culture.
Ciao,
D.
It is nice to see you here..Still lovin' your wonderful CD.
All The Best..Stay Blessed
Hope all is well and you are writing, singing, playing... all of it!!!!!!!! The world has to hear V.B !!!!!
Aloha - and all the best from the islands
Joerg
Where ya been?
J
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