PROFILE Joe Brazil Justice for Joe

By Steve Griggs and no minutes had been taken. Pro- graduating from Cass Technical High testors believed this procedure violated School in 1946, he joined the US the Open Meetings Act enacted in Army and was stationed for a year at Attacking the Ivory Tower 1971 by the Washington State Legis- Fort Lewis in Washington. There, he A rally at the Husky Union Build- lature. performed in a band with other en- ing on the University of Washington “It’s unfortunate it had to come to listed men. They called themselves the campus kicks off “Joe Brazil G.I. Jazzmen of Geiger Field. Day.” On April 21, 1976, 350 Brazil returned to Detroit and people march to the University got a job at Chrysler as a tool- President’s Office and present a maker and inspector. He pur- written demand – before May 5, chased a home with one of his an open meeting involving testi- brothers and outfitted the base- mony from students, faculty and ment with a bar, baby grand community be held to officially piano, and chessboards. Soon, grant or deny tenure to Assistant talented local musicians and Music Professor Joe Brazil. touring artists crowded into the “I’ll accept this,” says President small room to jam. Visitors in- John Hogness, “and I’ll have an cluded trumpeter Donald Byrd, answer.” Ed Woodley, head of saxophonist Sonny Red, pianist the Black Student Union isn’t Barry Harris, bassist Doug Wat- satisfied. “We’re tired of wait- kins, and drummer Roy Brooks. ing and getting no answers.” The When saxophonist John Col- protesters head for their next trane was in town in September stop. of 1958, he stopped by to jam Behind locked doors, police with Joe Henderson and Brazil. guard the Music Building. Five A recording from the session is uniformed officers secure the available on YouTube. The tem- west door, eight at the north, po on “Sweet Georgia Brown” is and ten at the east. More stroll JOE BRAZIL clocked at a blistering 350 beats through the corridors. Class- per minute. Brazil made many es are cancelled. Outside, the recordings at his house, even crowd chants, “Justice for Joe!” this,” says Brazil. “Hopefully peo- Coltrane practicing. Brazil, a saxophonist from Detroit ple came here to learn.” Brazil is not Detroit jazz chronicler Jim Gallert who recorded with John Coltrane, vengeful. He tells the crowd that many interviewed musicians about Brazil’s teaches the History of Jazz, the most of the people voting against his tenure jams. “Everybody you can name used popular class in the School of Music. are “just dumb, not mean.” to come by those sessions,” recalls He frequently brings leading jazz art- drummer Bert Myrick in Before Mo- ists to perform in class – Earl “Fatha” The Detroit Jazz Scene town. “I talked to Trane for about an Hines, Dizzy Gillespie, McCoy Tyner, hour, sitting on the basement steps.” Joseph Brazil was born in Detroit and many more. He had been denied Brazil made a space where a communi- on August 27, 1927. He studied saxo- tenure by the School of Music faculty ty of jazz artists could hang out, learn, phone at the Detroit Institute of Mu- during the previous school year. No play and build relationships free from sic and Conservatory of Music. After public notice of the meeting was given commercial constraints.

April 2012 • EARSHOT JAZZ • 5