[2] Brackeen was born in Ventura, California, United States, and attended the Los Angeles Conservatory of Music.

[1] She was a fan of pop pianist Frankie Carle before she became enamored of the music of Charlie Parker.

[2] She played with Joe Henderson (1972–75) and Stan Getz (1975–77) before leading her own trio and quartet.

Her trios featured such noted players as Clint Houston, Eddie Gómez, John Patitucci, Jack DeJohnette, Cecil McBee and Billy Hart.

She served on the grant panel for the National Endowment for the Arts, toured the Middle East with the US State Department as sponsor, and had solo performances at Carnegie Hall.