Joń Brooks Monorail- People You Should Know

Entertainment, People You Should Know — By Buddy Sampson on October 7, 2021 at 5:20 pm

On the Railway to Success

By Buddy Sampson

A monorail, according to Merrill Webster, is a single rail, an elevated rail, a people mover.

Successful musicians all have the same thing in common as a monorail; they have a single-minded determination- a one track state of mind that hurtles them to proficiency, leading to recognition and accolades. In the process of that determination, incredible musicians have the ability to move people, just like a monorail moving rapidly to its final destination. Joń Brooks, with his sensational trio, Joń Brooks  Monorail have the perfect moniker; a perfect name for the amazing music they create. And, with the multi-talented, poly instrumentalist leading the way, the group is on a solid rail to success.

To see Joń Brooks perform completely boggles the mind. The poly instrumentalist, plays the drums, keyboards and sings, ALL AT THE SAME TIME. Indeed, the mega-talented musician, singer and composer learned early in his career that less is more, let’s just say, out of necessity. A working musician, who constantly works in the realm of R&B, Rock, Reggae and jazz, Joń is a self-contained musician that has worked and performed with many varying types of ensembles.

This audio/video recording above features Kailin Doucette on background vocals, Isidro “Rosey” Ynez, saxophone (RIP) and Ryan Avery on bass. Kailin is still associated with the ensemble.

The Black Rock Coalition (BRC), formed in 1985 by Black rocker Vernon Reid, of the Black rock group “Living Colour,” spotlighted several Black rock bands and ensembles. Joń Brooks’ group “Ach Nein,” made waves in the 90s. Ach Nein, a group that consisted of he and bassist Lomanis Scuderi, who he found from an ad in the Recycler, was one of those BRC groups.  “We were looking for guitar players, we were hoping to get some keyboards in there and people just weren’t showing up,” said Joń Brooks, a proud Pisces with a 13-size shoe, useful for solid beats on the bass drum and hi hats.  “They’d say they were coming, but they weren’t showing up. Meanwhile, we were shedding and we got a lot more terrific and a lot more driven, and we were kind of successful.”

In essence, Monorail was birthed in the same manner, only Joń took it to a whole new level. “People weren’t coming to rehearsals,” he said. “So I started playing keyboards and drums at the same time because people weren’t coming when they said when they would come. I’d figure out a song, and it’s tough to play drums and keyboards and then I’d figure out another song, and then I got on a roll. I do like the challenge of putting this half of my body into this and this other part of my body in this other stuff. It’s fun and there’s not too many other drummers doing it.”

Joń Brooks, who grew up in the Jefferson Park area of Los Angeles, and started playing drums at 6, had supportive relatives as a child. “My folks were really cool about music and there were always instruments throughout the house,” said Joń. “I wanted to be a drummer. I picked them (instruments) up so I could entertain myself, and entertain my folks.” Everyone, including Joń’s mother and grandparents sang, so Joń heard music at every turn while growing up. “We listened to everything, we played everything and it was a very supportive environment musically. And I showed them over years and years that I really wanted to be a drummer, and they finally got the message, because I was going to friends’ houses and kicking their asses on their own drum sets,” he reflected. They eventually bought him a drum set when he was in 9^th grade and he’s never looked back. ”I’ve been rocking ever since,” he said. He first started working with several musicians including Chris Orange.  His first paid engagement was with his 9^th grade school buddies Eric Borders and Colin Wolfe at Colin’s neighbor’s barbecue party. It was a short notice affair. “We didn’t even have time to put a name together for the trio,” Joń reflected. “I got the money and said, ‘I’ll never do anything with as much love like this,’ this is easy. I loved it.” He took piano lessons, but hated it. However, one day, he went to a lesson and got robbed. He says, in many ways it was his saving grace. “It was the best thing because I was able to say ‘I’m not going to lessons anymore,’” he laughed.

But he kept playing piano, and kept playing other instruments. Later, he excelled as a musician, performing with Dave Wakeling, The English Beat, General Public, Bow Wow Wow, Pato Banton, Zen Comboyz, Toledo, and Lili Haydn among others. He’s also done session work for Macy Gray.  Whereas previously he attempted to have his parents buy him one kit, he now owns 12 drum kits. Additionally, the talented musician and strong tenor vocalist plays several instruments, including cello, piano, electric bass and guitar. He also plays a variety of other African, Latin, Japanese, East Indian and Native American percussion instruments. His former and current endorsements include no other than Zildjian cymbals, Purecussion, Vic Firth, Humes and Berg cases, Latin Percussion, Converse and Adidas. He also has an additional skill- he’s a firebreather.

The self-taught musician also is an audio and visual engineer for Cal State University Channel Islands.

Monorail,  who started in 1993/94, was named by an engineer, Nandanee Ramprasad. Joń wanted a vehicle in which to express his music. Based out of Camarillo, California, the latest configuration of the ensemble features Cassandra Peterson and Kerwin “Skooter” Williams.

Singer and vocalist Cassandra Peterson of Los Angeles (not to be confused with the actress with the same name, who was known as “Elvira” Mistress of the Dark) is part of their vocal team, “Team of Steam.” Their strong vocal harmonies and presence lends itself to crisp background and lead vocals, which can be used for studio projects and live performances. They’ll be working with Ventura, California singer Brion Shearer, whose flavorful music is a cross between Dave Matthews and Sublime. The Pisces and stunning blonde’s training as a singer began when she was very young. “I sang as a kid with performing groups,” said the singer, the second half of Team of Steam with Joń Brooks. “I did a few recording projects. I’ve been playing bass for two years and jamming with a friend of mine that plays guitar, then I met JB.” Cassandra answered an ad placed by Joń on Craigslist, and the chemistry was immediate.

Bassist Kerwin “Skooter” Williams, of Inglewood, the third active member of Monorail solidly holds the bass down in the ensemble, with crisp, solid basslines that serves as an anchor for the power trio.  “When I was real young, I played with Shalamar,” said the bassist, who lists Louis Johnson and Larry Graham as his favorite bassists.  “It wasn’t the Howard Hewitt/Jody Watley version, it featured Micki Free (an Indian American guitarist). We had a great run. It was a learning experience. It was my first experience touring with a band.” Skooter started playing drums first as a youngster, but was guided by a bassist, Cornell Wirt, that performed with his father. “When I saw my dad’s bass player playing the bass, I just felt it,” he said. “The bass rumbled my chest. After that I wanted to be a bass player.” The mega-talented bassist, who also thrives in the recording studio, has worked with Coolio and the legendary Snoop Dogg, among several other artists. “I would say working with Snoop and that whole production squad is why I know what I know now,” said Skooter, “I have to give a lot of credit to them.” Previously signed to Interscope Records, Island Records and Trauma Records, Skooter has spent a number of years as a studio artist, in addition to working on his own material. “It (Trauma Records) was the same label Shaq and No Doubt was on,” he explained. But Skooter’s true love is recording studio dates. “Live shows are nice, but my home is the studio,” he said.

Unfortunately, a fourth member of Monorail, saxophonist Isidro “Rosey” Ynez, an integral part of the band, passed away suddenly in May of 2020. “It was heavy,” said Joń. “He’s still a very special part of this band. His spirit lives on with us and we will keep doing this thing as if he were standing right next to this here drum kit. All day.”

Joń Brooks has other innovative ideas for his music and business. The musician, also a chef who jokes that he likes “eating in bed,” is filming a cooking show, “Stay 4 Dinner,” which will provide helpful cooking hints in addition to great music from his ensemble. “We have two episodes filmed,” he said. In addition they plan on lending their talents to other artists with “Team of Steam.” “We’re hope that Team of Steam is sought after and we work with a lot of people,” he said. “We hope we can work with Bonnie Raitt, we can show Toni Braxton how to get more hits, if Janet Jackson comes through, we want to show her that we can make her stuff hot.” They also plan on placing songs in television shows and movies.

Monorail’s music is more than just music, it is social commentary. They have a cover called “Elenore Pigfeet,” based on The Beatles song of a similar sounding name. Their version addresses slavery and its effect on Black Americans, through modern times. Among their others songs are “Rhythm of Love,” and “Come Around,” a soulful song featuring Jon’s strong vocals. But how would the public categorize the music of Jon Brooks Monorail? “We represent a really good example of what’s prominent in our 60’s, 70s R&B, and we’ve put 80s pop on it, we’ve put 90s on it and we’ve made it our 2021 kind of thing,” Joń explained.  “We’d put this music in the Alternate Soul section and I’d love to say that I have a band that’s funk, that’s edgy, that we have the ability to be a pop sensation, and the ability to trailblaze trio funk.”

To watch Joń Brooks is uncanny. The hours of dedication and practice it takes to sing, play drums AND play the keyboards, all at the same time is simply phenomenal to watch. “The audience,” said Skooter, “a lot of time may not get on the dance floor, because they are watching how incredible that is, just seeing him perform. It’s just a good time, a well-rounded show.” He and his group Monorail are trailblazing, flowing through an elevated rail trackway to success, moving people along the way. Joń Brooks  Monorail’s single-minded determination and ability to move audiences makes them a sure bet to be People You Should Know.