Joe Brazil article published

Follow the link to read a digitial version of my Earshot Jazz profile of saxophonist Joe Brazil. http://earshot.org/Publication/profiles/profile_12_04_Brazil.html

Eddie Harris endorses Brazil

Sept. 4, 1972

Dear Black Academy of Music,

Wardo Enterprises, the manufacturers of music Books and Musical Supplies and Instruments are in full support of the Black Academy of Music in Seattle Washington and do think it would help The Academy a great deal if more professional Black Musicians would take an interest in this Academy as this would truly give inspiration to the future Black Musicians of tommorrow. I am proud to say that this Academy has a very Promising future ahead of itself due to the fact that it is under the leardership of a Brilliant President, Mr. Joe Brazil who is a fine person and excellent musician.

Yours sincerely,
Eddie Harris
Wardo Enterprises

Coltrane burns Brazil's piano

Frances Brazil claims the burn on the low "A" key is from Coltrane's cigarette when he stayed at their house in 1965. This is the same piano that was in Brazil's Detroit basement.

Interview with Elvin Jones

Elvin Jones gave a clinic for the Black Academy of Music on August 24, 1974 at the Pioneer Banque jazz club. The following interview was published in On the BAM Line.

Joe Brazil introduced Elvin Jones by stating that Elvin had changed the whole concept of modern drumming. The dialogue of the Workshop which followed was centered around the technical aspects of drumming and percussion. Here are highlights from that Workshop:

Q. What size bass drum do you use?

A. I had a 24" when I first started out. I now use an 18" drum; it is compact and easy to carry. I don't have a valet so I have to carry my equipment myself and hauling these drums from city to city gets to be a very heavy job. I can get the same effect on the smaller drum as I can on the larger one.

Photo with Freddie Hubbard

From Seattle Municipal Archives