Creative Concepts Systems - Investigative Services

Suzanne Brooks

Vocalist

A smooth, mature and trained voice that delivers sultry, sophisticated, and dynamic jazz, passionate, moving Gospel and a truly vast repertoire of familiar and less well known standards, jazz tunes, R&B pop and a little Country in her own style and arrangements. Brooks has worked/recorded with an array of talented musicians, including Reggie Graham, noted Sacramento jazz/Gospel musician and good friend who co-wrote the song “Lasting Impression." Musician, jazz educator Michele Weir contributed the arrangement of “Listening to the Radio.” In 2003, she formed the Jazz Generation, adding a unique style to the Sacramento scene.

Four CDs are currently on sale. “Great Women of Jazz: A Tribute” (based on the show by Suzanne Brooks) and “Listening To The Radio"--released December, 2005. “Even Sad Memories Are Sweet” and “Miles to Go Before I Sleep” were released in 2003 and 2004. She records on her own label, Women of Color Day. New projects are underway, with more originals. Besides songwriting, Brooks writes poems, stories, essays and show scripts. She sings in Spanish, French and Hawaiian and is originally from Philadelphia, PA.

Dominick

Drummer

Chris Lee

Keyboardist

A superb musician, Chris Lee on keyboard or piano, is outstanding in his own right, young and dynamic, performing exciting solos and imaginative improvisation. A talented, classically trained pianist, who has also performed and recorded with the California State University Latin Jazz Ensemble, Chris is a major contributor to the diversity of the music performed by the group.

Kim Nguyen

Keyboard, Bass, Flute

Kim has diverse interests in musical styles and instruments, starting out on classical piano and flute before becoming entranced with straight-ahead jazz in college and branching out further into free jazz under John Tchicai once arriving in Davis. Picking up bass guitar, she has held down the bottom end for punk, rock and jazz bands. She is currently playing in the live conscious hip hop band Soul Remnants

Gabe Stivala

Guitarist

Gabe is originally from Little Falls, NY. He performed in jazz, funk, and pop bands in the Miami scene. Most notably, Gabe was a guitarist for the great funk group “A.J. and the Stick People," fronted by world-famous, outrageous, glam slammer A.J. Hill. To further hone his skills after coming to California, Gabe studied jazz and classical theory at San Francisco State University, eventually breaking onto the scene with his first self led group, the Gabe Stivala Quartet.

UPCOMING EVENTS

August 4 - 5, 2006, Kozen Restaurant, 2310 Fair Oaks Blvd. Sacramento 916-641-8880 (August 4 CD party for a new CD single written by Suzanne "The Strength To Go On". Everyone welcome.)

August 12, 2006, 5:00pm to 8:00pm, Miriam Estrada Art Exhibition. Deep Art Lounge 2030 H Street, Sacramento, 916-448-3337. Benefit for Miriam Estrada, a woman with Lupus & 4th Stage Lymphoma,

August 25, 2006 07:30pm Roberts Family Development Center, 770 Darina Avenue, Sacramento. Great Women of Jazz (show) (w/Spanish Narration), Great Women of Jazz show to be performed by Suzanne Brooks, dancers, other singers and narrator.

October 14, 2006, Dance Festival, Firehouse, Del Paso, Sacramento

March 4, 2007, Women of Color Day Even

RECENT EVENTS

June 10, 2006, 6:00pm to 9:00pm Ella's Southern Catfish, 8090 Laguna Main, Elk Grove, CA

June 10, 2006, 2:00pm, Private Event

June 3, 2006, Dinner, Gaffer's Film Festival, Midtown Marriott, Sacramento.

May 20, 2006, University of California Davis Black Family Day: The Jazz Generation--Suzanne Brooks, vocals; Chris Lee, keyboard; Big John Evans, drums; featured bass player. Location: Stage on the Quad. Time: 2:30pm.

April 22, 2006, Women's Civic Improvement Club, 3555 3^rd Avenue, Sacramento. Open House. 2-6pm.

March 31, 2006, Cesar Chavez Commemoration, Galeria Posada, 1421 R Street, Sacramento: Suzanne Brooks w/Gabe Stivala on guitar, approx. performance time: 7:30pm

March 11, ,2006, International Women's Day Event, Galeria Posada, 1421 R Street, Sacramento: Suzanne Brooks w/Gabe Stivala on guitar, 7 and 8pm.

March 5, 2006, 4:00 – 8:00pm
Sacramento-- The 2006 Sacramento Community Women of Color Day Event, 8th Annual, honoring outstanding women, held Sunday, March 5, 2006, 4:00 – 8:00pm at Ben Ali Shrine, 3262 Marysville Blvd., Sacramento 95615.
http://www.womenofcolorday.com/

March 1, 2006, California Department of Employment Development Celebration of African American History and Women of Color Day: The Jazz Generation--Suzanne Brooks, vocals; Chris Lee, keyboard; Big John Evans, drums; featured bass player.

February 2, 2006, Women's Civic Improvement Club, Annual Crab Dinner