BRAXTON COOK
Maryland’s own Braxton Cook is an Emmy Award-winning, two time Grammy Award winning, NAACP Image Award-nominated artist, known for his world-class skills as an alto saxophonist, vocalist, songwriter, producer and composer. With a blend of jazz, soul, and alt-R&B, he has carved out a unique, melodic sound that has made him one of the most exciting voices of his generation. A Juilliard-trained, genre-jumping artist whose music feels both contemporary and timeless, Braxton studied saxophone under the renowned Paul Carr. During this time, Braxton was selected as a semi-finalist in the Thelonious Monk International Jazz Saxophone Competition.
He has performed on major stages around the world, from Coachella to international jazz festivals, and collaborated with artists like Rihanna, Solange, Christian McBride Big Band, Tom Misch, Christian Scott, Marquis Hill, and Jon Batiste, performing on his soundtrack for Pixar’s Oscar-winning film, Soul. His albums garner critical acclaim from outlets like Billboard, BET, NPR Music, FORBES, and The Washington Post, cementing Braxton as both a “jazz marvel” and a cultural influencer shaping modern music. His newest album, Not Everyone Can Go, drops August 29th. Musically, the album conjures images of bright evening sunshine, when the temperature begins to cool.
Braxton Cook ~ saxophone & vocals
Mike King ~ keyboards
Paul Reinhold~ bass
Curtis Nowosad ~ drums
Tickets: $35.00 ~ $40.00 +fee
Streaming: $15.00 +fee
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ALLAN HARRIS
Celebrate Black History Month with a powerful performance that honors the resilience, creativity, and legacy of Black Americans. Join us for Harlem After Dark: An Uptown Jazz Party, a vibrant tribute to Harlem’s golden era, featuring world-class musicians, dynamic tap dance, and soulful performances by Allan Harris, Maya Azucena, and AC Lincoln.
This electrifying evening celebrates the enduring legacy of Harlem’s jazz icons while embracing the energy of today’s music scene, making both productions must-see events that highlight the profound impact of Black history and culture.
Tickets: $25.00
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Daily Dose Of Jazz…
Walter “Rosetta” Fuller was born on February 15, 1910 in Dyersburg, Tennessee, first learning to play the mellophone as a child before settling on trumpet. He played in a traveling medicine show from age 14, then played with Sammy Stewart in the late 1920s.
Fuller In 1930 he moved to Chicago and played with Irene Eadie and Her Vogue Vagabonds. In 1931 he began a longtime partnership with Earl Hines, remaining with him until 1937, when he left to join Horace Henderson’s ensemble. After a year with Henderson he returned to Hines’ band but once again left Hines in 1940 to form his own band, playing at the Grand Terrace in Chicago and the Radio Room in Los Angeles. Among his sidemen were Rozelle Claxton, Quinn Wilson, Omer Simeon and Gene Ammons.
Fuller got the nickname “Rosetta” based on his singing on the 1934 Hines recording of the song of the same name. He would lead bands on the West Coast for over a decade and play as a sideman for many years afterward. On April 20, 2003 trumpeter and vocalist Walter Fuller passed away in San Diego, California.
JOE GRANSDEN
Trumpeter Joe Gransden brings warmth, virtuosity, and joyful swing to his celebration of the music of Chuck Mangione, honoring one of jazz’s most beloved melodic voices. Known for his rich tone, effortless lyricism, and deep respect for the tradition, Gransden captures the soaring optimism and emotional clarity that made Mangione’s compositions timeless—while infusing them with his own dynamic phrasing and modern energy.
This tribute is less imitation than interpretation: a heartfelt homage that revisits iconic melodies and grooves, inviting audiences to rediscover the beauty, accessibility, and sheer joy at the heart of Mangione’s music through Gransden’s distinctive trumpet voice.
Tickets: $44.00
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Daily Dose Of Jazz…
Sérgio Santos Mendes was born in Niteroi, Rio de Janiero, Brazil on February 11, 1941. S a child he attended the local conservancy with hopes of becoming a classical pianist. As his interest in jazz grew, he started playing in nightclubs in the late-1950s just as the jazz-inflected derivative of samba known as bossa nova emerged.
Mendes formed the Sexteto Bossa Rio, recorded Dance Moderna in 1961, toured Europe and the U.S., recorded with Cannonball Adderley and Herbie Mann, played Carnegie Hall and then moved to the States in 1964, cutting two albums for Capitol and Atlantic Records.
Sergio would join the Musicians Union, Create Brasil 65, change the name later to Sergio Mendes and Brasil 66, opt not to record Tito Puente’s “Oye Como Va” which would become a hit for Carlos Santana, release “Mas Que Nada” that would take them platinum. He would record “Look Around” and their fourth album “Fool On A Hill”.
His breakout success was with the performance of Burt Bacharach’s “The Look of Love” at the 1968 Academy Awards telecast, ultimately becoming the biggest Brazilian star in the world at the time. He would go on to record for Elektra, Bell, A&M and Concord record labels, collaborate with Stevie Wonder, reunite with Lani Hall on the Bond “Never Say Never Again” soundtrack, record with will.i.am and The Black Eyed Peas, Jill Scott, India Arie and others on his Timeless project, win several Grammys over the course of his fifty-five releases and be twice nominated for an Academy Award for the Look of Love and his contributions to the 2011 film “Rio”.
Bandleader, pianist, composer, arranger and songwriter Sergio Mendes died on September 5, 2024 in Los Angeles, California. He was 83.
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