Press conference at the Central Area Motivation Program (CAMP) in 1974, protesting the denial of tenure Joe Brazil at the University of Washington’s School of Music.
Joseph Brazil was born August 25, 1927 in Detroit, Michigan. In 1951 he purchased a home at 17846 Fleming Street, Detroit, MI 48212 where he lived with his brother and mother. He built a bar in the basement and installed a baby grand piano. Jam sessions in Joe’s basement soon became legendary. Trumpeter Donald Byrd, saxophonists Sonny Red and Brazil, pianist Barry Harris, bassist Doug Watkins, and drummer Frank Gant played there. Tapes of saxophonistJohn Coltrane practicing were made at Joe’s house. A tape of a jam session was recorded in Joe’s basement on September 25, 1958 with trumpeter Donald Towns, saxophonists Coltrane,Joe Henderson, Brazil, Red, pianist Hugh Lawson, bassist Ernie Farrow, and drummer Roy Brooks. Euphonium player Kiane Zawadi (Bernard McKinney) and saxophonist Kenneth Winfrey lived down the street and often played at Joe’s.[3] Coltrane met drummer George Goldsmith in Joe’s basement and once asked Goldsmith to substitute for drummer Elvin Jones. Pianist Alice Coltrane met her first husband John Coltrane in Joe’s basement.[5]