Brooks obtained his first guitar at age 7 won his first musical awards at age 9 from the Guild Institute of Music and went on to become a graduate of the prestigious New England Conservatory of Music, the first major Conservatory in the US to offer a degree in Jazz Music.
During his years in Boston, Brooks studied with such luminaries as Charles Banacos, Jaki Byard, Robert Cogan, Jaki Byard, Hankus Netsky, Mick Goodrick, and MacArthur Award winner Ran Blake. He also credits the many years of experience with his grandfather Cab Calloway as “a cornerstone” of his musical education.
Performing Experience
Brooks has performed with such big bands as The Cab Calloway Orchestra, The Duke Ellington Orchestra, and the Lionel Hampton Orchestra, and the Fairfield Counts, and with such internationally known artists as Cyrus Chestnut, Kenny Burell, Ran Blake, Don Byron, Anthony Braxton, Shelia Jordan, Joel Martin, Ellis Larkins, Rufus Reid, Alan Dawson, Milton Hinton, Gary Bartz, Big Nick Nicholas, Marshall Allen. Brooks has performed at such major venues as The Kennedy Center For the Performing Arts, Lincoln Center, Jordan Hall ,Pall Hall, Paine Hall, The Meyerhauf Auditorium, Freylingheusen Auditorium, and The Rome Opera House.
Recordings Publications Films
Ikenne Rainbow Solo LP, Film Noir with Ran Blake, Analysis and Transcription The Solo Guitar Stylings of Johnny Smith, Joe Pass Virtuoso II – the complete transcriptions.
Teaching, Workshops, and Lectures
Milton Academy, Westchester Conservatory, Harvard University Special Studies, New England Conservatory Extension Division, Beaver Country Day School, University of Maryland