Hybrid Jazz From Trish Hennessey - with Brenda Earle Stokes!

Look, I'm late to the party regarding our next guest - but you might not be!  Brenda Earle Stokes is radiant sun, equal parts passion and brilliance, physical feeling and mental clarity.  Sheesh.  There might be a minimum of objectivity here because you can possibly define fact when you've fallen on your face in gratitude :-O

Our Beauty From the North Country (Ontario) was dealt some cards early in life.  Her Mom died when Brenda was eight - and that most assuredly colored her world, quite possibly in terms of how she perceived the music that she was already playing. Piano at four, clarinet came later.  She heard Oscar Peterson at 15 and life changed.  Another life-changing moment: hearing her own voice at The Banff Center for the Arts.  There was a Jazz residency in the mountains and Brenda realized just what kind of instrument she had.  

With that revelation came new confidence and opportunity.  This is a woman who was trained classically (MUCH education involved here!), sang Pop, became comfortable as a solo singer/pianist, and directed music for Off-Broadway projects. Yes, she made that move to New York - that HAD to be the case with how much she had to offer.  In finding her way, Brenda has worked with a myriad of stellar musicians - and has always relished her other role as educator.  Many will speak of the careful mentorship she has shown to young students, as well as those who appreciate her kindness in a different way.  This amazing talent has found the time to devote to the Ronald McDonald House for quite a while.  When you know that someone's heart has been so open, their lyrics ring truer than ever - don't they? ;)

Please join us for a most welcome interview with Brenda Earle Stokes on 12/8.  We start at one p.m. Eastern time - Brenda joins us at TWO!