Don Braden

Don Braden (2011)

Don Braden (born November 20, 1963 in Cincinnati , Ohio ) is an American tenor saxophonist , composer and arranger of hardbop and mainstream jazz .

Live and act

Don Braden grew up in Louisville ( Kentucky on). He started playing the tenor saxophone at the age of thirteen and was a professional musician by the age of 15. During his time in high school, he played in the McDonald's All-American High School Jazz Band as well as in the school band. From 1981 to 1984 he studied engineering at Harvard University . In 1984 he moved to New York City , where he played with the Harper Brothers , and worked with Dr. Lonnie Smith , Jeanie Bryson and Betty Carter , on whose album Look What I Got he participated. In 1986/87 he toured with Wynton Marsalis , played in the hardbop formation Out of the Blue , with Roy Haynes , Tony Williams , Freddie Hubbard , JJ Johnson , Tom Harrell , Art Farmer and the Mingus Big Band . Since 1991 a number of albums have been created under his own name, on which musicians such as Tom Harrell, Christian McBride , Steve Turre , Larry Grenadier , Billy Hart , Randy Brecker , Frank Lacy and Hamiet Bluiett participated. Currently (2019) Braden leads the quartet Earth, Wind & Wonder , which includes Art Hirahara (piano), Kenny Davis (bass) and Jeremy Warren (drums).

The Time Is Now ( Criss Cross Jazz , 1991) with Tom Harrell, Christian McBride
Wish List (Criss Cross, 1991) with Harrell, McBride, Steve Turre
After Dark (Criss Cross, 1993)
Landing Zone ( Landmark Records , 1994)
Organic ( Columbia Records , 1995)
The Open Road (Double-Time, 1996) with Larry Grenadier, Billy Hart
The Voice of the Saxophone ( RCA Victor , 1997) with Randy Brecker, Frank Lacy, Hamiet Bluiett
The Fire Within (RCA, 1999) with Jeff Tain Watts
Contemporary Standards Ensemble (Double-Time, 2000) with Vincent Herring, Ralph Peterson
Brighter Days ( HighNote Records , 2001)
The New Hang (HighNote, 2004)
Workin ' (HighNote, 2006)