Don Braden Quartet January 23, 2010

Brooklyn Conservatory of Music proudly present
Don Braden Quartet
Saturday, January 23, 2010, 8pm
“...brilliant and assured...” -- The New York Times

Who: Don Braden Quartet feat: Xavier Davis, piano, Joris Teepe, bass, Cecil Brooks III, drums
What: Brooklyn Conservatory of Music “Jazz at the Conservatory” series
When: Saturday, January 23, 2010, at 8:00 PM
Where: Brooklyn Conservatory Concert Hall, 58 7th avenue, Brooklyn
(Q/B train to 7th Ave, 2/3 train to Grand Army Plaza)
Cost: $25/15 – call Zerve ticket services at 212.209.3370 or visit www.bqcm.org

Brooklyn Conservatory of Music’s Jazz at the Conservatory series is thrilled to present the Don Braden Quartet featuring Xavier Davis, piano, Joris Teepe, bass and Cecil Brooks III, drums.

Don Braden is an accomplished saxophone player, world class jazz musician, award winning composer and leading recording artist who spent years as the saxophonist with greats like Betty Carter, Wynton Marsalis, Freddie Hubbard and Roy Haynes, he has developed an extensive knowledge of every aspect of jazz performance and is praised for being an imaginative, technically excellent, soulful saxophonist with harmonic and rhythmic sophistication which has provided him with a unique approach to improvising

About Don Braden
Born in Cincinnati, Ohio on November 20, 1963, and raised in Louisville, Kentucky, Braden's first exposure to music came from his parents' record collection, and from radio. Although there were no musicians in his family, he showed a strong interest in music early on. At age 13, he started playing tenor sax in middle school band class, and two years later, joined his first professional band -- influenced by and performing the music of “contemporary jazz” groups, like The Crusaders. After being introduced to acoustic jazz in high school by educator Jamey Aebersold, Braden went on to be chosen first chair for the McDonald's All-American High School Jazz Band and the McDonald's All-American High School Marching Band, and to receive a Yamaha Instrument Award. After his acceptance to Harvard University in 1981, Braden divided his time between studying engineering and performing at jazz clubs around the Boston/Cambridge area. While there, he studied briefly with local saxophone heavyweights Jerry Bergonzi and Bill Pierce. He also began composing more seriously during this time, writing and arranging pieces for several Harvard-based dance, film and music projects as well as for his own quartet.
In 1984, Braden moved to New York City where his first gigs were with the Harper Brothers Quintet and with organist Dr. Lonnie Smith, and then with Betty Carter. After touring with the Wynton Marsalis Quintet for over seven months, he recorded with Betty Carter on her Grammy Award-winning album, “Look What I Got” (Verve-Polygram). Following gigs in Europe, Japan and the Americas with Tony Williams, Roy Haynes, and many others, Braden was a member of the Freddie Hubbard Quintet from 1989 to 1991. Since 1991 he has worked with Tom Harrell, the Mingus Big Band, Kenny Barron, J. J. Johnson, the Dizzy Gillespie All-Stars, the Carnegie Hall Jazz Band, and others, as well as with his own groups.
About the Brooklyn Conservatory of Music
The Brooklyn Conservatory of Music has been serving the community for over a century promoting individual, professional and community growth through music, and making music accessible to people of all ages, backgrounds and skill levels. One of the ways we fulfill our mission is by holding remarkable live music events at affordable prices. Our commitment to the community and our world-class faculty makes these events a reality.

Please join us for what promises to be an unforgettable Jazz at the Conservatory concert event, and check out the Brooklyn-Queens Conservatory of Music’s other great concerts, programs, classes and much more at www.BQCM.org