Don Braden
Saxophonist and flutist Don Braden is known around the world as an exciting and interactive jazz soloist, a creative and prolific composer, and a passionate and energetic educator. He is also known as a specialist at arranging and performing classic popular songs in the modern jazz style. For over 30 years he has toured the world leading his own ensembles, as a special guest, and as a sideman with Jazz greats Betty Carter, Wynton Marsalis, Freddie Hubbard, Tony Williams, Roy Haynes, and many others. He has composed music in various styles for ensembles ranging from duo to full symphonic orchestra, for recordings (including 22 CDs as a leader and over 80 as a sideman), film, and the television networks NIckelodeon and CBS. His latest CDs In the Spirit of Herbie Hancock & Earth Wind and Wonder feature his quartets performing jazz interpretations of songs by Herbie Hancock, R&B titans Earth Wind and Fire and Stevie Wonder. He has spent over two decades giving master classes at countless schools and universities, and running first class educational programs such as the Litchfield Jazz Camp, NJPAC's Wells Fargo Jazz For Teens, and most recently, the Harvard University Monday Jazz Band. He is an imaginative, technically excellent, soulful player, and his harmonic and rhythmic sophistication give him a unique approach to improvising as well as composing and arranging. Most important of all: he has a beautiful sound, and he swings! All this combines with his joyous yet disciplined personality to make him one of the most important musicians working today.
GEAR
“RS Berkeley Volaré flutes sound, look and feel great. I play model VOL905 which has a clear and strong tone, and it responds beautifully, even in the low register. The VOL805 responds just as well, but has darker overall sound, which some people might prefer. As a doubler, I find it complements my other instruments very well, so I love playing it!''