Joanne Brackeen (born Joanne Grogan; July 26, 1938)^[1] is an American jazz pianist and music educator.^[2]

Music career

Brackeen was born in Ventura, California, United States, and attended the Los Angeles Conservatory of Music.^[1] She was a fan of pop pianist Frankie Carle before she became enamored with the music of Charlie Parker. In the 1950s she performed with Dexter Gordon, Teddy Edwards, and Charles Brackeen. She and Brackeen married and moved to New York City in 1965. She performed with Chick Corea, Freddie McCoy, and Ornette Coleman.^[2]

She played with Joe Henderson (1972–75) and Stan Getz (1975–77) before leading her own trio and quartet. She established herself as a cutting-edge pianist and composer through her appearances around the world, and her solo performances also established her reputation as an innovative and dynamic pianist. Her trios featured such noted players as Clint Houston, Eddie Gómez, John Patitucci, Jack DeJohnette, Cecil McBee and Billy Hart.

She served on the grant panel for the National Endowment for the Arts, toured the Middle East with the US State Department as sponsor, and had solo performances at Carnegie Hall.

She has recorded over 20 albums as a lead musician. She is currently a professor at the Berklee College of Music^[3] and at The New School.^[4]

Awards

• 2018 NEA Jazz Masters

Discography

As leader

As sideperson

With Arkadia Jazz All Stars

• Thank You, Duke!

With Art Blakey

• Jazz Messengers '70 (Catalyst, 1970)

With Stan Getz

• Getz/Gilberto '76 (Resonance, 1976 [2016]) with João Gilberto
• Live at Montmartre (SteepleChase, 1977)

With Bob James

• All Around The Town (Tappan Zee/Columbia, 1981)

With Freddie McCoy

• Funk Drops (Prestige, 1966)
• Peas 'n' Rice (Prestige, 1967)
• Beans & Greens (Prestige, 1967)
• Soul Yogi (Prestige, 1968)

With Makanda Ken McIntyre

• A New Beginning (Passin' Thru, 2001)

With Buddy Terry

• Pure Dynamite (Mainstream, 1972)

With Freddie Hubbard

• Sweet Return (Atlantic, 1983)^[5]