Father, Son Jazz Duet Moves Valley Arts District

The walls shook Friday and Saturday night as father and son Cecil Brooks II and III took the stage at Cecil's Jazz Club in West Orange's Valley Arts District.

About 100 jazz lovers rubbed noses and relaxed to the sweet songs of serenity, while others reminisced during the weekend's $15 concerts.

"A few years ago, his father came up and they did a father, son duet on the drums ... it put a tear in my eye," said Tryone Wilson, a Newark resident who attended the club's Friday performance. "It was very emotional to me when I saw them together."

Cecil Brooks III, a West Orange resident originally from Pittsburgh, jammed with his father during the two-hour events. Brooks III's band, whose latest CD "Hot D.O.G.," or Drums, Organ, Guitar, released August of last year, includes Jared Gold, of Ridgewood, on the organ (original organ on the CD is Kyle Koehler) and Matt Chertkoff on guitar.

Brooks III said the concerts were emotional for him since this was the first time in years both he and his father took the stage.

"It was a pleasure to play in a club ... where I got the name from my father," he said. "I wouldn't know that much about jazz if I hadn't been born into a jazz situation ... him being a jazz drummer." 

Brooks II said he started out as a jazz musician by playing the piano.

"When I was 12 or 13 years old, I snuck into the theater and saw ... Buddy Rich," he said. "From there, I saw Kenny Clarke, Art Blakey ... and all the great jazz drummers and that's what I wanted to be."

It was obvious the Valley Arts District had poured enough lyrical ballads as the weekend faded, but there were still a few in the crowd bopping their heads and tapping their feet. For the next time the duet plays, they'll be there.

Play it again, Cecil.