SmoothJazz.com Review

by Sandy Shore

What do you think of when the word Detroit comes up? Cars! Motown! Well from now on the list should also include jazz pianist keyboardist, composer and producer Philip A Brooks. OCEAN VIEW, on his own MoJoy recording label is his first work since 2008’s JUST BETWEEN US. It’s a superb tribute to the memory of his friend Waymon Tisdale. The in the pocket, Smooth Jazz slam dunk project features Detroit’s A-List musicians including Alan “Snoop” Evans and Jeff Allinson on basses, Eric Brice on guitar, Steven Bibb, Dave Buford and Larry Tucker on drums, Yancyy and Melvin Wells on sax. The former musical director for Tisdale offers up 16 stand-out tracks include the gorgeously groovy title track, the slow burning “Cruisin Together,” the clever cover of “Wishing on a Star” and the uplifting “Mamasita.“ This wonderfully crafted album puts Phillip Brooks back in the driver seat from Detroit with a musical map for the world! ~STEWART COXHEAD

Phillip Brooks demonstrated a great deal of promise early in his career as a Jazz pianist, keyboardist and producer. By the age of 9 years old, this Detroit native had already began to write songs to his jazzy piano styling, and by his teens he was recording and performing live. These early performance captured the attention of many prominent musicians and producers like Gospel recording artist and Stellar Award Winner Thomas Whitfield from Detroit MI, who took an interest in Phillip and his musical future.

Thomas began to introduce Phillip to many opportunities for showcasing his musical sound and style. To his musical fortune are recordings with Gospel artist Vanessa Bell Armstrong, Rev. Paul Morton, Thomas Whitfield, The Soul Children, out of Chicago IL, and many others. Phillip also performed as a keyboardist with Commission and Music Director for Vanessa Bell Armstrong.

In 1994, Phillip’s musical resume began to expand outside the Gospel genre as he was asked by Anita Baker’s producer Mike Powell to write music for Recording artist Guess, which was released on Warner Brother’s record label. Phillip also toured with Mary J Blidge 411 tour and the R&B group Silk Produced by Keith Sweat. In 2003, Phillip was contracted as Music Director for Jazz artist and former NBA star Wayman Tisdale.

After touring the country with Wayman, Phillip has found his Genre where he is most expressive and creative. His technique in smooth jazz are demonstrated in his new release entitled “JUST BETWEEN US’ under his own music label The MOJOY MUSIC Label. Available June 4th 2008 at CD baby.com.

As his fun and happy piano sound fill your ears with joy and excitement, we do hope you will agree with us that Phillip Brooks is definitely at home and his future filled with great promise in Smooth Jazz.