Interview with Brenda Earle Stokes, Musician, Educator, Jazz Artist

Sounds of Encouragement

Sounds of Encouragement
Interview with Brenda Earle Stokes, Musician, Educator, Jazz Artist
Dec 19, 2025 Season 5 Episode 4
Melissa Slocum and Friends

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Brenda Earle Stokes is a rare jazz artist with a true command of both the voice and the piano. Hailed as “a breezy delight” by Time Out New York, Brenda’s music is rooted in the jazz tradition with influences ranging from Brazilian music to rock radio. As a bandleader she has toured clubs and festivals across the US, Canada, New Zealand and Australia and has released 6 albums own her own label. As a follow-up to her critically acclaimed 2014 studio album Right About Now, Stokes sought to challenge herself to dig deep and share the full scope of her talents in the most intimate setting possible. Brenda Earle Stokes has performed as a side person with John Riley, Dick Oatts, Joel Frahm, Roxy Coss, Wycliffe Gordon, Maurice Hines and the DIVA Jazz Orchestra. She has held residences at the Kennedy Center and Banff Center for Fine Arts, was a finalist of the Mary Lou
Williams Jazz Piano Competition and was a winner of the IAJE Sister’s in Jazz competition, identifying her as one of the top emerging jazz artists of her generation.

To learn more visit https://brendaearle.com/
To find the Versatile Musician visit https://pianoandvoicewithbrenda.com/membership/

Top 5 Songs of Encouragement
1) Song of Life:  Fred Hersch and Norma Winstone
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w1rRZnsy8hA&list=RDw1rRZnsy8hA&start_radio=1
2) Oscar Peterson Trio - Place St. Henri
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3Nje7TuVJIo
3) Morrissey - Back on the Chain Gang (Official Video)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q_hInzyYN3o
4) No Wonder by Luciana Souza
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ttQ8k2vdopo
5) CARMEN MCRAE - No More Blues
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q0UWu_xchHU

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Episode Artwork Interview with Brenda Earle Stokes, Musician, Educator, Jazz Artist 1:04:29 Episode Artwork Interview with Brian Witkowski, Classical Baritone, Business Coach 1:25:50 Episode Artwork Interview with Katie O’Rourke, Pianist, Feldenkrais Practitioner, Teacher 1:28:53 Episode Artwork Interview with Michael Faire, Bass Trombonist and Music Business Professional 1:33:57 Episode Artwork Interview with Donna Hughes, Singer & Songwriter 54:26 Episode Artwork Special Episode with Singer Songwriter Donna Hughes 51:40 Episode Artwork Interview with Adam Cole, Performance & Confidence Coach 1:18:17 Episode Artwork Interview with Sarah Boyd, MM, Early Childhood Music Specialist 1:08:44 Episode Artwork Interview with Merlin Thompson, Music Educator 1:17:59 Episode Artwork Interview with Celeste Watson, Music Educator 1:25:56 Episode Artwork Interview with David Lane, Composer, Musician, Teacher 1:28:02 Episode Artwork Interview with Andrea Grody, Music Director, Arranger, Composer 43:09 Episode Artwork Interview with Gurmehar Singh, Artist 55:25 Episode Artwork Interview with Lauren Best, Poet, Musician, Composer/Creator Part II 1:06:08 Episode Artwork Interview with Lauren Best, Poet, Musician, Composer/Creator Part I 1:28:51 Episode Artwork Interview with Chris Rugowski, Photojournalist & Recording Artist 1:10:04 Episode Artwork Interview with Pam Asberry, Pianist, Music Educator, Composer 41:51 Episode Artwork Interview with Asher Laub, Violinist & Entertainer 1:09:08 Episode Artwork Interview with Katie Dahl, Songwriter & Playwright 59:17 Episode Artwork Interview with Linda Kennedy, NCTM, Performer, Arranger, Music Educator 56:47 Episode Artwork Interview with Amy Rood Miller, Musician and Music Therapist 58:47 Episode Artwork Interview with Peter Ciesla, Textile Artist, Part 2 46:11 Episode Artwork Interview with Peter Ciesla, Textile Artist Part 1 46:51 Episode Artwork Interview with Randy Carter, Film and TV Editor and Director 59:32 Episode Artwork Interview with Kayla Peeters Pianist, Composer, Music Educator 1:01:36