Don Braden

Don Braden stands out as a tenor saxophonist whose approach stretches the edges of hard bop while remaining firmly rooted in its core lineage. Raised in Louisville, KY, he first took up the tenor at age 13 and turned professional just two years later. During his high school years he performed with the McDonald's All-American High School Jazz Band; although enrolled in Harvard's engineering program from 1981 to 1984, he continued performing with the university's jazz ensemble. Braden relocated to New York in 1984, where he collaborated with the Harper Brothers, Dr. Lonnie Smith, and Betty Carter—the latter marking his recording debut. From 1986 to 1987 he toured alongside Wynton Marsalis, stepping in as Branford Marsalis' initial successor, and afterward worked in a wide array of groups featuring Roy Haynes, Tony Williams, Freddie Hubbard, J.J. Johnson, Tom Harrell, Art Farmer, and the Mingus Big Band. Leading his own projects, Braden has documented sessions for Criss Cross, Landmark, Epicure, and RCA.