Cecil Brooks III (born 1959) is an American jazz drummer and record producer who has worked with

Arthur Blythe Arthur Murray Blythe (May 7, 1940 – March 27, 2017) was an American jazz alto saxophonist and composer. He was described by critic Chris Kelsey as displaying "one of the most easily recognizable alto sax sounds in jazz, big and round, with a f ...

Russell Gunn Russell Gunn (born October 20, 1971 in Chicago) is an American contemporary jazz trumpeter. He grew up in East St. Louis, Illinois playing trumpet. As a kid his musical interest was hip hop, with LL Cool J being his first music idol. His projec ...

John Hicks Sir John Richards Hicks (8 April 1904 – 20 May 1989) was a British economist. He is considered one of the most important and influential economists of the twentieth century. The most familiar of his many contributions in the field of economic ...

, Andrew Hill,

Etta Jones Etta Jones (November 25, 1928 – October 16, 2001) was an American jazz singer. Her best-known recordings are "Don't Go to Strangers" and "Save Your Love for Me". She worked with Buddy Johnson, Oliver Nelson, Earl Hines, Barney Bigard, Ge ...

Roseanna Vitro Roseanna Elizabeth Vitro (born February 28, 1951) is a jazz singer and teacher from Arkansas. Biography Born Roseanna Elizabeth VitroScott Fredrickson and Gary W. Kennedy.Vitro (Wickliffe), Roseanna" In ''The New Grove Dictionary of Jazz'', 2 ...

Marvin Peterson Hannibal Lokumbe (born Marvin Peterson on November 11, 1948) is an American jazz trumpeter. Career A native of Smithville, Texas, United States, he is sometimes known by the name "Hannibal". He attended high school in Texas City, Texas and was ...

, and

Jimmy Ponder Jimmy Ponder (May 10, 1946 – September 16, 2013) was an American jazz guitarist. Career When Ponder's brother entered the military, he left his guitar, and Ponder picked it up. In his early teens he received lessons from the guitarist in a ba ...

. A native of the Homewood neighborhood of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Brooks released a number of albums for

Muse In ancient Greek religion and mythology, the Muses ( grc, Μοῦσαι, Moûsai, el, Μούσες, Múses) are the inspirational goddesses of literature, science, and the arts. They were considered the source of the knowledge embodied in the ...

and Savant. The jazz club that he started in West Orange NJ – Cecil's – closed in 2012 after 10 years.

Discography

As leader

* '' The Collective'' (Muse, 1989) * ''

Hangin' with Smooth ''Hangin' with Smooth'' is an album by drummer Cecil Brooks III, recorded in 1990 and released on the Muse label. Reception ''The Star-Ledger'' praised the "mix of hard-bopped standards, smooth ballads and smart, catchy originals." The ''Boston ...

'' (Muse, 1992) * ''Neck Peckin' Jammie'' (Muse, 1994) * ''Smokin' Jazz'' (Muse, 1996) * ''For Those Who Love to Groove'' (Savant, 1999) * ''Live at Sweet Basil Vol. 2'' (Savant, 2001) * ''Double Exposure'' (Savant, 2006) * ''Hot Dog'' (Savant, 2009)

As sideman

With

* '' Spirits in the Field'' (Savant, 2000) * '' Blythe Byte'' (Savant, 2001) * ''

Focus Focus, or its plural form foci may refer to: Arts * Focus or Focus Festival, former name of the Adelaide Fringe arts festival in South Australia Film *''Focus'', a 1962 TV film starring James Whitmore * ''Focus'' (2001 film), a 2001 film based ...

'' (Savant, 2002) * ''

Exhale Exhalation (or expiration) is the flow of the breath out of an organism. In animals, it is the movement of air from the lungs out of the airways, to the external environment during breathing. This happens due to elastic properties of the lungs, ...

'' (Savant, 2003) With

Don Braden Don Braden (born November 20, 1963) is an American jazz tenor saxophonist.https://jazzbakery.org/events/saxophoniest-don-braden-quartet-presents-earth-wind-and-wonder saxophonist Don Braden Quartet presents Earth Wind and Wonder Career Braden w ...

* ''Landing Zone'' (Landmark, 1995) * ''Organic'' (Epicure, 1995) * ''The Voice of the Saxophone'' (RCA Victor/BMG, 1997) * ''Brighter Days'' (HighNote, 2001) * ''The New Hang'' (HighNote, 2004) * ''Gentle Storm'' (HighNote, 2008) * ''Luminosity'' (Creative Perspective Music, 2015) With

* '' In the Mix'' (Landmark, 1995) * '' Piece for My Peace'' (Landmark, 1996) * '' Something to Live For: A Billy Strayhorn Songbook'' (HighNote, 1998) * '' Nightwind: An Erroll Garner Songbook'' (HighNote, 1999) * ''

Impressions of Mary Lou ''Impressions of Mary Lou'' is an album by pianist John Hicks which was recorded in 1998 and released on the HighNote label. The album features eight compositions by Mary Lou Williams along with five by Hicks. Reception AllMusic reviewed the albu ...

'' (HighNote, 2000) * ''

Music in the Key of Clark ''Music in the Key of Clark'' (subtitled ''Remembering Sonny Clark'') is an album by pianist John Hicks which was recorded in 2001 and released on the HighNote label. The album features eight compositions by Sonny Clark and five by Hicks. Recepti ...

'' (HighNote, 2002) * '' Fatha's Day: An Earl Hines Songbook'' (HighNote, 2003) With

* ''

Fine and Mellow "Fine and Mellow" is a jazz standard written by Billie Holiday, who first recorded it on April 20, 1939 on the Commodore label. It is a blues lamenting the bad treatment of a woman at the hands of "my man". Notable performances and recordings ...

'' (Muse, 1987) * '' Sugar'' (Muse, 1990) * '' Christmas with Etta Jones'' (Muse, 1990) With

* '' James Street'' (HighNote, 1997) * ''Guitar Christmas'' (HighNote, 1998) * ''Thumbs Up'' (HighNote, 2001) * ''What's New'' (HighNote, 2005) With

Jack Walrath Jack Arthur Walrath (born May 5, 1946) is an American post-bop jazz trumpeter and musical arranger known for his work with Ray Charles, Gary Peacock, Charles Mingus, and Glenn Ferris, among others. Biography Walrath was born in Stuart, Florida ...

* '' Serious Hang'' (Muse, 1992) * ''Hipgnosis'' (TCB, 1995) * ''Godzilla Jazz'' (Paddle Wheel, 1998) * ''Invasion of the Booty Shakers'' (Savant, 2002) With others * T. K. Blue, ''Another Blue'' (Arkadia Jazz, 1999) * Leon Lee Dorsey, ''The Watcher'' (Landmark, 1995) *

, ''Young Gunn'' (Muse, 1995) * Russell Gunn, ''Mood Swings'' (HighNote, 2003) * Winard Harper, ''Trap Dancer'' (Savant, 1998) *

Allan Harris Allan Harris (28 December 1942 – 23 November 2017) was a footballer who played for Chelsea, Coventry City and Queens Park Rangers. His brother Ron was also a professional footballer. Harris was a full-back and began his career with Chelsea, ...

, ''Love Came'' (Love, 2001) * Andrew Hill, ''

But Not Farewell ''But Not Farewell'' is an album by American jazz pianist Andrew Hill, recorded in 1990 and released on the Blue Note label in 1991.

'' (Blue Note, 1991) *

Richard Groove Holmes Richard Arnold "Groove" Holmes (May 2, 1931 – June 29, 1991) was an American jazz organist who performed in the hard bop and soul jazz genre. He is best known for his 1965 recording of "Misty". Career Holmes's first album, on Pacific Ja ...

, ''Blues All Day Long'' (Muse, 1989) * Richard Groove Holmes, ''Timeless'' (Savoy, 2003) * Ron Jackson, ''Thinking of You'' (Muse, 1994) * Eric Johnson, ''Makin Whoopie'' (Bluejay, 1997) *

Talib Kibwe T. K. Blue (also known as Talib Kibwe, born Eugene Rhynie, February 7, 1953)TK Blue Artist Profile
Motéma Mu ...

, ''Introducing Talibe Kibwe'' (Evidence, 1996) *

Oliver Lake Oliver Lake (born September 14, 1942) is an American jazz saxophonist, flutist, composer, poet, and visual artist. He is known mainly for alto saxophone, but he also performs on soprano and flute. During the 1960s, Lake worked with the Black ...

, '' Dedicated to Dolphy'' (Black Saint, 1996) * Oliver Lake, ''

Talkin' Stick ''Talkin' Stick'' is an album by American jazz saxophonist Oliver Lake, which was recorded in 1997 and released on Lake's own Passin' Thru label. It features a quintet with vibraphonist Jay Hoggard, pianist Geri Allen, bassist Belden Bullock and ...

'' (Passin' Thru, 2000) * Michael Logan, ''Night Out'' (Muse, 1994) *

Johnny Lytle Johnny Dillard Lytle (October 13, 1932 in Springfield, Ohio – December 15, 1995 in Springfield) was a jazz drummer and vibraphonist. Life and career Lytle grew up in Springfield, Ohio in a family of musicians, the son of a trumpeter father ...

, ''Moonchild'' (Muse, 1992) *

Brother Jack McDuff Eugene McDuff (September 17, 1926 – January 23, 2001), known professionally as "Brother" Jack McDuff or "Captain" Jack McDuff, was an American jazz organist and organ trio bandleader who was most prominent during the hard bop and soul jazz era ...

, ''Another Real Good'un'' (Muse, 1992) *

Houston Person Houston Person (born November 10, 1934) is an American jazz tenor saxophonist and record producer. Although he has performed in the hard bop and swing genres, he is most experienced in and best known for his work in soul jazz. He received the ...

, ''

Basics Basics or BASICS may refer to: Arts and entertainment * The Basics (band), an Australian band * The Basics (TV show), a 2021 American web series * ''Basics'' (Houston Person album), a 1989 album by saxophonist Houston Person * ''Basics'' (Paul ...

'' (Muse, 1989) * Houston Person & Etta Jones, ''Christmas with Houston Person and Etta Jones'' (32 Jazz, 1997) *

Hannibal Lokumbe Hannibal Lokumbe (born Marvin Peterson on November 11, 1948) is an American jazz trumpeter. Career A native of Smithville, Texas, United States, he is sometimes known by the name "Hannibal". He attended high school in Texas City, Texas and was i ...

, ''One with the Wind'' (Muse, 1994) * Hannibal Lokumbe, ''African Portraits'' (Teldec, 1995) *

Red Prysock Wilburt "Red" Prysock (February 2, 1926 – July 19, 1993) was an American R&B tenor saxophonist, one of the early Coleman Hawkins-influenced saxophonists to move in the direction of rhythm and blues, rather than bebop. Career With Tiny Grime ...

, ''For Me and My Baby'' (Gateway, 1964) *

Eric Reed Eric Reed may refer to: *Eric Reed (musician) (born 1970), American jazz pianist and composer *Eric Reed (baseball) (born 1980), American outfielder *Eric Reed (soccer) (born 1983), American goalkeeper *Eric Reed (horse trainer), American horse tra ...

, ''from My Heart'' (Savant, 2002) * Michele Rosewoman, ''Contrast High'' (Enja, 1989)

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Brooks, Cecil, III American jazz composers American male jazz composers American jazz drummers Hard bop drummers Post-bop drummers Muse Records artists Musicians from Pittsburgh HighNote Records artists 1961 births Living people 20th-century American drummers American male drummers Jazz musicians from Pennsylvania 20th-century American male musicians