Everything Saxophone Podcast Host, Donna Schwartz, interviewed, Saxophonist, Composer, Educator, Don Braden!
For over 40 years, Don Braden has toured the world as a leader of his own ensembles on saxophone and flute, as a special guest, and as a sideman with jazz legends such as Betty Carter, Wynton Marsalis, Freddie Hubbard, Tony Williams, Roy Haynes, and many more.
A prolific composer, Don has created music for a wide range of ensembles—from duos to full symphonic orchestras—in diverse styles. His work spans recordings (including 24 CDs as a leader and over 80 as a sideman), film scores, and compositions for television networks like Nickelodeon and CBS.
His latest album, Earth Wind and Wonder Volume 2, is now available on his website, Spotify, and Bandcamp.
As a leading arranger of contemporary standards, Don has enriched his jazz repertoire with a fresh collection of modern American songs.
In addition to his performance career, Don is a world-renowned educator with over two decades of experience teaching master classes at schools and universities. He currently serves as the Director of the Harvard Jazz Combo Initiative, teaches part-time at the Prins Claus Conservatoire in the Netherlands, and is the Music Director of the Litchfield Jazz Camp (since 1998) and the Texas Jazz and Blues Camp (since 2016).
He has also led top-tier educational programs, including NJPAC’s Wells Fargo Jazz For Teens and Harvard University’s Monday Jazz Band.
Don has earned numerous accolades, including the Doris Duke Foundation’s New Works composer’s award, and has served as a judge for prestigious panels like the SURDNA Foundation and the Downbeat Student Music Awards.
As an artist, Don proudly endorses the Antigua ProOne “Classic Antique” lacquer tenor saxophone, the JodyJazz DV NY mouthpiece (number 9*), and D’Addario Reserve reeds (number 3.0+).
Along with all these, we also talked about:
- His musical beginnings and how he got into saxophone
- The genesis of Earth Wind and Wonder album
- His Early Gigs
- How he learned to improvise
- Don’s study of the Aebersold books
- Transition to professional musician
- Wynton Marsalis story
- Freddie Hubbard story
- How Wynton and Freddie impacted his playing
- All about the melody
- How Don’s bandmates put their own stamp on the music
- The impact of real food on health for musicians
- And more!
Here’s the Video:
LINKS:
- Don’s website: https://www.donbradenjazz.com/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DonBradenJazz
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/donbradensax/
- Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/6qppe86GWNyVd8KeAbvg1o
- YouTube: www.youtube.com/@donbraden4090
- Don’s article on health and fitness in Downbeat Magazine: https://downbeat.com/news/detail/health
Check out some of Don’s music featured in the podcast:
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So many Everything Saxophone podcasts, not enough time! (But definitely worth making the time!). I really enjoyed hearing this wide-ranging interview. I hope that perhaps one day he can come back on and go more in depth on his teaching and mentoring of upcoming musicians. I know he has been the musical director at the Litchfield Jazz Camp for many decades.