Stokely Carmichael

Seattle P-I photo

Yesterday I listened to a 1967 tape of Stokely Carmichael addressing a full gymnasium of supporters at Garfield High School in Seattle. The transcript can be found at http://www.aavw.org/special_features/speeches_speech_carmichael01.html. The tape is part of the Joe Brazil Collection. Stokely also spoke to 3,000 people at the University of Washington. Stokely talks about Beethoven being black. Joe said the same thing a few years later at Whitman College.

Maupin Meets Coltrane at Brazil's House

Detroit saxophonist Bennie Maupin talks about meeting John Coltrane at Joe Brazil's house. (Thanks to Chris Devito for sharing this information)

Detroit House Today

This is Joe Brazil's house in Detroit. His neighbor told me that the musicians would enter and exit from the door on the side that led into the basement. There used to be a fence that obscured the doorway. One New Year's Eve, several folks fired guns in the back yard. The vinyl siding is missing now because a woman in the neighborhood is stealing it.

Joe said in an interview that bassist Paul Chambers lived here with him. I wonder if Paul Chambers introduced Joe to John Coltrane when Paul and John were visiting Detroit in Miles Davis' band.

In the last few years Joe lived in Detroit, he shared the house with bassist Ali Jackson.

Program from Homegoing Celebration

"As the Music Historian he would wish for us all to study our history, listen to music and to support local musicians." - Virginia Brazil

Thad Jones and Joe Brazil

A tape in the Joe Brazil collection labeled "Thad Jones at the West End" contains an announcer saying, "How about a hand for Thad. Thank you, Freddie Froo. Freddie Froo on the drums, Joe Brazil on the alto, Ernie Farrow on the bass and Abe Woodley on the piano."

According to an article at http://www.telegram.com/article/20121119/NEWS/121119571, Freddie Froo was a nickname for Detroit drummer Fred Metcalf. Baritone saxophonist Pepper Adams wrote a song for him.

Abe Woodley also worked in a band called the Jazztet with Joe Brazil.

According to Before Motown, the West End Hotel was a popular Detroit location for weekend after hours jam sessions in the late 1950s.

Thanks to the owner of the Joe Brazil tape collection for allowing me access to this rich trove of historical information.