Born and raised in Miami, Florida, Brooks was immersed in jazz from an early age. Her father, pianist and arranger Don Ippolito, composed music for his Octet and Big Band, which were featured in a series on PBS. He collaborated with renowned artists such as Stan Getz, Buddy Rich, Peggy Lee, Sarah Vaughan, and Dizzy Gillespie. Brooks’s mother, Johanna Dordick, a classically trained opera singer, also captivated audiences with her performances of popular songs and standards at venues along the East Coast. Later, she went on to establish the Los Angeles Opera Theater in 1978.
During her visit to New York City for the 2023 Jazz Congress, Sylvia Brooks felt compelled to visit the National September 11 Memorial & Museum. While there, she was struck by a musical inspiration as she heard “Amazing Grace” at the hallowed ground where nearly 3,000 people lost their lives. This experience led her to work with Grammy Award-winning arranger John Beasley to create a moving and beautiful rendition of the 18th-century English hymn. The extraordinary arrangement is available for download and streaming. According to Brooks, the new version of the song captures a sense of communal lament and verges on being almost discordant, evoking the emotions and the tragedy of September 11. The album also features the talents of Edward Livingston, Jonathan Pinson, Cameron Stone, and Daniel Rotem.
Images provided courtesy of Chris DiGirolamo
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