Bio - Susan Goodman

Bio

Tenor and soprano saxophonist and flutist Susan Goodman has performed as a jazz artist in and around Boston, New York, Atlantic City, and Philadelphia for many years. Initially a student of European classical flute music, Susan was blown away into the world of jazz upon discovering such ear-opening recordings as Eric Dolphy’s Ironman, John Coltrane’s Ballads, and Wayne Shorter’s Native Dancer. As a student of Jerry Bergonzi and Joe Allard in Boston, Susan fell in love with the classic jazz repertoire of the masters. Her long awaited debut jazz CD, Central Park West, features her interpretations of many of those gems, including Central Park West (Coltrane), Virgo (Shorter), and Triste (Antonio Carlos Jobim). Of the title cut, WRTI host Bob Perkins says "Ms. Goodman plays the jazz standard about as well as Coltrane wrote it."

Susan has been inspired by so many other great musicians, composers, and vocalists including Sonny Rollins, Joe Henderson, Miles Davis, Jimmy Heath, Stan Getz, Michael Brecker, Joni Mitchell, Dinah Washington, Betty Carter, Ella Fitzgerald, Carmen McCrae, Nancy Wilson, Rosa Passos, Mingus, Monk, Metheny, etc, etc. Susan heard lots of great jazz in Boston (at The Jazz Workshop and Lulu White's) before moving to New York, where her ears were further opened up, even before she stepped out on the street: Joe Lovano was her downstairs neighbor, and his beautiful sound filled her five-story stairwell.

Susan was also inspired by her children, Dylan and Miles. Many listeners may know her as Sooz, writer and producer of several jazz and latin-inspired award-winning CDs for children, recorded on her own label, Soozaroo Music. Written in a wide range of styles--from Jazz to Afro-Pop to Salsa and Reggae--featuring creative, sing-able lyrics, kids love these unique songs, as do their parents, who appreciate that the writing, musicianship, and production of these "children's CDs" are not just for kids. The CD STAND UP! SPEAK OUT! evolved into a school assembly program that addresses prejudice, bullying, and our responsibility to "Do the Right Thing." Susan is happy to have the opportunity to address important issues of justice in her school programs, while staying musically focused on the jazz roots that ground and inspire her most.

STAND UP! SPEAK OUT! lyrics are included in the NJ State Bar Association's Anti-Bullying Curriculum and the NJ Dept of Education Holocaust-Genocide Curriculum as effective tools to combat prejudice and bullying. Sooz continues to present Community Concerts and School Assembly Programs based on STAND UP! SPEAK OUT! and her other Cool Music for Kids. Currently enrolled in the Teaching Artist Certificate Program at the University of the Arts in Philadelphia, Susan has developed a Songwriting Artist Residency that can be booked individually or in conjunction with the Stand Up! Speak Out! Assembly Program.

Please check the calendar for upcoming events, and listen to songs from her five CDs.

Thanks for visiting & stay tuned!