George W. Harris – Jazz Weekly

The rich and chesty voice of Sylvia Brooks is clear and alluring on her delivery of jazz and pop standards. She’s got a rich and seductive vibrato, well delivered on the late night “Angel Eyes” while sounding like a sincere story teller on “Eleanor Rigby.” She knows how to veer through a hip rhythm team, as she sears through the hip horns on “Perhaps, Perhaps, Perhaps” and struts through a shuffling “Cold Cold Heart” while keeping upbeat on a perky “Midnight Sun.” She can get deep and attractive on the misty “Besame Mucho” while vulnerable yet accusing on “Guess Who I Saw Today.” She’s able to let her voice tell a story, using the lyrics as guideposts.

How to Become a Great Jazz Vocalist Like Sylvia Brooks

If you are considering pursuing a career as a singer, you will find there are several options for you to choose from. For example, Sylvia Brooks, jazz vocalist, uses her voice as the main instrument in her music. However, you can also choose to be a backup artist, concert singer and more. Regardless of what type of artist you wish to be, there are certain things you must do and qualities you must have to succeed. Learn more about pursuing and reaching your dreams of being a vocalist here.

Education

There is no question that there are many singers throughout history who have become successful and even icons of their generation with no type of formal singing education. However, there are some benefits of seeking professional training. You can learn control that may not be possible for self-taught individuals. Additionally, even if you choose not to seek formal education, you will likely use the services of a professional coach at some point. Be willing and open to learning something new to become an amazing singer, such as Sylvia Brooks, jazz vocalist.

Voice Quality and Acting Ability

The quality of your voice is going to affect whether or not you are successful in your chosen career. Keep in mind, modern recording artists, including Sylvia Brooks, jazz vocalist, aren’t going to require the vocal power or the range that a big band singer required in the 1940s. Some specific abilities that you should possess as a singer include vocal abilities, intonation, rhythm, timbre and timing. You may also benefit from some basic acting skills to tell a story with your song.

As you can see, becoming a great singer takes more than just a great voice. Learn more about jazz music by contacting us today.

Tips for Hiring a Great Jazz Singer Like Sylvia Brooks for Your Event

Are you in charge of booking the entertainment for an upcoming event? Do you want live music but are unsure of what to choose? If you are trying to create a mellow and relaxing environment for the event, then hiring a jazz singer, such as Sylvia Brooks, Classic American jazz performer, may be the ideal solution. However, to ensure you make the right decision, consider the factors highlighted here.

Make Sure Jazz is Right for the Event

While a live jazz singer may seem ideal to you, make sure this is the case for the event in question. To do this, determine the event’s tone. For example, if you are hiring the entertainment for a business conference or other professional event, then keeping things “low key” is important. Hiring a singer such as Sylvia Brooks classic American jazz performer, will be great. However, it may also be suitable for the reception at your wedding. Before jumping in, just make sure that jazz matches the tone of the event that you are planning.

Contact Various Agents

Another crucial step is to contact the agent for any jazz singer you are interested in hiring. These are the people who will be able to let you know whether or not the person you want is available. There are some jazz singers who may only perform at certain venues or at certain times. These are all things you need to find out so you can hire someone who can accommodate the time and place of your event.

Hiring Sylvia Brooks, classic American jazz performer is the right choice if you want your guests to be entertained without the music won’t be so loud and overwhelming that they can’t have a conversation. You can contact us to learn more about booking a jazz artist for your next event or party.

Tips From Sylvia Brooks on Getting to Know Jazz

Do you love jazz music? Are you new to the genre? Everyone who has ever heard this style of music will agree there is something amazing about it. If you want to get to know more, and learn about some of the most popular, modern singers, such as Sylvia Brooks, female jazz singer, then you are in the right place. Learn more about jazz and what it has to offer here.

Common Jazz Repertoire

One of the best places to start when you are learning about jazz music is with the repertoire. In most cases, the songs that are popular in this genre are called “standards,” instead of cover songs. If you want to really understand and “feel” jazz music, you have to not only hear the words and the music, but also understand the story behind it. Jazz is music that can speak to your soul, but only if you let it.

Get to Know the Most Popular Songs

After you have built up your repertoire, then you should become familiar with some of the most popular songs from jazz history. Jazz dates back decades and decades. This means you may have to spend some time getting to know the most popular songs available. Many new jazz artists, such as Sylvia Brooks, female jazz singer, even release their own interpretation of older songs, which is a great way to listen to old and new takes at the same time.

Some say that jazz music is something that you either love or hate, and while this may be true, it is something everyone can appreciate. Jazz music, such as what is produced by Sylvia Brooks, female jazz singer, is emotional and soulful, which is something many people can relate to.

Contact us to learn more about the jazz music that is popular today.

The Arrangement: Woodrow Wilkins- The Jazzwriter

With music, sometimes it’s the songwriting that makes a difference. Other times, the voices and instruments and how they execute are key. But then there’s that time when a reworking of what’s written is the focal point. That’s where vocalist Sylvia Brooks comes in, hiring several Los Angeles-based arrangers for her third album, The Arrangement (2017).

The lineup varies from song to song. Collectively, the players are: Otmaro Ruiz, piano; Sezin Ahmet Turkmenoglu, bass; Aaron Serfaty, drums and percussion; Kim Richmond, alto sax; Bob Sheppard, tenor sax; Francisco Torres, trombone; Juliane Gralle, bass trombone; Brian Swartz, trumpet; Ron Stout, flugelhorn; Will Brahm, guitar; Quinn Johnson, piano; Trey Henry, bass; Tom Brechtlein, drums; Michael Stever, trumpet; Jeff Driskill, sax; Jeff Colella, piano; Kendall Kay, drums; Chris Colangelo, bass; Bruce Babad, flutes; Larry Koonse, guitar; Christian Jacob, piano and Fender Rhodes; Will Brahm, guitar; David Hughes, bass; Jamey Tate, drums.

Brooks brings warmth and a bit of joy to Hank Williams’ “Cold Cold Heart.” Rather than wallow in the misery of being mistreated by a loved one, Brooks sings it with vigor, as a wronged person turning the situation into a positive, by taking charge. Her scat enhances Driskell’s tenor solo. The horn section gives a swing feel to the song.

Major kudos to Jacob for the arrangement of “Eleanor Rigby.” His approach adds an elegance seldom heard in a cover of this Beatles classic. The flutes and Rhodes provide a haunting quality. Babad’s tenor solo injects a romantic touch. And Brooks’ voice is charming throughout.

I’m not sure what it is about “Besame Mucho” that so many jazz artists interpret it. This is easily one of my favorite renditions. Brooks takes it slow with this Otmaro Ruiz arrangement. The congas give it a Latin feel, appropriate considering the songs origins. The soft horns add a symphonic element.

Other notable tracks include “Body and Soul,” “Maybe I’m a Fool” and “The Tender Trap.”

This project came together with Brooks picking Ruiz, Colella, Jacob and Johnson. She gave them two instructions. First, they must use a combination of brass and reed instruments. Second, they could choose the musicians they felt would best serve the direction of the music. The combination is a perfect match as the arrangements are fresh and engaging, the musicians are rock solid, and Brooks’ soothing, charming voice completes the package.

Brooks is a native of Miami. Her father, pianist/arranger Don Ippolito, was a first-call talent who performed with several jazz heavyweights, among them Stan Getz, Buddy Rich, Peggy Lee, Sarah Vaughan and Dizzy Gillespie. Brooks’ mother, Johanna Dordick, was a conservatory-trained opera singer. Though influenced by her parents in music, Brooks first took the stage as an actor. After moving to Los Angeles, Brooks returned to her jazz roots.