PREVIOUS GUESTS

TOM BRAXTON

Jazz didn't always come easy growing up in the dusty plains of Lubbock, Texas where it all began for Tom Braxton. As unlikely an environment as it was for a boy to dream of being a jazz musician, Tom fortunately had a direct link to this creative art form through his dad, James ("J.T.") Braxton. "I have to credit my dad with connecting me to jazz at an early age. He introduced me to all the jazz legends: Lester Young, Miles, Coltrane, Charlie Parker, Stitt, Getz, Ben Webster, Coleman Hawkins, and many more. He would share how he had heard Count Basie and Duke's original bands and the great Ella Fitzgerald. He put the alto sax in my hands in the 6th grade, after I had been playing piano for two years. Dad continued to play his tenor sax and violin until the age of 98! My dad and mentor passed away in 2020 at the remarkable age of 101! After graduating valedictorian from high school, Tom attended Texas Tech University on track and music scholarships. "I love to run, and the 200, 400, and 1600-meter relay were my best events." This fact explains his driving energy and stamina on stage today.

During his college years, Braxton formed the jazz-fusion band "No Compromise" which toured the southwest and opened concerts for Joe Sample, Stanley Clarke, George Howard, and many others. The band performed many of Tom's original compositions, which helped to fine-tune his writing style. Tom decided to launch his solo career after graduating summa cum laude with a Bachelor of Music/Performance degree. His first act of business was to join forces with keyboardist and producer Bernard Wright to release his solo debut album, Your Move. "The highlight of my first release was having the opportunity to record a duet with long-time friend Kirk Whalum on the song 'Peacemaker.'" Bernard Wright not only produced Braxton's first CD, but also was instrumental in connecting him to a gifted musician/producer who would elevate Tom to the national touring circuit, Wayman Tisdale. "I have to credit Bernard Wright with getting me the gig with Wayman. I flew to Sacramento and played with Wayman where we opened a concert for the Yellowjackets . I'll never forget it...it was 1992!" Tom then toured extensively with Wayman Tisdale for 17 years, serving as Musical Director for 10 of those years. Wayman was quoted saying, "When I'm on the road, Tom is the saxophonist I want to have with me. I love that sweet sound he gets on the horn."

Through the years, Tom has shared the stage with many well-known artists including Dave Koz, Rick Braun, Peter White, Candy Dulfer, Brian Culbertson, Bob James, George Duke, Earl Klugh, Kirk Whalum, Jonathan Butler, Warren Hill, Jeff Golub, Marcus Miller, Keiko Matsui, Aretha Franklin, Luther Vandross, Sheila E., and Philip Bailey. Tom has opened concerts for numerous jazz greats including Norman Brown, Boney James, Najee, Dave Brubeck, Cab Calloway, Spyro Gyra, The Rippingtons, David Benoit, Pieces of a Dream, Michael Franks, and The Crusaders. He has been a featured performer and fan favorite on the Smooth Jazz Cruise. He has also garnered rave reviews overseas, performing as a headliner on the Algarve Smooth Jazz Festival in Portugal, twice on the Ghana Jazz Festival, the Smooth Jazz Europe Festival in the Netherlands, and the Nile Gold Jazz Safari in Uganda. He was also a featured performer on the Java Jazz Festival in Jakarta, Indonesia. Braxton has toured abroad with Earl Klugh in South Africa, Malawi, Mozambique, and Japan, and with Keiko Matsui in Russia, Eastern Europe, Malaysia, and Japan.

Over the years, Braxton has been featured or appeared in media and publications such as JAZZIZ, Smooth Jazz News, CBS's The Saturday Early Show, Ugandan Television, BET's Jazz Central, TBS, TNT, ESPN, CNN, NBC's Inside Stuff, ABC's Good Morning Texas, the Fox Network's Good Day Dallas, ABC's Sacramento & Co., and Daystar Television Network.

Jazz didn't always come easy growing up in the dusty plains of Lubbock, Texas where it all began for Tom Braxton. As unlikely an environment as it was for a boy to dream of being a jazz musician, Tom fortunately had a direct link to this creative art form through his dad, James ("J.T.") Braxton. "I have to credit my dad with connecting me to jazz at an early age. He introduced me to all the jazz legends: Lester Young, Miles, Coltrane, Charlie Parker, Stitt, Getz, Ben Webster, Coleman Hawkins, and many more. He would share how he had heard Count Basie and Duke's original bands and the great Ella Fitzgerald. He put the alto sax in my hands in the 6th grade, after I had been playing piano for two years. Dad continued to play his tenor sax and violin until the age of 98! My dad and mentor passed away in 2020 at the remarkable age of 101! After graduating valedictorian from high school, Tom attended Texas Tech University on track and music scholarships. "I love to run, and the 200, 400, and 1600-meter relay were my best events." This fact explains his driving energy and stamina on stage today. During his college years, Braxton formed the jazz-fusion band "No Compromise" which toured the southwest and opened concerts for Joe Sample, Stanley Clarke, George Howard, and many others. The band performed many of Tom's original compositions, which helped to fine-tune his writing style. Tom decided to launch his solo career after graduating summa cum laude with a Bachelor of Music/Performance degree. His first act of business was to join forces with keyboardist and producer Bernard Wright to release his solo debut album, Your Move. "The highlight of my first release was having the opportunity to record a duet with long-time friend Kirk Whalum on the song 'Peacemaker.'" Bernard Wright not only produced Braxton's first CD, but also was instrumental in connecting him to a gifted musician/producer who would elevate Tom to the national touring circuit, Wayman Tisdale. "I have to credit Bernard Wright with getting me the gig with Wayman. I flew to Sacramento and played with Wayman where we opened a concert for the Yellowjackets . I'll never forget it...it was 1992!" Tom then toured extensively with Wayman Tisdale for 17 years, serving as Musical Director for 10 of those years. Wayman was quoted saying, "When I'm on the road, Tom is the saxophonist I want to have with me. I love that sweet sound he gets on the horn." Through the years, Tom has shared the stage with many well-known artists including Dave Koz, Rick Braun, Peter White, Candy Dulfer, Brian Culbertson, Bob James, George Duke, Earl Klugh, Kirk Whalum, Jonathan Butler, Warren Hill, Jeff Golub, Marcus Miller, Keiko Matsui, Aretha Franklin, Luther Vandross, Sheila E., and Philip Bailey. Tom has opened concerts for numerous jazz greats including Norman Brown, Boney James, Najee, Dave Brubeck, Cab Calloway, Spyro Gyra, The Rippingtons, David Benoit, Pieces of a Dream, Michael Franks, and The Crusaders. He has been a featured performer and fan favorite on the Smooth Jazz Cruise. He has also garnered rave reviews overseas, performing as a headliner on the Algarve Smooth Jazz Festival in Portugal, twice on the Ghana Jazz Festival, the Smooth Jazz Europe Festival in the Netherlands, and the Nile Gold Jazz Safari in Uganda. He was also a featured performer on the Java Jazz Festival in Jakarta, Indonesia. Braxton has toured abroad with Earl Klugh in South Africa, Malawi, Mozambique, and Japan, and with Keiko Matsui in Russia, Eastern Europe, Malaysia, and Japan. Over the years, Braxton has been featured or appeared in media and publications such as JAZZIZ, Smooth Jazz News, CBS's The Saturday Early Show, Ugandan Television, BET's Jazz Central, TBS, TNT, ESPN, CNN, NBC's Inside Stuff, ABC's Good Morning Texas, the Fox Network's Good Day Dallas, ABC's Sacramento & Co., and Daystar Television Network.