Band - Don Braden Quartett

...is all about communication, sophistication and most importantly: the groove! The group specializes in juxtaposing straight-ahead jazz with a variety of funky or latinesque rhythms, and it has the ability to make very challenging material sound accessible and joyful. The group's interactions and flexibility make every performance an adventure, yet the marvelous musicianship of the members helps the group maintain focus. Bassist Dwayne Burno lays a powerful, harmonically astute, swinging foundation, while drummer Cecil Brooks III drives the band with his high energy, virtuoso technique and meticulous attention to form. Pianist Xavier Davis brilliantly orchestrates the music with the harmonic and rhythmic glue that holds everything together. And Braden gets to sail on top of it all! The quartet has performed to rave reviews all over the U.S., Canada and Europe, with more tours slated for the future. The band's latest CD is entitled "Brighter Days" (HighNote 7076), and features powerful renditions of a variety of classic and contemporary standards and originals.

Tenor saxophonist Don Braden is a seasoned young jazz veteran with a big tone and a fiery yet thoughtful approach. He has toured the world for over 15 years in performance with his own groups and with many jazz legends, including Betty Carter, Wynton Marsalis, Tony Williams, Freddie Hubbard, Tom Harrell, and Roy Haynes. This Harvard-educated young titan has had a prolific recording career, with eleven terrific CDs as a leader to his credit (including two on RCA Victor, and one on Sony Epicure), and at least 50 as a sideman. His composing and arranging experience is also extensive: besides having written music for many jazz situations (for groups ranging from duo to 55-piece symphonic orchestra), he has composed for film and dance, and spent four years as music supervisor/composer for the CBS TV show, “Cosby”. Most recently, in the summer of 2000, he was one of the recipients of a jazz composition grant from the Doris Duke Charitable Foundation.

Don Braden is also a dedicated, experienced and passionate educator. He is currently an Adjunct Instructor of Jazz at William Paterson University, Music Director of the Litchfield Jazz Festival Summer Music School, and the Music Director of the New Jersey Performing Arts Center’s Jazz for Teens program. He is also on the faculty at the Jamey Aebersold Summer Jazz Workshops, the Mid-States Jazz Summer Camp, and is part of the "New York Faculty" of the North Netherlands Conservatory in Groningen, Holland. Braden has presented master classes at educational institutions all over the U.S. and Europe, including Harvard University, Wellesley College, University of Louisville, Duke University, the Rotterdam Conservatory, the New School for Social Research, the Manhattan School of Music, and a variety of high, middle and elementary schools.

The other members of the quartet have also had stellar experience in the jazz world. Pianist Xavier Davis, who records for Metropolitan Records, has toured with a variety of fascinating groups, including the Betty Carter Trio, the Tom Harrell Octet, and the Boys Choir of Harlem. His latest CD is entitled "Dance of Life". Dwayne Burno, a talented composer and arranger in his own right, has toured the world with jazz legends such as Benny Golson, Roy Haynes, and Freddie Hubbard. Cecil Brooks III is not only a fantastic drummer, but a very accomplished record producer as well, with at least 150 CDs (including seven as a leader) to his credit. He has also performed extensively with such greats as Houston Person/Etta Jones and Stanley Turrentine. Besides being killer players, these guys are warm and articulate gentlemen.

The passion, sophistication, soul of this group can be heard on a number of recordings, including the latest, mentioned above, as well as the Braden CDs "The Voice of the Saxophone", "The Fire Within" (both on RCA Victor), and "Landing Zone" (on Landmark).