Sounds of Encouragement

Author: Melissa Slocum and Friends

Encouragement from Musicians, Music Educators & Creatives for Creatives. Interesting interviews with music teachers, creatives, and musicians along with calming and topical encouragement as you face the challenges of everyday life. Find out what sounds and songs encourage other creatives and what keeps them hopeful, moving forward, and creative.
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Language: en-us

Genres: Education, Music, Music Interviews, Self-Improvement

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Interview with Brenda Earle Stokes, Musician, Educator, Jazz Artist
Episode 4
Thursday, 18 December, 2025

Send a textBrenda 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 LouWilliams 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 Encouragement1) Song of Life: Fred Hersch and Norma Winstonehttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w1rRZnsy8hA&list=RDw1rRZnsy8hA&start_radio=12) Oscar Peterson Trio - Place St. Henrihttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3Nje7TuVJIo3) Morrissey - Back on the Chain Gang (Official Video)https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q_hInzyYN3o4) No Wonder by Luciana Souzahttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ttQ8k2vdopo5) CARMEN MCRAE - No More Blueshttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q0UWu_xchHUSupport the show